Father Purdy's Letters       May – June 2006 Dear Friends and Benefactors, The month of May is highlighted by the Youth Pilgrimage in Bohol. The Pilgrimage is organized by the Apostles of Mary, the Traditional Catholic Youth group in the Philippines. The whole country mobilizes, traveling to Bohol for the Society’s largest national event. St. Bernard Novitiate in its entirety joined the Pilgrimage this year. Early in the morning of May 10th, pilgrims gathered in the plaza just in front of the Cathedral of Tagbilaran, for Solemn High Mass offered by Fr. Couture. After the Mass, a quick breakfast was served, followed by opening words and prayers to begin the 72km (about 45 miles), 3 day march to the little village of Carmen. In Carmen there is a large statue of our Lady of Fatima. As is happened, the Pilgrimage ended on May 13, Our Lady of Fatima. This year there were approximately 250 attending. It is not only the youth who make their way to Bohol, but as many as can get the few days off from working or can afford to make the trip. Travel is not common in the Philippines; most will never fly on a plane and many will never leave the island they were born on. To make a trip to Bohol for this pilgrimage is not easy for most of our faithful, and many will not be able to go. The numbers this year were the best so far, and hopefully the economy will become better to allow more to travel for the event. The pilgrimage route leads from Tagbilaran along the costal road toward Loboc passing through Baclayon. Both of these towns possess the oldest Churches in the Philippines, Baclayon being the older even though Loboc construction began first. Both Churches are made of coral stone (from the ocean). Since Baclayon is very near the water, it was finished before Loboc, and thus is named the oldest Church in the Philippines. Provided are a couple pictures of the beautiful Church of Baclayon and the altar of Loboc and the free-standing bell tower a stone’s throw from the latter. The second day of the pilgrimage is the hardest. The pilgrims had a long exhausting march the day before, and the night’s sleep was not the best for most. The girls faced the mosquitoes in the classrooms of the school and the boys in their tents faced the rain storm. Many a tent and sleeping bag were soaked. The night was short, (rise at 4:30am!) and noisy, and shower facilities were almost non-existent. The walk on the second day took us through the Man-Made Forest (which was not made by man). It is said the ground never dries out in the Man-Made Forest for the trees are so dense that the sun does not penetrate to dry it out.     page 2 back to Philippine page