More than 3,000 Catholics gathered with Dominican friars on Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, to celebrate the Virgin Mary and her gift of the holy rosary during the second annual Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage. The event saw a significant increase in participation compared to the previous year.

The daylong pilgrimage, organized by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, attracted a diverse crowd, including college students, families, and older Catholics. Activities included rosary prayer, adoration, confession, lectures about the Blessed Mother, and Mass. This year's pilgrimage also introduced a Spanish-language worship track in the crypt church, more opportunities for confession, and a new outdoor concert by the Hillbilly Thomists, a folk band composed of Dominican friars.

Many attendees had participated in a nine-month rosary novena leading up to the pilgrimage. Scott Durkin, a University of Virginia graduate student, shared how the novena strengthened his devotion to the rosary, making it a prominent part of his prayer life. Another attendee, Pat Ober, appreciated the communal aspect of the event, finding inspiration in seeing so many people come together to pray.

In a lecture, Dominican Father James Sullivan explained the significance of the rosary’s mysteries, encouraging the faithful to view the Annunciation as the gateway to the rosary. He reflected on how the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries each represent different spiritual aspects, such as love, reconciliation, and gratitude.

During the vigil Mass, Father Dominic Verner, OP, highlighted the historical and spiritual power of the rosary, recalling how it was a key prayer ahead of the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. He urged Catholics to continue using the rosary to combat modern-day challenges, from the erosion of traditional family values to the rise of gender ideology.

A key moment of the pilgrimage was the unveiling of a processional statue of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. The Dominicans plan to travel with the statue across the country to promote the rosary and strengthen devotion. Additionally, about 1,000 pilgrims enrolled in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, committing to pray 15 decades of the rosary weekly.

The Dominican friars are already planning for the next pilgrimage, scheduled for September 27, 2025.