BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has announced plans for a one-day pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 23.
Buses will depart at 7 am from St. Jude Parish in Monroe, the Catholic Center in Bridgeport and Trinity High School in Stamford. They are expected to return at 11:30 pm on the same day.
The pilgrimage day will include arrival at the basilica grounds at 1 pm, with Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiano at 2 pm followed by a procession and dedication of a new outdoor Rosary Path and shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
The new shrine, created in an effort led by Bishop Caggiano, will honor all young people while celebrating the 100th anniversary of this appearance of Our Lady, who appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917 and asked them to pray the Rosary.
“I am asking young people and all people who are young at heart to join us in this great spiritual adventure of prayer and pilgrimage as we visit the National Basilica for a day,” said Bishop Caggiano.
“The pilgrimage encourages everyone to become missionary disciples with me, and to invite their friends, family and neighbors to deepen their faith and their relationship with the Lord.”
The bishop said that through prayer and pilgrimage people can find “a joyful heart, a more optimistic view, and the energy to make a difference in the world.”
The pilgrimage to the shrine is the culmination of the online Face of Prayer campaign, which the bishop formally launched on Divine Mercy Sunday at St. Augustine Cathedral. Following the shrine’s dedication, the Face of Prayer campaign will be open to people all over the United States, with Bishop Caggiano making a special invitation to the more and 20,000 young people who will attend the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis later this year.
Since the launch of the Face of Prayer campaign, thousands have responded to the bishop’s call to prayer by texting a “selfie,” a prayer intention, or the word “pray” to 55778 to join in the faith journey to learn more about the power of prayer. Participants receive a daily prayer intention from the bishop that ends with a call to prayer. The diocese has also released video reflections by Bishop Caggiano on the power of prayer.
To date, more than 17,000 texts have been sent and ready by participants in the Face of Prayer.
The campaign and the pilgrimage are being sponsored and supported by the diocesan Leadership Institute under the leadership of Patrick Donovan.
Donovan said he would like to see more than 1,500 people make the trip to D.C. for a day of prayer. He is encouraging parishes, schools, ecclesial movements and youth groups throughout the diocese to reserve a bus.
He said that, at the request of the bishop, no events are to be scheduled on September 23, so as many people who wish to participate may do so unencumbered.
The Diocesan Youth Choir, under the direction of Mary Bozzuti Higgins, will participate in the pilgrimage and sing during the Mass at the Basilica.
(The fee for transportation is $60 per person. Group rates and some financial assistance are available. For more information and to register, visit www.thefaceofprayer.com or email: institute@diobpt.org. Those who would prefer to travel to Washington D.C. on Friday and stay overnight before the pilgrimage can make a reservation though Little Flower Tours and Travel. The $299 fee includes deluxe round-trip motor coach, one night at the Hampton Inn, White House, Washington D.C., and breakfast. Buses will depart from Stamford and Bridgeport. For more information, call toll free: 888.843.7373. The Mass at the National Basilica on September 23 will be covered live by EWTN.)
