I was so excited when I was asked to help with the Pilgrimage of Mercy for Florida! The Shrine of Our Lady La Leche is one my favorite places in the world, where I've grown up going to visit and pray ever since I can remember. The first Mass in the United States was celebrated here, the first diocese, the first evangelization of North America all began here and I would get to share that place with so many people I love! I had never helped put on an event like this before, but I had seen the love in which my friends had put into each detail when planning Beginning Days and Advent Retreats and I wanted this to be just as beautiful, especially since my friends were driving hours to come on this journey with us. I was also asked to learn the song Romaria and to sing it for the Pilgrimage. I immediately became afraid, not knowing how to pronounce anything in Portuguese and terrified of singing on my own, but at the same time I was so humbled to be given such a task as this. As the Pilgrimage was about to start, I was made aware that not only was Romaria the final song of the Pilgrimage but also that it was to be sung for the bishop, which added even more to my fear.

Mass was beautiful, my best friends whom I hadn't seen in months drove so far to celebrate Mass for us and I was elated to just be there. However, once we started praying the Rosary, my mind started to race, worrying about transitions, that it wouldn't be as beautiful since Hurricane Matthew did such damage and closed my favorite parts of the grounds, that we wouldn't have enough food for the picnic that I had planned, that I wasn't ready to help lead the community in such an important song. Becoming preoccupied with my anxiety, I was only half listening to my friend leading the reflection on the Rosary. But then, I stopped. I looked at this beautiful booklet for the Pilgrimage, at my friends all around me, at the statue of Our Lady La Leche whom I love so much, and realized that this gesture that I'm helping with, it isn't just for them (the 50 people who came from Miami and Tampa and Pensacola), this Pilgrimage is for me. I needed this Pilgrimage. I needed His Mercy more than anything. Immediately my heart became calm; gratuity and gladness swelled within me. I started to listen to what Giussani had to say about the mysteries of the Rosary we were praying, realizing that this is just what I needed. When I walked through those Mercy Doors it was so clear how loved I was by the Father, who welcomed me back into His fold. Was I still nervous when I forgot garbage bags and had to find another solution? Yes. Did my face turn bright red when I was asked to stand in front of that microphone and sing Romaria? Yes. But I knew that He accompanied me, that this was for my good, that this entire Pilgrimage was a gift for me from the One who is in love with me.

My favorite line in the song translates, "They told me to come here, on this Pilgrimage, in prayer, to ask for peace in my misadventures. But since I don't know how to pray, I came simply to show my face." I came to St. Augustine trying to force something beautiful to happen, but I only needed to be still and receive the gift of mercy He's been waiting to give me. I got to see my friends whom I miss so much, to journey with them to the Father, and even shake hands with the bishop who ended up complementing me on how beautifully I sang and even asked if I knew Portuguese. What a gift to be here. What a gift to volunteer, to have this community, to be loved by Christ, and to be alive.