On Wednesday, March 12, a group of St. Cecilia Catholic Church’s parishioners traveled to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville for a brief Jubilee 2025 pilgrimage. 

It proved to be a memorable and faith-filled day. 

Some left from the church together while others met in the Shrine parking lot. It was a beautiful drive through the countryside and especially down the long entrance lined by special guest houses and cabins. The rolling pastures and miles of white fence made for a very peaceful and relaxing entrance as the group spotted the many structures on the 400-plus acres of land.

The group assembled in the gift shop and met the tour guide, who led them to a special building housing a beautiful Nativity scene with pews available for reflection and prayer. Candles were also available for lighting for a special intention.

The pilgrims moved through the Piazza and inside where they viewed the entrance of the Monastery for women who enter into the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Franciscan Order. We learned about the different stages of discernment for those considering this life of adoring Jesus in the Eucharist and giving their lives to Him.

From there they proceeded downstairs through the full-size photographic images of the Shroud of Turin and into the Shrine's Lower Crypt Church, where Mother Angelica, her own mother, and the Sisters who have passed on to their eternal home are laid to rest.

Returning to the main floor of the church, the group was taken to a side room where a beautiful tapestry wall hanging given to the Shrine on the occasion of their 25th anniversary celebration was displayed. The tapestry depicts the layout of the church sanctuary, and the guide explained the relevance and origin of the different aspects of the incredible and inspiring place of worship. She explained that the Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament, which is always exposed and prayed before by the Sisters, was the tallest in the world, by Mother Angelica's design, until a taller one was created in Chicago. So, it is now the tallest in the South.

When the tour was over, the group prayed the Rosary with the Sisters, then made their way to the chapel for Mass, followed by outdoor Stations of the Cross.

After a brief visit to the gift shop, all headed to their cars and traveled to a lunch spot on Main Street in Hanceville, Pop's Cafe. The food was excellent, and the hospitality was second to none.  

To learn more about making a pilgrimage during the Jubilee 2025, please visit bhmdiocese.org/jubilee-2025.