Green Bay: Nearly 10,000 Catholics from across the United States and several other countries took part in the annual Walk to Mary pilgrimage in Wisconsin this year, making it one of the largest Catholic walking pilgrimages in North America.
The pilgrimage was held on May 2 and brought together people of all ages for a 22 mile journey from the National Shrine of St. Joseph in De Pere to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin. Organisers said the event was marked by prayer, singing, Mass, confession, and moments of silent reflection as pilgrims walked together through towns and countryside roads.
This year’s turnout was one of the largest in the history of the event. Pilgrims arrived from 47 states in the United States and from countries including Canada, Mexico, Poland, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago. Organisers said more than half of the participants came from outside Wisconsin, showing the growing international importance of the pilgrimage.
The Walk to Mary began in 2013 with only around 500 participants. Over the years, it has steadily grown and is now often described by Catholic communities as “America’s mini Camino,” a comparison to the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. Many pilgrims now consider the event an important spiritual journey that strengthens faith and family life.
The pilgrimage route symbolically connects the shrines of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary, reflecting the unity of the Holy Family. Throughout the walk, participants carried rosaries, prayer intentions, and banners while volunteers provided water, food, medical support, and encouragement along the way.
For many pilgrims, the event was deeply personal. Several families said they have returned year after year because the pilgrimage has become a spiritual tradition in their homes. One family from Illinois shared with Catholic media that they have participated for ten consecutive years and believe the walk helps them grow closer to Jesus through Mary.
Some participants also joined the pilgrimage to offer thanksgiving for blessings received in their lives. Local media in Wisconsin reported that one family walked this year in gratitude after their son recovered from a serious brain injury. Others prayed for peace in the world, healing from illness, stronger families, and the return of young people to the Church.
The final destination of the pilgrimage, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, holds special importance for Catholics in the United States. The shrine stands at the site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to a Belgian immigrant named Adele Brise in 1859. In 2010, the Diocese of Green Bay officially recognised the apparitions as worthy of belief, making it the first approved Marian apparition site in the United States.
The shrine has continued to gain recognition in recent years. In 2023, its name was officially changed from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. Earlier this year, Church authorities also opened the canonisation cause of Adele Brise, granting her the title “Servant of God.”
To make the pilgrimage more accessible, organisers once again arranged a shorter family walk of about 1.7 miles. The shorter route allowed children, elderly pilgrims, and families with strollers to participate more comfortably while still sharing in the spiritual experience of the day.
Church leaders said the pilgrimage reflects a growing desire among Catholics for prayer, community, and public expressions of faith. Many pilgrims described the event as peaceful, joyful, and spiritually renewing.
As the Catholic Church continues its Jubilee Year celebrations, the Walk to Mary pilgrimage is increasingly becoming an important gathering for believers seeking hope, healing, and a deeper connection with God through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.