In just its second year, a pilgrimage walk by Hamilton Catholic school students in support of Third World missions grew by leaps and bounds.In just its second year, a pilgrimage walk by Hamilton Catholic school students in support of Third World missions grew by leaps and bounds.
More than 1,800 young people, from seven high schools, and as many as 53 elementary schools, turned out under sunny skies on the afternoon of October 30, 2005, for the ten-kilometre Third World Pilgrimage Walk that began at Hamilton's Bayfront Park and ended at St. Mary's High School. The number represented a large increase over last year, when 500 made the trek in pouring rain on a slightly different route.
" content+="Peter Tassi, chaplain at Cathedral High School and a co-organizer of the walk, said the unexpectedly high participation this year presented challenges for both organizers and city police assigned to make sure the event went smoothly.
"We figured this year we would get 800 to 1,000," said Tassi. "When almost 2,000 registered the police went crazy. But it wasn't our fault—we had no idea we'd get those kinds of numbers."
Beginning at Bayfront park, rather than at the Cathedral of Christ the King as last year, made police officers' jobs easier and minimized disruption to Hamilton's downtown traffic flow.
Tassi characterized the pilgrimage as "a great success. It was unbelievable." Although a figure on monies raised was not available at press time, it was a vast increase over last year's total of $21,000. Each year the money is split evenly among three Third World missions. This year's recipients will be the mission of Fr. Lou Quinn in the Dominican Republic, Broken Wings in Haiti, which runs an orphanage for disabled children, and a technical school to be constructed in Uganda.
The pilgrimage walk was launched in 2004 based on a model founded by Catholic high schools in Welland, Ontario, where a similar event has been held for some 30 years. Tassi and others concerned about Third World issues in the Hamilton Catholic school system—including his sister Filomena, also a high school chaplain, and board superintendent Nancy DiGregorio—were considering ways of consolidating their disparate efforts in support of developing countries and they found in the walk the perfect vehicle to do just that.
Each participating student obtained pledges based on the number of kilometres he or she walked. Fr. Mark Gatto offered a talk, prayer and blessing at the start. One student gave a testimony about how last year's walk changed her outlook on poverty in the world, before a trio of three other students performed in song.
During the walk, students wore T-shirts reading "Walk With Christ," on one side and "Justice for the Poor," on the other. They carried banners with similar messages, as well as crosses representing their solidarity with the suffering Christ and the poor in developing countries.
After the walk, students, parents and organizers gathered in the gymnasium of St. Mary's for a Mass celebrated by Hamilton Auxiliary Bishop Gerard Bergie. Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chairman Pat Daly and director of education Marcel Castura congratulated the young people on their efforts, before everyone broke up for refreshments and casual conversation.
Tassi said that if the number of participants increases significantly again next year, it may be necessary to move the event's closing Mass out of a high school gymnasium and to an outdoor venue. Organizers may also need to make different arrangements for permits and police escorts.
"This event is taking off, just like it did in Welland," said a pleased Tassi. "Next year, who knows how many we'll get."
Tony Gosgnach is a freelance writer based in Hamilton, Ontario.
Originally published in the Catholic Register, November 13, 2005"