NASHIK, JUNE 09, 2012: We the community of Salesian Training Institute (STI), staff and novices had a walking pilgrim to the Shrine of Infant Jesus. Before we began our spiritual journey we gathered near the grotto of our Lady to invoke her guidance as we walk this way to her son, the Infant Jesus. We began at 9:00 in the morning and reached the shrine by half past 11. Meteorically speaking, we covered eleven kilometres in these two hours.

As we were walking we began to pray the mysteries of the Holy Rosary and sing hymns praising Mother Mary. As we walked the busy road with vehicles passing by, people crossing us, buildings and houses, families looking at us, at different places hawkers, tea stalls, vendors, market place populace seem to be wondering as to what's happening here. This is giving value to be witnesses of our faith, and that our God is a living God.

At 12 in the noon, we partook in the Eucharistic Celebration which was very meaningfully celebrated at the shrine. The Priest during his homily emphasized on the Christian Identity and Christian Living in our day-to-day lives. After receiving Holy Communion we had the novena prayer to the Infant Jesus asking favours to be granted and that we may be safe from all dangers, to guide and strengthen us to walk along the path with courage and joy.

After the Eucharistic celebration all of us went to venerate the replica of the Infant Jesus by placing of our hands and whispering a prayer to grant favours. After which the Novice Master (Fr. Solomon Rapol sdb) told us that Don Bosco began his oratory with a Hail Mary. Let us as we began this year of our Novitiate ask our Mother Mary to intercede us to her son, Jesus. And so we prayed the three Hail Mary on our knees front of the Infant Jesus.

On our safe return at 2:00 in the afternoon we thanked our Lady for guiding us and protecting us all through our pilgrim near the grotto.

In the evening when we had the sharing of our experiences, all in all it was prayerful, wonderful, devotional, spiritually enriching, having felt moments of peace and joy, a great sense of union with god as well as with each other.

In the end we could only give praise and thanks to God, Jesus, Mother Mary, and Don Bosco in the form of our staff for organizing this wonderful pilgrimage for us.
At last, the expression suiting for the occasion was grace filling, love pouring, spirit living, lives enriching, and community sharing. 

Mary Help of Christians, Pray for us.