In Our Forbears’ Footsteps

April 2, 2022, 9:30am - 1:30pm

In 1923, over 350 Black parishioners left Holy Trinity to found Epiphany Parish because of the ongoing segregation they faced here. They were motivated, one of them said, "by the same need and desire for freedom to worship that was one of the main reasons that our great nation was explored and settled." As part of our Ignatian Year commemorations, we will gather at Holy Rood Cemetery to pray and remember those brothers and sisters, asking God to help us see our past and our present new in Christ. We will then walk/bus to Holy Trinity to continue our prayer and remembrance together.

Our pilgrimage begins with prayer at Holy Rood Cemetery, where we will learn about some of our Black parishioners who are buried there.

We will then journey to Visitation School  by bus (to keep the group together) to remember Anne Marie Becraft and her school which was located across the street. Then, on our walk from Visitation to Holy Trinity, we will stop by houses once occupied by Black parishioners.

At Holy Trinity, we will spend time learning, remembering, and praying in the balcony where our Black parishioners were once segregated.

We will conclude with lunch and conversation in Trinity Hall.

Practical details

• Holy Rood Cemetery includes uneven terrain. We will provide some chairs for those who may need to sit during our time there.
• The walk from Visitation to Holy Trinity is 0.2 mile. A bus will be provided for those unable to walk this distance.
• There is no cost for the pilgrimage, due to the generosity of a parishioner donor.

The registration deadline has passed and registration is now closed.

Contact Catherine Heinhold at cheinhold@trinity.org with any questions.