I left the camera in our car by mistake, so took no photos of the walk. I plan on taking some this evening, since St. Mary's Church in Marysville is busy preparing a feast as I write this in a nearby coffee shop.
This morning, the three of us who spent the night woke up early and found Fr. Jim Dalton, pastor of our host church, Immaculate Conception in Arlington, busy making coffee. Rita Meehan brought bagels, cream cheese, hard boiled eggs and fruit. After breakfast, we packed up our sleeping gear and were about to go to the chapel for morning Mass when Annie Welch turned up. The gospel was Jesus' call to take up the cross--the cross we had received at St. Charles in Burlington was beside him where all could see it. After Communion, we and the parishioners in attendence read this prayer from the Justice For Immigrants website and Fr. Jim blessed us walkers. When we left the chapel, we found Bob waiting for us, so we had grown from three to five walkers. When we left Arlington, we were joined by two immigrants from Mexico, who walked all the way with us, sharing their stories.
We arrived at St. Mary's at 3:10 pm, in time for me to say a prayer in the church and in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. After Holy Hour, the Spanish-speaking community hosted a tasty pot luck dinner and a discussion about the pilgrimage and immigration issues. It can be depressing to hear so many stories of families separated, good working people detained indefinitely or deported, and so on, but it is encouraging to feel the compassion people have for one another and the support they offer to us pilgrims.
We will depart St. Mary's at 9 am tomorrow, August 8. If you wish to join us, we will assemble in front of the church for our prayer circle at about 8:45 am, or call Mary at 
360-820-4958
if you wish to join us on our walk after we have departed.
Posted by Nick
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