Catholics of the Diocese of Arlington can join Arlington Bishop
Michael F. Burbidge in prayer during the biennial diocesan pilgrimage to the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Oct.
14.
Dominican Father Thomas Joseph White, director of the Thomistic
Institute at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, will speak during
the Holy Hour about the message of Fatima. He is the author of The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism.
“Fatima is a call to personal responsibility,” said Father White.
“It is a reminder that we need to take serious that what is at stake is our
eternal salvation, the offer of perennial happiness with God, but also the real
possibility of eternal loss.”
This year’s pilgrimage theme is “Totus Tuus; We are totally
yours, Mary.” Totus Tuus was Pope John Paul II’s motto. Father White said the
sense of this title is that there is no competition between our devotion to
Christ and His Blessed Mother.
“Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary allows us to grow closer
to Christ,” he said. “In growing closer to her, our own lives can be immersed
more deeply in the life of Christ.”
If you go
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,
400 Michigan Ave., N.E.,Washington
9 a.m. — Opening music
9:30 a.m. — Welcome and rosary
10 a.m. — Confessions, Seek and Find family activity
11 a.m. — Holy Hour with reflections on the message of
Fatima
12 p.m. — Lunch
1:30 p.m. — Mass with Bishop Burbidge, blessing of religious
articles
2:30 p.m. — Eucharistic procession to Saint John Paul II
National Shrine
3 p.m. — Benediction and Divine Mercy Chaplet at Saint
John Paul II National Shrine
