Pilgrims of Hope: Connecting Good Shepherd to the Universal Church
By Alicia Levin
Greetings from your friendly neighborhood music coordinator! I write to share with you our Repose song for Lent, “Pilgrims of Hope.” I know how precious “Surely the Presence” is for so many of you, and rest assured, this change is temporary. “Surely the Presence” will return for the Easter season and beyond. But for Lent, as we break open our theme of “Trust in Hope,” we will sing “Pilgrims of Hope” while the Blessed Sacrament is reposed. This is the official hymn of the Pope’s Jubilee 2025 and has been shared across the world in various languages. When we lift our voices in song this Lent, we will join a global chorus of parishes and communities who are praying this musical prayer as well. The refrain may already be familiar to you, as the choir has been singing it during Communion for the past few weeks. The lyrics raise a simple prayer of hope and trust in God. I hope you enjoying singing it for the six weeks of Lent:
Like a flame, our hope is burning,
May our song arise to you.
Source of life that has no ending,
On life’s path we trust in you.