Day 7 Aix-en-Provence

Another fine and sunny day greeted the pilgrims as they awoke this morning in Aix, birth place of the Oblates. This morning the pilgrims travelled by luxury coach (driven by Jean Piere) to Marseilles the place where St Eugene is buried. Fr Paul took the co pilots seat up front of the bus to outline the program for the day. The pilgrims were welcomed in Marseille by a protest with many streets closed and roads blocked. However, the pilgrims were able to make their way to the Cathedral for Mass at the tomb of St Eugene de Mazenod. The words of St Eugene spoke to the pilgrims as Cheryl Bell read the famous homily St Eugene gave at the Church of the Madelaine in Lent 1813 - "Learn who you are through the eyes of Christ". As has become our custom the pilgrims sang the St Eugene College song at the end of Mass moving many to tears as song filled the ancient cathedral. After a light lunch the pilgrims made their way made what is normally a 5 minute bus trip but took one hour up the hill to the Church of Our Lady of the Grand. This Church was built by St Eugene in 1856. The Church is significant to the Oblates as the Image of Image stand on top of the Church and was the last image missionary Oblates saw as they sailed to their foreign missions. On the way home in the bus Fr Paul told jokes and was going to sing but was stopped by the group!!
The pilgrims gathered at 6.30pm before dinner for a sharing session and a debrief of the pilgrimage so far. Pilgrims expressed a greater awareness of the Oblates and the spirituality of St Eugene, an appreciation for the community spirit of the group, a greater connection to the mission of the Oblates. The pilgrims also found the long days challenging, the train journey from Rome to Aix particularly long.
Tomorrow the pilgrims travel to Paris.
Thanks to all those who are follewing the blog and don't forget to post your comments and messages for the pilgrims...