Bishop O'Connell to lead family-centered biannual diocesan pilgrimage to Washington Oct. 19;
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Recognizing that it is in the family one’s faith is first planted, then nurtured, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. is extending a special invitation to all families of the diocese to join him Oct. 19 in a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington.
This year’s pilgrimage theme, “The Family as the Garden of Faith”, was especially chosen for this Year of Faith and promises to offer all members of the diocesan family, young and old, single and married, opportunities for prayer, reflection, reconciliation and fellowship.
Father Ian Trammell, diocesan pilgrimage coordinator and pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, reflected upon the theme, noting, “The family, of course, is the basic unit of the Church and of society and the Church serves to support parents, whether they are married or divorced, in the raising of the children in the faith.”
The day at the basilica, the largest church in North America and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, will begin at 7 a.m. as thousands of pilgrims will depart parishes from all four counties of the diocese for the nation’s capital. En route, the pilgrims will be led in the recitation of Morning Prayer and the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Upon their arrival at 11 a.m. the pilgrims will gather in the Great Upper Church where they will be welcomed and join in praying the Angelus and the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
A blessing of families will take place in the various chapels located in the Great Upper Church starting at 12:30 p.m., while the Sacrament of Penance will be available at 1:30 p.m. During the day, families will have a chance to visit the various chapels located in the shrine’s Great Upper Church and receive a blessing.
At 3 p.m., the day will conclude with the celebration of Mass by Bishop O’Connell and dozens of priests of the diocese in the Great Upper Church.
The buses will depart Washington by 4:30 p.m. and on the way to New Jersey, Evening Prayer and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary will be recited
Father Trammell noted that persons attending the pilgrimage may receive a “plenary indulgence for the temporal punishment of sin” for themselves and for deceased loved ones.
“A plenary indulgence is a particular grace granted by God so that we have the remission of all our temporal punishment due to sin when we die,” said Father Trammell. “(A plenary indulgence) is a great gift that the Church offers; it’s a celebratory gift.”
Reflecting on how pilgrims can prepare for the Oct. 19 journey, Father Trammell said that the most important way is that they “have the desire” to join the pilgrimage, “and also by inviting others on the pilgrimage. The pilgrims will also be provided with prayer guide captain that can also assist the people with their pilgrimage experience,” he said.
Father Trammell and Father Kevin Kimtis, parochial vicar of St. Gregory the Great Parish and a member of the Diocesan Pilgrimage Planning Committee, offered words of encouragement on why faithful from the diocese should make the journey to Washington.
“A pilgrimage is a journey that a person takes because he or she is in search of something; they want to find something, and we hope they are in search of wanting to find a closer and deeper relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ,” Father Trammell said, noting that the Diocese of Trenton has sponsored biannual pilgrimages to the basilica for more than four decades.
“We travel to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which we endearingly call ‘Mary’s House,’ and it is here we find Jesus in Mary’s House because she constantly leads us to her son,” said Father Trammell.
“We journey there every two years as a diocese, around our bishop, who is a successor to the apostles, with the hope that we will follow Jesus Christ more closely ourselves as his disciples,” he said.
“A pilgrimage is a mini-sabbatical, a spiritual vacation,” Father Kimtis added reflectively. “It’s time off with the Lord that is extended and it’s also enjoyable and fun. You are away from everything that is normally pressing in on you. A pilgrimage is freeing; it’s community-building because we meet people from around the diocese who are our brothers and sisters in faith.”
More details will be announced. For further information call 609-403-7160.
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By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Recognizing that it is in the family one’s faith is first planted, then nurtured, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. is extending a special invitation to all families of the diocese to join him Oct. 19 in a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington.
This year’s pilgrimage theme, “The Family as the Garden of Faith”, was especially chosen for this Year of Faith and promises to offer all members of the diocesan family, young and old, single and married, opportunities for prayer, reflection, reconciliation and fellowship.
Father Ian Trammell, diocesan pilgrimage coordinator and pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, reflected upon the theme, noting, “The family, of course, is the basic unit of the Church and of society and the Church serves to support parents, whether they are married or divorced, in the raising of the children in the faith.”
The day at the basilica, the largest church in North America and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, will begin at 7 a.m. as thousands of pilgrims will depart parishes from all four counties of the diocese for the nation’s capital. En route, the pilgrims will be led in the recitation of Morning Prayer and the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Upon their arrival at 11 a.m. the pilgrims will gather in the Great Upper Church where they will be welcomed and join in praying the Angelus and the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
A blessing of families will take place in the various chapels located in the Great Upper Church starting at 12:30 p.m., while the Sacrament of Penance will be available at 1:30 p.m. During the day, families will have a chance to visit the various chapels located in the shrine’s Great Upper Church and receive a blessing.
At 3 p.m., the day will conclude with the celebration of Mass by Bishop O’Connell and dozens of priests of the diocese in the Great Upper Church.
The buses will depart Washington by 4:30 p.m. and on the way to New Jersey, Evening Prayer and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary will be recited
Father Trammell noted that persons attending the pilgrimage may receive a “plenary indulgence for the temporal punishment of sin” for themselves and for deceased loved ones.
“A plenary indulgence is a particular grace granted by God so that we have the remission of all our temporal punishment due to sin when we die,” said Father Trammell. “(A plenary indulgence) is a great gift that the Church offers; it’s a celebratory gift.”
Reflecting on how pilgrims can prepare for the Oct. 19 journey, Father Trammell said that the most important way is that they “have the desire” to join the pilgrimage, “and also by inviting others on the pilgrimage. The pilgrims will also be provided with prayer guide captain that can also assist the people with their pilgrimage experience,” he said.
Father Trammell and Father Kevin Kimtis, parochial vicar of St. Gregory the Great Parish and a member of the Diocesan Pilgrimage Planning Committee, offered words of encouragement on why faithful from the diocese should make the journey to Washington.
“A pilgrimage is a journey that a person takes because he or she is in search of something; they want to find something, and we hope they are in search of wanting to find a closer and deeper relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ,” Father Trammell said, noting that the Diocese of Trenton has sponsored biannual pilgrimages to the basilica for more than four decades.
“We travel to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which we endearingly call ‘Mary’s House,’ and it is here we find Jesus in Mary’s House because she constantly leads us to her son,” said Father Trammell.
“We journey there every two years as a diocese, around our bishop, who is a successor to the apostles, with the hope that we will follow Jesus Christ more closely ourselves as his disciples,” he said.
“A pilgrimage is a mini-sabbatical, a spiritual vacation,” Father Kimtis added reflectively. “It’s time off with the Lord that is extended and it’s also enjoyable and fun. You are away from everything that is normally pressing in on you. A pilgrimage is freeing; it’s community-building because we meet people from around the diocese who are our brothers and sisters in faith.”
More details will be announced. For further information call 609-403-7160.
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