In honouring Pope Francis’ announcement of the Jubilee Year of Hope, JY Canada decided to host their own pilgrimages across the country. Representatives from each province hosted a walking pilgrimage to a designated pilgrimage site to receive the plenary indulgence associated with this Jubilee Year. In Ontario, a group of 26 participants, across all ages and across all areas of the province, came together early in the morning to start their journey. We started at the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland and walked 11 km to The Mission of St. Ignace II, the site of the martyrdom of saints Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant. Under the blistering summer sun, the walk was arduous, but through this challenge, the experience created an incredible opportunity for meditation and moments of fellowship. We started with a rosary and everyone shared their intentions. It was incredibly unifying to go through a challenging experience with the accompaniment of fellow Catholics, offering up each other’s prayers and the struggles of daily life. Walking through the dense forest, amidst the winding, glistening river and the wildlife, we grew in appreciation for God’s creation. It was a reminder of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s contemplative spirit, as he would encourage his missionaries in his letters that they write back not only concerning their ministries but also details of the local customs, the wildlife and plants — “anything that seems extraordinary.” St. Ignatius of Loyola urged his Jesuits to go out and “find God in all things.” Similarly, we saw God in the simple moments of the day, sharing about our lives while sharing snacks, witnessing lilypads atop the river, something we don’t get to see in our everyday lives in the city, in taking on another’s backpack to lighten their load and share the weight, and in making ones confession along the walk. As a young adult, I was most inspired by the resilience and determination of the children and elders on our walk. It is a wonderful privilege to see the world as a child sees it and to witness God’s creation with awe and wonder. Similarly, it was deeply encouraging to witness our 60+ elders walking with us as enthusiastic as the young ones.
At the end of our journey, Fr. Shaji celebrated mass for us under an open shelter in a meadow at the Mission of St. Ignace II. There is a large cross erected there where the martyrs were brutally tortured. One of our seminarians shared the story of the martyrs, describing how they stayed true to their faith throughout the many ways they were tortured. It was very inspiring to hear about the martyrs at this point. We were quite physically exhausted but became spiritually recharged. Fr. Shaji also shared in his homily our role as missionaries and the day culminated with the message of our missionary duty. We are not meant to go alone. St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier first met at university in Paris where they were roommates. They then went on to become two of the most influential missionaries with St. Ignatius of Loyola founding the Jesuits. Our two Jesuit priests, saints Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, who started their mission in Canada, took their last breaths together as well, as I’m sure, encouraging each other to stay true to the very end.
Maria Sajan
Medical Student
University of Toronto
