Diocesan pilgrimage a time of prayer and conversion
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Morrell | Acting Managing Editor
Bishop David O’Connell, C. M., invites all members of the diocese to journey with him to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, Sept. 17. This journey marks the bishop’s first pilgrimage since taking over as shepherd of the Church of Trenton in December, 2010.
This year’s pilgrimage will have as its theme, “Mary, Mother of those called to the vocation of Marriage and their families,” and will serve as a witness to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan.” A special invitation is extended to all married couples to join the bishop on this year’s pilgrimage.
Opportunities will exist for couples to renew their marriage vows, and receive a blessing. In addition, both married and engaged couples are invited to pray for each other while the diocesan Church affirms their courage and strength in living their vocation, especially at a time when society offers little support to married couples, Bishop O’Connell also calls all the people of the diocese to pray with and for married couples and their families.
The day will begin for pilgrims when buses depart at 7 a.m., with morning prayer, including the prayer and reflection of the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary offered during the bus ride.
Pilgrims will arrive at the shrine at approximately 11 a.m., and will be welcomed in the Great Upper Church at noon, where they will pray the Angelus together.
A blessing of married couples will take place in various chapels throughout the shrine at 12:30 p.m. followed by a celebration of Penance in the Crypt Church at 1:30 p.m. The day will close with a Eucharistic Liturgy in the Great Upper Church at 3 p.m.
Pilgrims will depart for home at 4:30 p.m. and will continue their devotions on the trip home with evening prayer and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and a reflection.
Pilgrimage has long been part of the human religious experience as a form of religious devotion or piety that encourages the pilgrim to step away from the ordinary routine and focus heart and mind on God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that pilgrimages “evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer” (2691).
The diocese has gone on pilgrimage to the basilica every two years for the past four decades, with the exception of 2001, when the pilgrimage was held in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
The basilica, dedicated to the patroness of the United States under the title of her Immaculate Conception, is the largest Catholic church in North America and one of 10 largest churches in the world, according to the basilica website. In addition to its Great Upper Church and Crypt Church, the basilica houses more than 70 chapels and oratories as well as the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art in the world. Pope John Paul II, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Benedict XVI are among those who have visited the basilica, a place of worship, pilgrimage, evangelization and reconciliation, which welcomes nearly 1 million people annually.
According to the basilica’s mission statement, “Mary’s Shrine invites people from across the country and beyond into the saving moment of faith, hope and charity, so that they may be reconciled and transformed into living symbols of Christ’s presence in the world.”
Bishop O’Connell hopes that, this year, husbands, wives and their children; the young and old, single and married, will join him in accepting the invitation.
Some 40 buses will be leaving from locations throughout the diocese. To view a schedule of the day and a list of bus locations and coordinators, see ad in this issue on page 15, or, for a digital copy, click HERE.
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By Mary Morrell | Acting Managing Editor
Bishop David O’Connell, C. M., invites all members of the diocese to journey with him to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, Sept. 17. This journey marks the bishop’s first pilgrimage since taking over as shepherd of the Church of Trenton in December, 2010.
This year’s pilgrimage will have as its theme, “Mary, Mother of those called to the vocation of Marriage and their families,” and will serve as a witness to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan.” A special invitation is extended to all married couples to join the bishop on this year’s pilgrimage.
Opportunities will exist for couples to renew their marriage vows, and receive a blessing. In addition, both married and engaged couples are invited to pray for each other while the diocesan Church affirms their courage and strength in living their vocation, especially at a time when society offers little support to married couples, Bishop O’Connell also calls all the people of the diocese to pray with and for married couples and their families.
The day will begin for pilgrims when buses depart at 7 a.m., with morning prayer, including the prayer and reflection of the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary offered during the bus ride.
Pilgrims will arrive at the shrine at approximately 11 a.m., and will be welcomed in the Great Upper Church at noon, where they will pray the Angelus together.
A blessing of married couples will take place in various chapels throughout the shrine at 12:30 p.m. followed by a celebration of Penance in the Crypt Church at 1:30 p.m. The day will close with a Eucharistic Liturgy in the Great Upper Church at 3 p.m.
Pilgrims will depart for home at 4:30 p.m. and will continue their devotions on the trip home with evening prayer and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and a reflection.
Pilgrimage has long been part of the human religious experience as a form of religious devotion or piety that encourages the pilgrim to step away from the ordinary routine and focus heart and mind on God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that pilgrimages “evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer” (2691).
The diocese has gone on pilgrimage to the basilica every two years for the past four decades, with the exception of 2001, when the pilgrimage was held in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
The basilica, dedicated to the patroness of the United States under the title of her Immaculate Conception, is the largest Catholic church in North America and one of 10 largest churches in the world, according to the basilica website. In addition to its Great Upper Church and Crypt Church, the basilica houses more than 70 chapels and oratories as well as the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art in the world. Pope John Paul II, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Benedict XVI are among those who have visited the basilica, a place of worship, pilgrimage, evangelization and reconciliation, which welcomes nearly 1 million people annually.
According to the basilica’s mission statement, “Mary’s Shrine invites people from across the country and beyond into the saving moment of faith, hope and charity, so that they may be reconciled and transformed into living symbols of Christ’s presence in the world.”
Bishop O’Connell hopes that, this year, husbands, wives and their children; the young and old, single and married, will join him in accepting the invitation.
Some 40 buses will be leaving from locations throughout the diocese. To view a schedule of the day and a list of bus locations and coordinators, see ad in this issue on page 15, or, for a digital copy, click HERE.
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