October 29, 2025

By Mary Beth Bracy,
consecrated virgin
Contributing writer

On September 14, the Eastern Region Commissioned Lay Ministers hosted the 2025 Year of Hope Jubilee Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Bishop Terry R. LaValley offered the welcome and a talk on plenary indulgences, led the Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and offered a reflection on the Year of Hope and Lay Ministers’ Role, concluding with the Jubilee Prayer and Benediction.

During the Holy Hour, there was also time for quiet adoration and confessions, as well as a rosary led by commissioned lay ministers Ceil Johnson, Letitia Taylor, David Hunt, Beth Carlin, Steven Taylor and Pat Gladd.

Cathy Witkowski, chair of the Board of the Eastern Region Commissioned Lay Ministers, remarked, “The rosary was very spiritual to me, it (the meditations) talked about all of the things we should be concerned about today.”

Reflections included prayers for the poor, young people, the oppressed, and marginalized.

“Four of the newly commissioned lay ministers were ones that led the rosary which was special because they wanted to be involved,” added Witkowski.

Witkowski said she is grateful to those who helped make the event possible.

“I’m very appreciative of my team because we started to organize (the event) in the spring,” she said. “Board members of the Eastern Region of Lay Ministers did an outstanding job of putting it all together and organizing it. I’m very appreciative of that effort. People needed it, they don’t know what indulgences are.”

Bishop LaValley began with the story of a boy named Tommy who broke a window playing baseball. Though his father forgave him, Tommy needed assistance, so his older brother Kevin helped him clean up the mess. Using this analogy, Bishop LaValley described the gift of plenary indulgences and our ability to help others who are in need of our prayers. “(We can) win indulgences. Our Church … helps those who need help picking up the pieces.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes how an indulgence is obtained, Bishop LaValley continued.

“(There is a) treasury of merits . . . due for our sins,” he said. “The Church does this to spur us on to works of devotion, penance, and charity. Kevin saw his kid brother hurting and sought to lend a hand to clean up.”

Bishop LaValley also explained how indulgences are obtained.

“How might we obtain such assistance? Make a visit to a pilgrimage Church, receive Communion devoutly, pray prayers for the intentions of Our Holy Father, participate in Works of Mercy. My friends, God is the beginning and the end of life’s pilgrimage,” explained Bishop LaValley.

Bishop LaValley also encouraged those presence to share hope.

“We are pilgrims of hope, trusting in the power of God and prayer,” proclaimed Bishop LaValley. “These days we experience sadness, stress, and lack of hope. Where hope is scarce, be a messenger of hope.”

Bishop LaValley spoke of the hope he’s seen in this Jubilee year of hope.

“I’ve traveled to nursing homes, our prisons, hospitals, place of rehabilitation,” he said. “We still all need witnesses of hope. If we want to be a people of hope, we need to cultivate another virtue – gratitude. Everything, absolutely everything, is gift … for those nourished by the very Body and Blood of Christ, for those who seek to be resurrected people.”

He encouraged the lay ministers to reflect on their blessings as well as the areas where they fall short.

“On the highway to Heaven we will have potholes, but all will be well,” encouraged Bishop LaValley. “For our lay ministers, thank you. How do we get ourselves in the mode where we have been blessed? At morning and bedtime, naming them (our blessings), thinking of where we screwed up and how we are blessed.”

Bishop LaValley related the story of how he was appointed to be bishop and related it to the call of the apostles on the Sea of Galilee. He selected for his episcopal motto: “Follow Me.”

“It’s all about following Jesus,” Bishop LaValley explained. “‘Follow Me,’ Jesus is really the Highway to Heaven.
“Eucharist is about ‘eat My Body … Blood,’ Eucharist is about thanks or thanksgiving. Do I live my life as an attitude of gratitude?,” Bishop LaValley asked. “We all live under the sign of the Cross; grace encounters of worship are so important. Moms and Dads instilling the attitude of gratitude in youngsters. It’s not all about me, it’s about Him. Whatever vocation, say thank you. Know you are about the business of proclaiming the Gospel.”

Bishop LaValley encouraged the lay ministers to collaborate with others.

“Count on deacons, priests, the bishop, consecrated religious, we’re all on the same team,” he said. “Thank you for your ministry. May this year … cultivate the joy of the Gospel.”

Sister Sharon Dalton of Ticonderoga commented, “I’ve enjoyed all the things (during the Year of Hope) I’ve been able to attend. We had a bus trip to Old Forge and Tupper Lake. I like the way they planned (today’s event) so it was after our Masses.”

“In Old Forge we had a meal and Adoration, with a Holy Hour and Confession. Father Kornmeyer said it was great. We had midday prayer and lunch together. In Tupper Lake we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Mass with Father Severinus Torwoe, then the Jubilee Prayer. It was nice to see all of the lay ministers together (today),” added Father Medenel Angrand.

“I am a commissioned lay minister and used to be in the St. Lawrence Deanery. This is only the second time I’ve been to one (a gathering for lay ministers). I told Sally White, who invited me, ‘We are in very good company,’” said Jane Boyea.

“(It was a) beautiful way to spend a Sunday afternoon in this Year of Jubilee. Great to see everyone come together like that,” concurred Hunt.