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(Por favor desplácese hacia abajo para obtener información en español.)
On Holy Thursday, people throughout our Diocese enter into this pilgrimage of remaining with Jesus in the garden. The 7 Churches Pilgrimage is an opportunity to connect with a venerated tradition of the Church in a new way! Created by the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries, this pilgrimage weaves together passages from all four Gospels to take you through the narrative of Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Watch this brief video to learn more about the history of the 7 Churches Pilgrimage, including how St. Philip Neri promoted it in Rome where it grew to have more than 6,000 participants during Pope Pius IV’s pontificate.
How to go on Pilgrimage
The 7 Churches pilgrimage is a self-guided pilgrimage that you may do on your own or with a group. There are three sets of reflections designed to help guide you through this time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; one for adults, one for teens, and one for parents to accompany younger children.
Young adults, contact your local parish group to see if they are organizing a group!
Parents, this can be a great opportunity to help your children participate in the Easter Triduum in a new and creative way!
Youth ministry leaders, consider organizing a group of teens to participate together!
The resources will be available here for digital download to assist your time in prayer on the evening of Holy Thursday. We’ve worked with over 45 parishes to list the locations of their altar of repose. We have also created 7 suggested pilgrimage routes and created an interactive Google Map which you can access from the guide to make travel easy. All you need to do is select the route you want to go on, find some friends, download the guide and enjoy your time of pilgrimage!
Unable to use one of our suggested routes?
If you are unable to travel, participate from home! If you do not live in a location where you can access seven different Catholic churches during one evening, perhaps do half of the reflections from one church, and half from another? The most important thing is that you spend time in prayer with Jesus during this summit of the liturgical year.
Questions? E-mail [email protected]
7 Churches Prayer Guide
Adult Reflections ENGLISH | SPANISH
Teen Reflections ENGLISH | SPANISH
Reflections for Parents with their Children ENGLISH | SPANISH
El Jueves Santo, la gente de toda nuestra Diócesis entra en esta peregrinación de permanecer con Jesús en el jardín. ¡La Peregrinación de las 7 Iglesias es una oportunidad para conectarse con una tradición venerada de la Iglesia de una manera nueva! Creado por la Oficina de Ministerios para Jóvenes, Campus Universitarios, y Jóvenes Adultos, esta peregrinación entreteje pasajes de los cuatro Evangelios para llevarlo a través de la narrativa del tiempo de Jesús en el Jardín de Getsemaní.
Mire este breve video para aprender más sobre la historia de la Peregrinación de las 7 Iglesias, incluyendo cómo San Felipe Neri la promovió en Roma, donde creció hasta tener más de 6,000 participantes durante el pontificado del Papa Pío IV.
Cómo ir en Peregrinación
La peregrinación de las 7 Iglesias es una peregrinación autoguiada que se puede hacer solo o en grupo. Hay tres diferentes reflexiones diseñadas para ayudar a guiarlo a través de este tiempo con Jesús en el Jardín de Getsemaní; uno para adultos, uno para jóvenes, y otro para padres para acompañar a los niños más pequeños.
¡Jóvenes adultos, comuníquense con su grupo parroquial local para ver si están organizando un grupo!
¡Padres, esta puede ser una gran oportunidad para ayudar a sus hijos a participar en el Triduo Pascual de una manera nueva y creativa!
¡Líderes de ministerio juvenil, consideren organizar un grupo de jóvenes para participar juntos!
Los recursos estarán disponibles aquí para descarga digitalmente para ayudarlo en su tiempo de oración en la noche del Jueves Santo. Hemos trabajado con más de 35 parroquias para enumerar las ubicaciones de sus altares de reposo. También hemos creado 6 rutas de peregrinación sugeridas y creamos un mapa de Google interactivo al que puede acceder desde la guía para facilitar el viaje. ¡Solo hay que seleccionar la ruta que quiere seguir, buscar amigos, descargar la guía y disfrutar de su peregrinaje!
Si no puede viajar, ¡participa desde casa! Si no vive en un lugar donde tenga acceso a siete iglesias católicas diferentes durante una noche, ¿quizás haga la mitad de las reflexiones en una iglesia y la otra mitad en otra? Lo más importante es que pase tiempo en oración con Jesús durante esta cumbre del año litúrgico.
¿Preguntas? Mande un correo electrónico a [email protected].
7 Iglesias Guía de Oración
Reflexiones para Adultos INGLÉS | ESPAÑOL
Reflexiones de Jóvenes INGLÉS | ESPAÑOL
Reflexiones para Padres con sus Hijos INGLÉS | ESPAÑOL
Instructions for Google Map
- In the app, click “View map legend” and un-check routes until only your desired route remains.
- Hit the back arrow at the top to return to the map. DO NOT select close – it will exit from the routes.
