Seven Church Walk 2012
April 2, 2012
On Saturday, March 31, more than a hundred young adults from Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland participated in the annual Seven Church Walk through downtown DC. Among the pilgrims were contingents of brothers from the Dominican House of Studies and of seminarians from the Blessed John Paul II Seminary of the Archdiocese of Washington. The day began with Mass at St. Patrick’s Church celebrated by Msgr. Robert Panke, who preached on the season of Lent and the spirit of the pilgrimage. A schola of Dominican friars from the Dominican House of Studies led the music during the Mass. After Mass, the pilgrims walked across the National Mall to St. Dominic’s Church, where they sang the office of Mid-morning Prayer after a brief reflection by Br. Innocent Smith, O.P., on the Divine Office as a participation in Christ’s prayer to the Father. A short break after the liturgy gave the pilgrims an opportunity to admire the beautiful stained glass windows in the church. The pilgrims then walked around the Capitol to St. Joseph’s Church on Capitol Hill, singing various hymns and chants along the way. At St. Joseph’s, they prayed the Litany to St. Joseph after a reflection on the importance of family life by Sarah Yaklic, Coordinator for Young Adult Ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington. The pilgrims then walked up New Jersey Avenue to arrive at Holy Rosary Church, where Br. Gabriel Torretta, O.P., spoke about the Rosary and the pilgrims prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries. The pilgrims then had a convivial lunch in the parish hall, sharing soda bread and brie in the midst of friendly conversation. Next, the pilgrims walked to Mary, Mother of God, where they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet after a reflection on St. Faustina and Divine Mercy by Br. Allen Alexander, MIC. Afterwards, the pilgrims progressed to Immaculate Conception Church, where Fr. William Gurnee led the Stations of the Cross and preached on respect for human life. The pilgrimage concluded at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, where Fr. Carter Griffin preached on vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and celebrated Benediction. See below for a slideshow of the event:
