History comes alive for pilgrims

Alberta youth find truth in London's Days in the Diocese

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Chatham, Ont.

Located 295 kms southwest of Toronto, the settlement was built in 1841 by Josiah Henson along with other former black slaves who managed to escape the United States.

Now called Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, the settlement features artifacts of the infamous Underground Railroad. Henson's last house is still standing. He died in 1883.

Henson's life experiences inspired Harriett Beecher Stowe's creation of the character Uncle Tom in her classic novel Uncle Tom's Cabin in her 1852 outcry against slavery.

The visit of this group of pilgrims from St. Paul was part of the London Diocese's celebration of Days in the Diocese, July 20-22.

After learning the life story of Henson, the pilgrims commented on how Christ-like he was.

Josiah did what Jesus would do in helping the slaves in their quest for freedom, Sabrina Chartrand and Matthew Matras told the WCR.

"I think he was following the footsteps of Jesus in a major way," 16-year-old Chartrand said. "We don't learn like this in the classroom."

Legal's Kurtis Hauptman said, "It's interesting to get to know the background of the book."

He learned about slavery and the novel in school, "but it's more exciting to get to know some historical facts about the book" by visiting this historic site.

"I think he was following the footsteps of Jesus in a major way." - Sabrina Chartrand

Billeted in Chatham, 287 kms southwest of Toronto, the group was welcomed by St. Joseph's Parish. Parishioners applauded the pilgrims when they arrived at 2 a.m. July 20 after a two-day train and bus rides from Alberta.

Lisa Gelberland, St. Joseph's WYD coordinator, was jubilant with this visit from the Albertans.

"It's really a true Christian spirit shown here. Throughout the whole city, (people) have been working hard the whole year to prepare for the WYD and for welcoming our Albertan visitors."

The pilgrims welcomed the Ontario parish's warm-hearted hospitality.

Kelly Henderson of Cold Lake reported, "The host families were awesome. When we came in, they were excitedly waving their arms."

Although she had only spent less than one day in the parish, her first impression was "it is a great parish. I think we're all in the same boat. We're all together.

"We're all here for the same purpose. You can just feel faith around everybody."

Janelle Laramee, 16, from Bonnyville agreed. "It's neat to see how other Catholics live in other places. They are pretty much the same like in my home parish."

The pilgrims also spent time in Walpole Island pow wow grounds and went swing dancing with a Christian band later in the evening. Before going to Toronto, they stopped in London to meet with pilgrims from other countries.

On July 22, retired Bishop John Sherlock celebrated a Mass in London for Days in the Diocese attended by 24,000 people.

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