STAMFORD—Martha Dombroski, a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Stamford, provided these photos of her “Seven Churches” pilgrimage to churches in Stamford on Holy Thursday.
Visiting the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament at seven churches on the night of Holy Thursday is both an ancient custom and part of Martha’s family tradition.
“My parents were long-time members of the choir at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stamford. And as I child, I remember after Holy Thursday Mass we’d spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then drive to a few churches to “see their altars or reposition.” 
“I don’t really remember if we went to seven churches in total and I never thought of it as a pilgrimage either. In my seven or eight year old mind, we were just going to see the altars.”
As she got older and lived on her own, Martha says she fell out of the practice of visiting the seven churches…but about 10 years ago, when she started attending Bible Study, other members of her group were talking about “making the pilgrimage.”
“I realized quickly that this is much more than just going to see how each parish chose to decorate their altars of reposition. It is a chance to join Peter, James and John and “stay and watch” with the Lord, spend time with Him and not scatter. It is an opportunity to join Mary and ponder all that happened that night in the Upper Room and in the garden and all that was about to happen on Good Friday.”
Father Joseph Marcello, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull, recently wrote a reflection for Fairfield County Catholic on the practice of visiting the churches. He explained that during his time in the Garden of Gethsemane, an additional suffering for Christ was that he found his disciples asleep during his hour of need.
“He said to Peter, ‘So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’” (Mt 26: 40-41).
“Through the centuries, generations of Catholics, moved by this haunting and poignant question of Christ, have themselves responded to him from their own time and place, accompanying him in his agony in the garden by maintaining a vigil of prayer and presence with him at a repository on Holy Thursday night. There they are present before the same Christ, now in the Eucharist, who suffered in the Garden on Holy Thursday,” wrote Father Marcello.
Martha Dombroski says the Seven Churches Pilgrimage was an opportunity “to shut out the distractions and concentrate on Jesus and all that He has done for me.”
The evening pilgrimage also connects her with her beloved parents. “It is for me, my most prayerful time of Holy Week and the Triduum, because, like my parents, I sing in the very same choir that they did.”
In preparation for her pilgrimage, she took the extra step of visiting the websites of local parishes to get information. She hopes that many churches will participate next year and invite pilgrims on Holy Thursday.
Her pilgrimage included stops at Holy Name of Jesus Church, St. Cecilia Church, St. Bridget of Ireland Church, Sacred Heart Church, St. Clement of Rome Church, St. Mary Church and the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist.
