Meet Michael Bromley and Terry Jennings, parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, who are commemorating the Diocesan Golden Jubilee in a special way. The newlyweds decided to celebrate the Marian-themed year two of the jubilee with a pilgrimage to diocesan churches named after Mary.
Bromley and Jennings first learned about the opportunity to make a Marian pilgrimage on the diocese’s website in June. During this time, Father Kevin J. Dansereau, then parochial vicar of the cathedral, was appointed parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, one of the churches on the pilgrimage. The couple realized that they could both complete the pilgrimage and visit Father Dansereau.
“It was really a happenstance, but at the same time: road trip!” Jennings said.
The married couple began their pilgrimage July 1, starting with the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria. They plan to finish by the end of the liturgical year. So far, they’ve visited eight churches.
Each trip, Jennings and Bromley travel to one of the 11 Marian churches, attend a daily or vigil Mass, and meet with a priest and parishioners to learn more about the parish.
Bromley and Jennings started a blog, “Rejoice in Mary,” to document their pilgrimage, with the hope that others might be inspired to make their own pilgrimage. They post updates for each trip, describing the church’s architecture, Mass experience and any parish traditions that honor Mary. On a “side trip,” as Bromley phrases it, they even visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
Of the churches they’ve visited, Jennings’ favorite is St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax. In addition to a Shroud of Turin display in the narthex, “St. Mary of Sorrows, in their altar, has the relics of both Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas,” she said.
“Every visit is a new experience, and to hear the priest, to see the different parishioners, my favorite experience has just been chatting with people,” Bromley said.
While Bromley socializes and gets a feel for the parish culture, Jennings prays in the sanctuary and surveys the church interior.
“We have figured out that Michael is the chatty one,” she said, laughing. “While I’m saying rosaries in front of the Mary statue, he’s talking with the priest and talking with the sacristan. And it makes it more rich.”
The couple added that visiting parishes throughout the diocese helps to expose them to different “flavors” of parish culture.
“It’s been really beautiful being able to experience Mass in a different place for each of these visits,” Bromley said.
The pilgrimage has done more than given the couple a trip around the diocese. Jennings recently felt inspired to devote herself to the Holy Family. “Mary will take anything and will change you,” she said.
Jennings added that their endeavor provides a pilgrimage opportunity for those who can’t make a large-scale pilgrimage.
“Not all of us have the luxury to travel to the Holy Land. Not many have that resource or that time commitment,” she said. “But they can go down the street, and if they go to even a different parish nearby, they might learn something new about Catholicism that resparks their interest.”
Find out more
For the pilgrimage blog, go to rejoiceinmary.org
