September 28th Parish Confirmandi Make a Pilgrimage to Emmitsburg
By: Carla Haywood and Marie James
St. John the Evangelist Parish offers a wonderful opportunity for the parish youth, usually 8th grade and older, to explore their faith in fellowship with the Confirmandi group. They meet to discuss their faith journey and receive Catechesis prior to their Confirmation. One of their first activities was a pilgrimage to Emmitsburg to visit the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Confimandi visited the Basilica and grounds of the National Shrine of
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. A docent talked to the Confirmandi at the Basilica,
sharing the importance of the site and of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s works and
faith journey. They had lunch on the grounds of the Seminary at St. Mary's
University, and then hiked up to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of
Lourdes where the Confirmandi paired off and explored the Grotto while
prayerfully participating in a quiet scavenger hunt. The group reconvened at
the Glass Chapel where they participated in the Rosary, using the giant-sized
standing Rosary beads Maggie O’Neil and Peg Daly made especially for SJE
Confirmandi.
Exploring the grounds of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Confirmandi at Calvary Group statue at rear of Old Cemetery.
Confirmandi in front of the The Main Altar of the Basilica at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, which is adorned with a bronze canopy and carved image of Christ, in striking contrast to the colorful mosaics, which depict the apparition of the Blessed Mother to Saint Catherine Labouré. If you zoom in, you can see the Miraculous Medal symbolized in the bronze gates to the altar. While in the Basilica, the Confirmandi visited the Altar of the Relics of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes - Our Lady of the Mountain statue atop the Pangborn Memorial Campanile (bell tower) at entrance to Grotto.