Thank you for signing up to attend the St. Bridget Parish Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches Visitation.  This is a carefully curated visitation schedule and map, as some churches are staying open later to allow our group to pray at their Altar of Repose.  Please fill in all information at the bottom of this Google Form.  We look forward to having you prayerfully attend this pilgrimage in prayer!  If you need a ride, there will be others who volunteer to drive you, and you will know with whom you will be riding before Holy Thursday Mass.

At the end of Holy Thursday Mass, the Eucharist is placed on a temporary "Altar of Repose" (see above picture from St. Bridget, Holy Thursday 2022).  It is customary for the faithful to spend time in quiet prayer and adoration.  The Seven Churches Visitation is a tradition that grew out of this time of prayer and adoration.  Catholics remember when Jesus asked His disciples to stay and watch with Him while they were in the Garden of Gethsemane and is a sort of pilgrimage to various Altars of Repose, in different churches that correspond to each of the seven places, or "stations," that were made by Jesus between the Last Supper in the Upper Room to His crucifixion on the cross.

The seven "stations" are:

1.  JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (Luke 22:39-46) - We will be praying this station at St. Mary's-Moselle Catholic Church.

2.  JESUS IS BOUND & TAKEN BEFORE ANNAS (John 18:19-22) - We will be praying this station at St. Clare-St. Clair Catholic Church.

3.  JESUS TAKEN BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST, CAIAPHAS (Matthew 26:63-65) - We will be praying this station at St. Joseph-Neier Catholic Church.

4.  JESUS TAKEN BEFORE PILATE (John 18:35-37) - We will be praying this station at St. Ann-Clover Bottom Catholic Church.

5.  JESUS TAKEN BEFORE HEROD (Luke 23:8-9,11) - We will be praying this station at Our Lady of Lourdes-Washington Catholic Church.

6.  JESUS TAKEN BEFORE PILATE AGAIN (Matthew 27:22-26) - We will be praying this station at St. John the Baptist, Gildehaus Catholic Church.

7.  JESUS GIVEN THE CROWN OF THORNS & LED TO HIS CRUCIFIXION (Matthew 27:27-31) - We will be praying this station when we return to St. Bridget of Kildare Catholic Church.

The Seven Churches Visitation is a powerful way to spend time in adoration, meditating on Christ's sacrifice of love for the salvation of souls in preparation for the joy of Easter.  There is something special about visiting churches late into the night, however, it is not just for the opportunity to visit other parishes, but it is intentionally seeking Christ to spend time with Him and contemplating the gift of His love.

Upon entering each church, pilgrims will visit the Altar of Repose, kneel, make the sign of the cross, read the Scripture (a paper booklet will be provided on Holy Thursday evening) for the station, and engage in private prayer and adoration.

Seven Churches Visitation Schedule (A printed map & schedule will be provided on Holy Thursday.)

We will be driving to these 7 Catholic churches in this order to pray at the Altars of Repose.  Access the Google Map with driving directions HERE.

St. Bridget of Kildare, 111 W Union St, Pacific, MO 63069

     8:15pm - Depart for St. Mary's (16min/11.3mi)

St. Mary-Moselle, 1587 Hwy Am, Villa Ridge, MO 63089

     8:35pm - Arrive at St. Mary's

     8:45pm - Depart for St. Clare-St. Clair (19min/13.6mi)

St. Clare-St. Clair, 165 E Springfield Rd, St Clair, MO 63077

     9:05pm - Arrive at St. Clare

     9:15pm - Depart for St. Joseph-Neier (25 min/17.0mi) 

St. Joseph-Neier, 2401 Neier Rd, Union, MO 63084

     9:50pm - Arrive at St. Joseph-Neier

     10:00pm - Depart for St. Ann-Clover Bottom (16min/11.1mi)

St. Ann-Clover Bottom, 7835 State Hwy YY, Washington, MO 63090

     10:20pm - Arrive at St. Ann-Clover Bottom

     10:30pm - Depart for Our Lady of Lourdes (15min/9.5mi)

Our Lady of Lourdes, 1014 Madison Ave, Washington, MO 63090

     10:45pm - Arrive at Our Lady of Lourdes

     10:55pm - Depart for St. John-Gildehaus (12min/7.2mi)

St. John the Baptist-Gildehaus, 5567 Gildehaus Rd, Villa Ridge, MO 63089

     11:10pm - Arrive at St. John the Baptist-Gildehaus

     11:20pm - Depart for St. Bridget (17min/12.7mi)

St. Bridget of Kildare, 111 W Union St, Pacific, MO 63069

     11:40pm - Arrive at St. Bridget to pray until 12pm

QUESTIONS?  Please call the Parish Office (636-271-3993) or email: ParishOffice@sbkschool.org.