Pilgrims for Mary
Pictures submitted by Pilgrims for Mary over the years
It is an opportunity to take part in one of the Catholic Church's oldest prayer traditions, walked pilgrimage, without having to take weeks or months to travel great lengths to become a pilgrim. Instead, using MCP's resources and joining the wider Catholic community, people become pilgrims wherever they are.
Building on the success of 2020's 300 Pilgrimages for Mary, which saw 354 pilgrimages made across 80+ cities, 35 states, and 6 countries, MCP hosted 500 Pilgrims for Mary in May of 2021 to get 502 pilgrims on the road across the U.S. and beyond to honor Mary throughout her month of May.
How do I make a pilgrimage for Mary?
Many of us have never made a pilgrimage and hearing the word can conjure up images of medieval knights, faraway places, and a need for a lot of theological knowledge. In reality, a pilgrimage is one of the simplest and most accessible forms of prayer the Catholic faith has to offer. Do you have prayers and intentions you would like to bring to Mary? Do you have somewhere near you where you feel close to Mary? Carry those intentions in your heart as you walk to that destination, then lift them up to Mary when you get there, and you have made a pilgrimage.
In previous years, we've had pilgrims walk to local parishes, shrines, and cathedrals. We also had pilgrims walk into their backyards, out to scenic spots near their homes, and elsewhere. If you choose a specific place to walk to in order to lift prayers and intentions to Mary, then you are a pilgrim, and it doesn't matter if you're in Rome, Italy or Rome, Indiana, or anywhere else.
A digital copy of the Marian Pilgrimage Companion Booklet and a growing number of videos are available below the pilgrim counter and map.
When can I go on a pilgrimage for Mary?
You can set out on a pilgrimage for Mary at any time of the year. We at MCP dedicate May, the month of Mary, to encouraging people to become pilgrims for the Blessed Mother, but there's nothing to stop you from making a pilgrimage tomorrow!
Total Pilgrims for Mary To Date
933
Resources:
Never made a walked pilgrimage before, or want to dive deeper than you have before? Use our pilgrimage guide tailored to walking for Mary in addition to watching the videos below. More general pilgrimage resources are on the "Resources" page.
Pictures of Mary submitted by pilgrims