- Click the icon for the parish you want to navigate to. Select “Directions” then “Start” to begin navigation. Do this for each parish as you travel.
Fig (Arlington)
St. Rita Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 6:00 p.m. (Spanish) 7:30 p.m. (English)
– Altar of Repose: Blessed Mother Side Altar in Church
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
Cathedral St. Thomas More
– Holy Thursday Mass: 6:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Ann Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Chapel Next to Main Church
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Chapel
St. Agnes Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 8:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: School Gymnasium
Palm (Sterling)
St. Theresa Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Administrative building atrium
Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Narthex
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Herndon
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: St. Francis de Sales Chapel
St. Veronica Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
Olive (Alexandria)
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Rita Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 6:00 p.m. (Spanish) 7:30 p.m. (English)
– Altar of Repose: Blessed Mother Side Altar in Church
Queen of Apostles Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 6:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Hannan Hall
Basilica of St. Mary
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: the Lyceum at 313 Duke St.
St. Louis Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: School Gymnasium
St. Lawrence Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m. (English) 8:45 p.m. (Spanish)
– Altar of Repose: Chapel
Acadia (Fairfax)
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: School Gymnasium
St. Ambrose Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel
– Holy Thursday Mass: 6:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Church Hall (lower level)
St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Beneath St. Joseph’s Statue in Main Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: McGivney Hall
Nativity Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Fr. Ready Room
St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall (under Church)
Cedar (Manassas)
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Main Church
All Saints Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Activity Center
St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Msgr. Hannan Hall
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 8:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Seton Hall
Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 5:30 p.m. (English) 7:30 p.m. (Spanish)
– Altar of Repose: Adoration Chapel
Holy Family Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Fr. Griffin Hall (gymnasium)
Cypress (Tysons)
St. Ambrose Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Philip Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Hayden Hall
St. James Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Msgr. Heller Hall
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Chapel
St. Mark Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Cassidy Activities Center
St. John the Beloved Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall (in school building)
St. Luke Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Flaherty Hall
Pine (Fredericksburg)
St. William of York Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Center
University of Mary Washington College Campus Ministry
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Dominic Savio House
St. Patrick Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Hall
St. Matthew Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Center
St. Anthony of Padua Mission
– Holy Thursday Mass: 7:00 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Center (9140 St. Anthonys Rd.)
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church
– Holy Thursday Mass: 5:30 p.m.
– Altar of Repose: Parish Center
7 Churches Pilgrimage FAQs
This tradition dates back to 16th-century Rome, where Philip Neri led people on a city-wide church pilgrimage throughout Rome. Today, Catholics all over the world participate on the evening of Holy Thursday in this great tradition.
No! Whether you go solo, with family, or with a parish group, the pilgrimage is a personal journey of prayer and reflection with our Lord.
Yes, and it is highly encouraged! One of the three versions of the reflection guides was created in particular for families with small cThis pilgrimage can be a great family experience and could become a cherished annual family tradition. Just plan ahead—bring snacks, choose a reasonable route, and maybe have some quiet activities for them in the car.
First determine what time you’re starting parishes Mass of the Lord’s Supper is on Holy Thursday.. From there map out the most direct path through the parishes on the route of your choosing. Feel free to swap out a couple of the parishes on the route to fit with your starting point and final destination.
No one is taking attendance, but the pilgrimage isn’t just about checking boxes—it is about encountering Christ. Spend enough time to pray, reflect, and truly enter into the moment. We recommend about 15 minutes at each church to ensure you can get to all 7 before midnight.
Even the Apostles had to deal with logistics! The suggested routes are based on church availability and accessibility as well as distance between churches, but you’re always welcome to create your own path.
While your enthusiasm is admirable, holiness does not require high-speed chases. Please obey all traffic laws—having a guardian angel is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.
We love our protestant brothers and sisters, but this particular pilgrimage is rooted in Catholic tradition and focuses on visiting Catholic churches where the Blessed Sacrament is present.
No, the Lord just cares that you spend time with h If you can make it to seven, that is ideal, but if not, just spend a little more time at the others.
Absolutely! Pray a decade of the Rosary per stop, listen to reflections on Christ’s Passion, or take turns reading Scripture. If you have a full car, you might even test each other on saint trivia.
Not at all! They are a helpful guide, but if you prefer to use other prayers or just sit in silence with the Lord, that’s completely fine.
You can certainly pray and reflect from home. If travel isn’t possible, consider using the reflection booklet to guide your meditation and offer prayers from where you are.
No, you have the freedom to reorder the route based on your starting point and final destination.
While we encourage all to attend, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is not an obligation. We mention the times for each Churches Mass so you know what time it is if you would like to attend and because each Church will not open their Altar of Repose until the conclusion of Mass. Please plan your arrival accordingly.
