Continuing our journey through Northern California, we stopped at St. Margaret Mary Church in Oakland. Father Stanislaw Zak, who was particularly zealous in welcoming and hosting the Black Madonna, is Polish and has an intense devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa. Father Zak encouraged additional prayer services, devotions, and opportunities for veneration.
The next day, I concelebrated the Masses and preached the homilies about the From Ocean to Ocean Pilgrimage in Defense of Life, and the evening Mass was celebrated in the extraordinary form.
The following day, the Black Madonna arrived in Santa Clara at The Shrine of Our Lady of Peace, truly a bright light to Northern California. Staffed by the Incarnate Word Fathers, this peaceful place of worship is a Eucharistic and Marian community considered an “Oasis in Silicon Valley.” Our Lady of Czestochowa was present during well-attended noon and evening Masses. A Moleben, or prayer service of intercession, was also held and Father Zak joined us, along with other Eastern Rite priests. The following morning, after I celebrated Mass and preached the homily, the local pro-life faithful invited the Black Madonna for a prayer vigil to end abortion at nearby Planned Parenthood’s San Jose Health Center.