About 10,000 people flocked to the village of Carey, Ohio, home of the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, for a statewide pilgrimage on Aug. 14, the eve of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The pilgrimage was planned as part of an initiative of the Catholic bishops of Ohio to mark the “Year of Mission” for the National Eucharistic Revival. In attendance were Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, along with Bishop Daniel Thomas of the Toledo Diocese and Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Columbus Diocese.
Thousands of people packed the basilica and the surrounding area for Masses during the day, and later participated in the final hours of a nine-day Assumption novena. As evening fell, a statue of Our Lady of Consolation was lifted high above the crowd, leading a candlelight procession from the basilica to Shrine Park as the pilgrims recited the rosary.
The Vigil Mass of the solemnity of the assumption was held at the altar in Shrine Park, with Bishop Thomas serving as the principal celebrant, Bishops Malesic and Woost concelebrating, and Bishop Fernandes as the homilist.
In his homily, Bishop Fernandes urged pilgrims to imitate Mary’s fidelity to the Lord and spirit of charity by coming to the aid of others and bringing Jesus to the world.
“Mary is the first evangelist, bringing the joy of her son Jesus to the whole world,” he said. “We just completed the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival. But this third year is the year of mission, and Mary gives us the example to follow in her footsteps, to go and to see and to intuit where there is a need and go to meet it.”
He called on the pilgrims to imitate Mary by staying attentive to the needs of the migrant, expectant mothers, the elderly and disabled.
The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative of the United States bishops that began in June 2022 to deepen understanding of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. In this third and final year – the “Year of Mission” – Catholics are encouraged to share the love and joy of Jesus Christ with all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through acts of service and charity.
Learn more about the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation here. Click here for information on the National Eucharistic Revival.