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As a boy, Tom Kulowiec and his family would make a pilgrimage around Stamford to seven different Roman Catholic churches in the city on the evening of Holy Thursday to honor what Jesus went through in the Agony in the Garden on the evening before he was crucified. Now as an adult living in Missouri, Kulowiec still comes home to Stamford every year to make the pilgrimage and celebrate Easter.
Its a tradition Ive grown up with, Kulowiec said as he and his father were leaving Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, the second church he visited after starting at Holy Name of Jesus. Its a good reminder of what our Lord went through.
Most of the Pilgrims in Stamford traveled alone from church to church, but Our Lady Star of the Sea organized a group to make the rounds together. The effort started after a request from a youth parishioner, said Monsignor Edward Surwilo, the pastor.
The night started with Star of the Sea churchgoers attending evening Mass for Holy Thursday, which included the ritual washing of the feet, and praying adoration in the parishs Garden Chapel. To commemorate the story of Jesus Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the churches put flowers and plants around the exposed Eucharist. The pilgrims pray, then move on to other churches in the area.
The churches hold adoration from the end of the Mass until midnight (some may end earlier) when the Eucharist is stored throughout Good Friday. The Eucharist is not taken out on Good Friday, except for Mass and in cases of emergency, such as someone dying, Surwilo said. The Eucharist returns Easter, the day of Christ's resurrection from the dead, Catholic.org says.
The tradition of making a pilgrimage to seven different churches began centuries ago in Rome and was brought to the United States with immigrants, Surwilo said. The pilgrimage to seven churches on Holy Thursday is usually linked to the ancient practice of praying at Rome's seven pilgrim churches as a penance.
What holiday traditions do you and your family renew every year? Share your memories below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo at tbuzzeo@mainstreetconnect.us.
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