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August 16, 2009 The weekend rains of August 15-16 held off long enough for the 68th annual pilgrimage to the Grotto of Our Lady of the Assumption at Rama, Saskatchewan to go ahead as scheduled. Saturday’s outdoor activities at the Grotto however, moved into St. Anthony’s Church as the heaven’s opened with a delayed downpour. “The numbers were down a bit because of the weather,” said Mary Kowalyshen who, along with husband Joe, organized this year’s pilgrimage. A declining rural population has led to declining numbers but the faithful return each year to take part in the tradition at Rama that began in 1941. This year, the Friday night Vigil of the Assumption held in the Grotto attracted about 450 people, some who drove for more than 6 hours to get here. “There were some years where about 2,000 used to be here,” said Kowalyshen. More recently about 800 used to attend but the weekend rains kept many away, she said. Archbishop Bohan in his Saturday homily said the familiar image of Mary with the crown of 12 stars is the image of the Church; the 12 star Crown representing the 12 Apostles upon whom the church is built. He focused on the Assumption of Mary to which the Grotto is dedicated. “Mary is the exemplar, the pattern of what will happen to all of us who follow Jesus in their lives……Our future is to live forever in the fullness of life with God.” Friday night featured a living Rosary and a candlelight procession and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which was to last to midnight but the rains came around 11 pm bringing the exposition to an early end. Archbishop Daniel Bohan early in the evening celebrated mass in the Grotto and again at noon Saturday to end the two day pilgrimage. A hamburger lunch was served Saturday in the adjacent church hall. Rama in East Central Saskatchewan was originally settled by Polish immigrants and their influence remains strong in this community of about 100 people. The entrance to the Grotto is flanked by two memorial cairns, in Polish and English, to the early pioneers who helped build it.| The Saturday services in the church included Godzinki, Polish morning devotional prayers, followed by a mass in the Polish language. A Byzantine Rite service scheduled Saturday morning for the Grotto was instead held in St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Grotto, next to the church in Rama, is said to be an exact replica of Lourdes. It still attracts busloads of tourists, said Kowalyshen who often acts as a tour guide. Frank Flegel 
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