Since his installation in December 2016, Arlington Bishop Michael
F. Burbidge has officiated at dedications, confirmations, ordinations and any
number of events. But more of the nearly 465,000 registered Catholics of the
Diocese of Arlington can join the Bishop in prayer for the first time during
the biennial diocesan pilgrimage at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in Washington Oct. 14.
This year’s theme is “Totus Tuus,
we are totally yours, Mary.” Totus Tuus was Pope
John Paul II’s motto.
“What better way to rally the family and get the family together
than doing it with our mom,” said Father James R. Searby, chaplain at George
Mason University in Fairfax. “Our Blessed Mother is going to be our rallying
point.”
The pilgrimage will include music, recitation of the rosary,
confession, adoration, Holy Hour and Mass. After Mass, Bishop Burbidge will
bless religious articles.
The pilgrimage will include an event called “Seek and Find,” where
families will be able to walk through 10 locations in the basilica where
seminarians will be stationed. The pilgrims will be able to go to those
stations, have an experience, be educated and it will help people connect to
their own personal faith journey, said Father Searby.
This year, after Mass, pilgrims will participate in a Eucharistic
procession led by the Bishop from the basilica to the nearby Saint John Paul II
National Shrine. The Sisters of Our Lady of Divine Mercy will lead the pilgrims
in praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
“As we give ourselves to Mary, we are then going to the shrine
and asking St. John Paul II to intercede for us that we will be able to live
what we just did (at the pilgrimage),” said Father Searby. “Very few people
teach us better to love Mary than St. John Paul II who had such a devotion to
her.”
Bishop Burbidge was ordained a bishop in the pontificate of Pope
John Paul II. “So, we go back to the beginning with our shepherd,” said Father
Searby.
People can prepare for the pilgrimage ahead of time by deeply
entering the readings of every Sunday and praying a decade of the rosary each
day.
“We say in Mass, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter
under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,’” said Father
Searby. “Mary prepares the house of our hearts. The pilgrimage is a brilliant
opportunity for people to consecrate themselves to Mary.”
