By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

For the nearly 600 children who traveled Nov. 7 to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington with their parents or other family members, the diocesan pilgrimage was more than just a spiritual gathering – it was also something of a quest.

By visiting 10 individual Marian chapels surrounding the main body of the Basilica and beneath the church, children were able to collect stickers in a "Pilgrim Passport" booklet to commemorate their visit. Each sticker symbolized a passport stamp, printed with the Marian image represented in each chapel.

Diocesan volunteers in each chapel solidified the teaching moments by presenting information particular to that chapel, explaining what the title of Mary signified and the history of the image or devotion. Children lined up excitedly after the short teaching to receive their stickers, many of them exclaiming, "C'mon, let's go get another one!"

In Our Lady of Siluva Chapel, the Tantum family -- Daniel and Christine and their son Alexander -- of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, worked as a team. Alexander read a short piece about Our Lady, Christine handed out passport stickers, and Daniel asked the children questions to get them thinking.

"How did Mary show her love for Jesus?" he asked a group of kids, most of whom were barely seven and younger. Hands shot up, and they answered: "She said yes to Jesus." "She took care of him." "She was always with him, even on the Cross."

Chris and Stacy Test, members of St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, try to make it a habit to visit different churches on vacation with their sons Joshua, six, and Samuel, who is almost three.

"This is the greatest thing in my life!" Joshua said enthusiastically; Stacy explained that while he has been to the Basilica before, this is the first trip that he remembers.

"We like to do these types of trips as a family," Stacy said, "and we use sacramentals to help teach them... Children notice details, and we use what's around (to instruct them)."

Children in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel were asked to help put together the words of the Hail Mary prayer on a felt board. Volunteer Jerry Wutkowski explained the history behind the scratches on the icon's face, telling how a soldier had tried to destroy the image with a sword, but died immediately on his third attempt.

Stephanie and Kris Lukowitz, members of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, lit candles at the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel. Daughters Kaleigh, 10, and Kirsten, six, liked the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel the best, and were praying especially for sick members of their family there.

Giovanna  Bacile, member of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, brought her sons Andrew, 11, Justin, nine, and Michael, six, along on pilgrimage, while her husband stayed home with their baby daughter.

"My kids are actually really enjoying themselves ... I thought it would be a great experience for them to visit (the Basilica)," Bacile explained. She felt that with their parish's summer religious education program, the boys had been well prepared in that concentrated period. "I hope they take away a lot of information (from this trip) -- what it means to be a saint, and the history." Her son Michael agreed that so far the trip had been "amazing."

"Let's go to another shrine and learn more!" Justin chimed in.

Visitors to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel were treated to a short skit about Juan Diego, with Josue Arriola, director of the diocesan department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, providing the teaching.

Ken and Diana Falls, members of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, brought seven of their nine children on pilgrimage; the two oldest were working. With their father, Ken, who is also a freelance photographer for The Monitor, they have been on pilgrimage with the Diocese each time it has been available, and several of the Falls children are already familiar with the Basilica.

"The church is really pretty, and it's cool to see the different chapels," said Katarina Falls, 13. "My mom said you get special graces (on pilgrimage) and time off from Purgatory!"

"We are praying for several people in our family who have asked us to pray for them; for a gentleman who used to be in our home-school group, who was recently diagnosed with cancer; and for our oldest daughter," Diana said.

Katarina particularly enjoyed using the passport to visit the chapels. "I like that it can be a souvenir, and that you can remember (the trip) always," she said.

Aidan Sierra, eight, came with his family on one of two buses brought by St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville. While his father took care of his baby sister in another part of the church, he and his mother, Jacquesline Crez, toured the chapels. Of the four chapels Aidan had seen at that point, the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel's story made the biggest impression on him.

Crez believes that the pilgrimage has been a "great way for (my son) to learn about the faith and Mary ... by showing him, with the visual aspect (of the trip), he gains deeper knowledge." She also felt a "great sense of peace, being in this holy place."