There’s been a lot of talk about pilgrimages lately.
A simple search for the word “pilgrimage” on the Catholic Herald’s website will reveal dozens of articles about recent pilgrimages around our diocese, our country and the world.
Those who have gone on pilgrimage before certainly know that a pilgrimage is very different from a vacation. Maybe you participated in visiting the Marian churches in the diocese, or you walked a portion of the Eucharistic pilgrimage to Indianapolis, or were fortunate enough to be able to travel to England. Sometimes, it’s not so much about the destination as it is the journey.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that, “Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer.” (CCC 2691) To be a pilgrim requires one to, first of all, be on a journey, and second, realize where the journey is headed. All Christians are on a pilgrimage through this life until we reach our eternal homeland in heaven.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in 2010, he said, “To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendor and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.” Going on a pilgrimage can be a transformational experience that changes us and brings us closer to God and to his church.
As we celebrate the Arlington diocese’s 50th anniversary, we have the opportunity to be renewed in prayer as a diocesan family at the Golden Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, Oct. 5. This pilgrimage will provide a day for our diocesan family to gather to remember the past with gratitude, rejoice in the current vitality of our diocese, and to renew and strengthen our faith for the future.
As the final celebration of our jubilee events, you won’t want to miss this pilgrimage. There will be the opportunities for a seated tour of the basilica; confessions; a “Seek and Find” activity for families; spiritual reflections in English and Spanish; Mass with Bishop Burbidge; and Eucharistic Adoration with a procession inside the basilica.
If you can’t come for the whole day, come for part of the day.
One of the beautiful graces of attending these large, diocesan events is realizing that you are a part of something bigger. You’re not just a part of your parish, you’re a part of the Arlington diocese. You may meet people from places within the diocese that you’ve never been to before.
Additionally, going on a pilgrimage allows you to form new friendships, which strengthens communities in a shared experience of God’s grace. Attending this pilgrimage will not only renew your personal relationship with God, but will bring renewal in our local church as we continue our journey to heaven.
Fr. Smith is parochial vicar of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls.
Find out more
For the full schedule and plenary indulgence information, go to arlingtondiocese.org/golden-jubilee-pilgrimage. Ask your parish if it’s arranging group transportation.
