As the international coordinator of the pilgrimage “From Ocean to Ocean” I arrived to the sanctuary in Varese, a day before the planned arrival of the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, traveling through the world “From Ocean to Ocean”. I wanted to help the local organizers in receiving and welcoming Our Lady and tell them how Our Lady of Częstochowa was received in other countries.
I met with Vittoria Criscolo – who was the coordinator for the Italian pro-life movements and at the same time a great translator (I don’t know Italian) and with Mons. Eros Monti, responsible for the Sanctuary of the Sacro Monte in Varese. This conversation was very fruitful. Everything was ready!
In the evening Ecuadorian time, and for us at midnight Fr. Leon Juchniewicz, the custodian of the Icon in South America, was to leave by plane for Milan, escorting the Częstochowa Icon. The next afternoon at the airport in Milan, the “Alpins” were to meet Her – soldiers from the Alpine Regiment (reggimento alpini), whom Father Monti had asked to organize the transport of the Icon of Our Lady to the Sanctuary located in the Campo dei Fiori Park, which literally means “Field of Flowers”.
It consists of the Holy Road and the Sanctuary, as well as the small medieval village that surrounds the Sanctuary. The Holy Road with its 14 chapels rises up to the small village of Santa Maria del Monte and ends at the Sanctuary, which is the last chapel - dedicated to Our Lady. It is located 807 meters above sea level. The rise is 2 kilometers along cobblestone path, and each chapel represents one of the Mysteries of the Rosary. It is a charming place, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can get there by a very winding road or go on a pilgrimage on foot.
However, it turned out that there were problems! On May 29 at 11:23 PM, Fr. Leon called me from the airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, saying he had a serious problem because KLM did not want to take the Icon of Our Lady on board the plane, as it always was on previous trips. The situation was very stressful. Many attempts were made to convince the carrier, but unfortunately the plane took off without the Icon of Our Lady and without Fr. Leon, who in this situation had to stay with Her.
31 minutes after midnight, I informed Mons. Monti what had happened. He in turn informed the others. Everyone was very nervous about the unexpected complication. Of course, not everything could be canceled. Those who wanted to meet Our Lady of Częstochowa were already on their way! Determined, Fr. Monti placed a copy of the Icon in A3 format in the place where She was to be placed in the Sanctuary. The same one I gave him the day before.
So on Sunday we attended a solemn Mass presided over by Mons. Monti, and the homily was given by Fr. Francesco Giordano – director of the Roman office of Human Life International, lecturer at the Angelicum and the Catholic University of America.
After the Mass we gathered in one of the halls for pilgrims. Since it was lunch time, everyone shared whatever they had. Fr. Francesco disappeared at first, but then he returned with a bag full of sandwiches. After this agape, Fr. Francesco gave a lecture, which took the form of a dialogue. The audience showed great interest. Then I was asked to explain how to “read” the Częstochowa Icon. I spoke in English, and Fr. Francesco and Vittoria Criscolo translated alternately. There really was a lot of interest.
I was a little sad when I learned that one of the couples had walked the entire route on pilgrimage to Our Lady of Jasna Góra with a special family intention to ask for Her intercession. I assured them that She always hears! As a memento of this meeting, they could take a picture with a prayer and an A5 image of the Częstochowa Icon, which were available in the sanctuary.
Fr. Leon flew to Milan finally on Monday, but the Icon reached the Sanctuary in Varese much later, but you can read about that in a separate report.
Our Lady of Częstochowa "imprisoned by customs" of the European Union
Our Lady of Częstochowa begins her visit to Italy
Lech Kowalewski – coordinator of the pilgrimage “From Ocean to Ocean”