Several thousand diocesan Catholics participated in the eucharistic procession and rosary at the start of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Oct. 15.

"We are the church of Arlington in this holy place," said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who led the procession by carrying the monstrance. He also was the celebrant and homilist of the pilgrimage Mass in the Great Upper Church.

Before the Mass, the bishop prayed at the Basilica’s Crypt Church and spoke with parishioners who were surprised to see the bishop in one of the pews, silent and alone, reading a Bible.

As in previous years, the procession took place around the basilica last Saturday, with hundreds of people, many wearing typical native costumes from Korea, the Phillipines and Latin American countries, among others.

"The procession was a gift from God to our diocese," said Sister Eloina Alvares from the Poor Sisters of St. Joseph in Alexandria.

Irish tenor Mark Forrest helped lead the morning music during the rosary and also led eucharistic reflections in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the basilica, gave the pilgrims a "Tour of Faith." Msgr. Rossi said that by coming to the basilica the pilgrims were participating in something that their ancestors have done for thousands of years. He said a pilgrimage involves three elements: travel, prayer and sacrifice.

The basilica is the largest Catholic church in the country and the eighth largest in the world. Construction on the Crypt Church was started in 1921 and finished in 1926. Construction on the Upper Church began in 1951 and was completed in 1959. A new mosaic, "The Redemption Dome," is currently under construction on the ceiling of the Upper Church. It is expected to be completed this spring.

Father Francis Peffley, chairman of the Pilgrimage Planning Committee, welcomed Bishop Loverde and Deacon Tom Bello. "This pilgrimage ends the diocesan celebration for the Year of the Eucharist," said Father Peffley.

Father José Eugenio Hoyos, director of the diocesan Spanish Apostolate, gave a brief summary in Spanish of Bishop Loverde’s homily during the Mass. Thirty priests concelebrated the Mass with the bishop.

The biennial diocesan pilgrimage included confession in various languages, a youth talk with Sister Maria Christi, principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Schools in Woodbridge and tour of the chapels.

The Cathedral of St. Thomas More Choir, directed by Richard Gibala, led music at the Mass. Don Cotton directed the Children’s Choir from Queen of the Apostles School in Alexandria.

The next Diocesan Pilgrimage to the shrine is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2007, the 90th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions.