Thousands Gather to Honor Our Lady in Washington, D.C.!
By Drey Carr

On a bright, cool morning in Washington, D.C., 4,000 pilgrims from across the United States gathered to kick off the 2025 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage. Held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the pilgrimage promoted the power of the Holy Rosary through the faithful preaching of several Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph.

A beautiful wooden statue of Mary, Queen of the Rosary, newly sculpted this year for the Pilgrimage, was processed into the sanctuary, where it was solemnly blessed by the main celebrant, Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P. The Master of Ceremonies, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P., introduced Fr. Austin Litke, O.P., who gave the Pilgrimage’s two conferences.

Fr. Austin, a Kentucky native, spoke first on how faith relates to the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
“Mary took all these things into her heart and pondered them – that’s what the act of faith does. There are lots of things we have to ponder in life, but there are also things that God wants to give us. God daily presents those things to us through the Rosary. Through the repetition of the prayers, our voices, our minds, our hearts, our bodies even are consecrated to these mysteries.”

After the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Fr. Austin began his second conference on Charity and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary: the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.

“Jesus is not afraid of our sins. On the Cross, we see the love of God manifest to the world. What has conquered the world? It is the Love of God – our God who is Love. These mysteries of the Rosary present things for our love, not just as something to admire from the outside as spectators, but as something to live. These mysteries are supposed to be present in our lives as well. In the Rosary, daily, minute by minute, we can know Jesus, and love Him, and allow that knowledge and love to transform and convert us, preparing us for that eternal life where we will love him for all eternity.”

After the second conference, the pilgrims gathered again for the recitation of the Rosary itself. While student brothers from the Dominican House of Studies schola cantorum sang, the new statue of Mary, Queen of the Rosary was processed around the Basilica. Praying the Joyful, Glorious, and Sorrowful mysteries in sequence, the pilgrims prepared for the climax of the Pilgrimage in the Vigil Mass of the Holy Rosary.

Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., the homilist for the Mass, tied the two previous conferences together by speaking on hope and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary: the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption, and the Coronation.

“On this day we bind ourselves to the Lord in the Rosary. The Rosary is our chain of hope. We have one principle hope during this life, in this valley of tears – eternal life. The Blessed Mother’s favorite prayer is given to us so that we may be lifted up to heaven! We are to be lifted up in our petitions. The fifth and final Glorious mystery, the Coronation, reminds us to hope that we may be crowned with Mary in heaven! When you pick up a Rosary, you lay hold of eternal life; pray for yourselves, pray for your loved ones!”

We invite you to join us next year at the 2026 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage in Washington, D.C. The Rosary Shrine of St. Jude is a short trip away from the Basilica where the event is held – make it a double pilgrimage!

Photo: Kendall McLaren