And it includes cash.
You can thank St. Joachim, Grandfather of Christ, whose feast we celebrate today.
In other words, you don’t have to miss the pilgrimage because you were ‘a day late and a few dollars short’ (again?) this year.
Besides ‘alms for palms‘ to sponsor you, the organizers’ policy is that no one is turned away from pilgrimage for want of the registration fee.
Not only today, but this year on special days, ‘plain vanilla’ pilgrims, families and groups can avail of the discounts which expired June 1.
Which special days?
Any day, on the traditional (Western) calendar, before step-off, on which a feast of Our Blessed Lady occurs — including her Parents, Ss. Anne & Joachim; or a day on which a saint of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) or a native American saint is commemorated.
Which dates are they? They are an even dozen before September 16.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – July 2
Our Lady of Mount Carmel – July 16
St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary – July 26
St. Ignatius of Loyola – July 31
Vigil of the Dormition & Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 14
Feast of the Dormition & Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 15
St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 16
Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – August 26
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 8
St. Peter Claver, SJ – September 9
Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary – September 12
Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 15
Is there anything else one has to do besides register on those days?
Yes, the discounted fee must be paid online, via PayPal. (One does NOT need a PayPal account to use the service, just a valid credit card.)
Also, the registrant has to ask for the discount in writing by including a note/request in the “description” field when paying online via PayPal, or by e-mailing the Director.
The note requesting the discount must read: “Humble request for discounted fee in honor of [name of saint — and, in the case of Our Blessed Lady, her holy name – no less than “St. Mary” – & the title of the feast]”.
Finally, the payment must also be cyber-postmarked on the day of the feast.
