Shrine Spotlights: Pilgrimage with Purpose

"Pilgrimage" is a word often used around the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, but less so in everyday conversation. Depending on one's personal experience, the word may sound similar to "vacation", "retreat", or perhaps "journey". But when it comes to the Catholic faith in general, and the Rother Shrine in particular, pilgrimage has a specific meaning— one which acts as a powerful resource for all the faithful.

"A pilgrimage is a trip to a destination with an intention," describes Deacon Rob Blakely, Director of Pilgrimage at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine. "You could make that a three-day trip, a six-month vacation, or a 30-minute break in your day. If you're moving from one place to another with an intention of retreating from the world, to either look inward or pray about a specific topic, that's a pilgrimage."

A pilgrim's intention could be anything, such as a specific area of one's life that needs healing, asking God about important decisions, or just to reconnect with Jesus. In particular, the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine offers the additional opportunity to meditate on the ways that God worked through the life of an Oklahoman, Father Stanley Rother, and how God is calling individuals to witness to the Gospel in their own lives.

As Deacon Rob explains, "maybe, for example, you're looking at one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that Blessed Stanley Rother exhibited in his life and death. And that's something that you either lack in yourself or something you see in yourself one way or the other. When you come to the shrine, intently, with every moment while you're at the shrine, you're asking God, how can this gift benefit the people around me? How can it benefit me? How can it benefit you?"

Pilgrimages aren't just for a certain type of person; they are for anyone who is willing to go. One of Deacon Rob's favorite parts of his job at the Shrine is encountering the wide variety of pilgrims that come through the doors: "I'll be speaking with very wealthy people and then 10-15 minutes later I'm speaking with homeless people that have been homeless for multiple years. I'm speaking with women from Australia and men from Ukraine and everywhere in between and they all have different stories."

The Shrine was carefully designed to share the Gospel and the particular witness of Blessed Stanley Rother with all who visit. For Deacon Rob, one of the most impactful aspects of Stanley Rother's life and ministry is the way he changed lives and evangelized by going out among the people.

"What draws me most to him is his willingness to meet people where they were and to be Christ in their lives, instead of pulling them into his life… Father Stan just said 'I'm going to live where you live. I'm going to eat what you eat. I'm going to be sick where you're sick. I'm going to do what you do, but I'm going to do it all with the love of Christ. Don't you wish you had what I had?'"

Making a pilgrimage to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine can be as simple as just stopping by. If one is coming with a group or would like a tour, it is best to let the Shrine know in advance, either online or by phone.

"If you're just wanting to come by yourself to come on pilgrimage, we're open 9:00 to 5:00 every day. When you're coming with a group of, I would say, four or more, it's best for you to reach out, either online or make a phone call and reach out to me. There's also a pilgrimage packet online that you can look at."

The one thing above all that Deacon Rob hopes people will know is that every person is invited to experience the Shrine. "I want everybody to know that everybody is welcome here. No matter what your politics are. No matter what your beliefs are, no matter what your, anything is: not only are you welcome here; you belong here."

To learn more about the Shrine and plan a pilgrimage, visitors are encouraged to go to www.rothershrine.org/pilgrimage.