It was a day that held significant meaning for the thousands of faithful who traveled from the Trenton Diocese to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Sept. 17.

Some of the pilgrims who boarded buses from parishes around the four-county diocese were going on the pilgrimage to offer prayers of thanksgiving for petitions answered on earlier pilgrimages. Others brought new petitions with them to the shrine, known far and wide as “Mary’s House.” Throughout the day, beginning on the bus, they offered up prayers for return of good health, for safe delivery through a time of trial, for the gift of new life, for the assurance of a good death.

An added devotion for many of the pilgrims who ventured to Washington this year was the special blessings offered for married and engaged couples as this year’s theme highlighted “Mary, Mother of Those Called to the Vocation of Marriage and their Families.” During the pilgrimage, the couples had an opportunity to visit the shrines in many Marian chapels and have their marriage blessed by one of the deacons from the diocese. During the Mass, all married couples were invited to stand and join in the recitation of a Prayer for One’s Spouse. Leading the couples in prayer were Linda and Mark Richardson, who are members of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton. Linda Richardson is also the director of the diocesan Office of Youth, Marriage and Family.

For  Frank and Theresa De Roberts of St. John Neumann Parish, Mount Laurel, the couple said the day was one to offer prayers of thanksgiving not only for their 55 years of marriage, but for the safe return of their grandson who served in the military in Afghanistan and for their granddaughter’s new job.

Recently engaged Mary Colbert of St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, and fiancé, David Epstein of Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing, saw the pilgrimage as being a “good way to begin an engagement,” said Colbert, noting that the couple plans to marry next September.

“David had been asking me for the past two years to come (to the shrine). We’re very happy we came,” Colbert acknowledged.

Risper Omondi of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, remarked on how she had looked forward to her first visit to “Mary’s House” and spending time with the Blessed Mother in prayer.

“Mary is a woman and I know she’ll listen,” said Omondi who added how heartened she was to spend the pilgrimage with fellow Corpus Christi parishioners.

Joseph and Michele Barbera of St. David the King Parish, West Windsor, were “thrilled” to attend the blessing in Our Lady of Pompei Chapel.

Michele Barbera told how she had suffered from double pneumonia and nearly died earlier this year.

“He saved me. He called 9-1-1,” Michele Barbera said, as she clutched her husband’s hand.

“This is the first time out since I got sick and we wanted to come here. It feels so good to see the bishop, to receive the blessing, to be part of the diocese!” Michele Barbera said.

Though it was the second time that Sylvia Heskel of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, had been on the diocesan pilgrimage, for her husband, Howard, it was the first.

Sylvia Heskel smiled as she told of how Howard is Jewish, yet he “has been asking a lot of questions about the Catholic faith,” she said. “I asked him to come with me today and he agreed.”

Howard Heskel admitted that he has been thinking a great deal about the possibility of becoming Catholic and that the pilgrimage would be one way for him to learn more about the faith.

Howard Heskel said he was moved to join his wife in receiving a blessing on their marriage.

“That made the day extra special,” he said.

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