Editor's note: In the 1890s, there was no Ukrainian church in the McAdoo area, so the faithful would hike to Shenandoah in honor of their creator.

On Saturday, followers re-created the walk in honor of the 125th anniversary of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 210 W. Blaine St. Connie Postupack organized the walk and shared her thoughts on the experience.Our tribute walk on Saturday, Sept. 17, started with a purpose - to remember what happened 125 years ago when there wasn't a church in McAdoo.Today, we drive from miles away, some of us an hour or more a few times a month - because it feels like home.By 11 a.m., some of us were beginning to wonder how they made this trek every Sunday.Questions arose."After Liturgy did they begin the walk back?""Did they stay and have dinner with friends then begin the walk back?"Suddenly we realized we were not only walking, but we were putting ourselves in their shoes.We were carrying the same cross they carried (not confirmed as little history is written), we also carried a pair of shoes as they did so they were presenting themselves to God in their best.Our church bell rang three times after our priest, the Rev. James T. Melnic, gave us his blessing, and then as we passed the home it was stored in until the church was built, the single bell rang for a full minute.Nick Postupack, the youngest at 8 years old, finished ringing the bell and ran for seven blocks to catch up with the rest of us.Nick's mother, Sherry, who walked all 16 miles, said, "We don't have anything like this in our family so I do find it interesting on what they did years ago. It's something I can pass on to Nick."Walkers came from all over Schuylkill County and not all were Ukrainian.The Spotts family is from Frackville. They don't have any direct relationship to an original founder or pioneer of St. Mary's, but chose to walk with us as did two women from Mahanoy City.We thank them publicly for their belief and their faith in what this event meant.The 16-mile walk was hard. It was beautiful. It was respected by those we saw along the way.St Michael's Church bells rang with joy. They picked up where St Mary's quiet bell left off.There was happiness once we reached the church. Our legs no longer ached, and blisters were ignored.Monsignor Myron Grabowsky greeted us with a smile and simple speech about what we had just accomplished and we placed a pair of shoes on the top step of St. Michael's in memory of our pioneers and founders.