CAREY, Ohio – Thousands of Catholics gathered at the Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation on Wednesday, Aug. 14 for a statewide Eucharistic pilgrimage to celebrate the vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The pilgrimage included a candlelight rosary procession and Mass at Shrine Park, located down the street.
Four Ohio bishops were present for the celebration as well as many clergy, consecrated religious, seminarians and Knights of Columbus.
Bishop Earl Fernandes served as the homilist for the Mass. Bishop Daniel Thomas of the Diocese of Toledo was the celebrant. Also present were Bishop Edward Malesic, the bishop of Cleveland, and Bishop Michael Woost, an auxiliary bishop of Cleveland.
Leading up to the solemnity, Bishop Fernandes led a nine-day Assumption novena, which started Aug. 6, and celebrated several Masses at the shrine church for the devotion that culminated on Aug. 14.
The celebration of the Assumption with a procession and Mass is an annual tradition for the Carey basilica. Thousands of faithful flock to the shrine every year for the feast day celebration.
This year, Ohio’s bishops invited all faithful to attend as part of the year of going out on mission.
The year of mission, which began after the National Eucharistic Congress in July and will conclude at the celebration of Pentecost in 2025, is the third in a three-year National Eucharistic Revival in the United States. The revival began in 2022 with the year of diocesan revival, followed by the year of parish revival beginning in 2023, and, ultimately, the year of going out on mission.
Marking the year of mission as well as the Blessed Virgin’s Assumption into heaven, pilgrims gathered in Carey to offer thanksgiving, seek the Blessed Virgin’s intercession and unite in mission.
A candlelight rosary procession began at the basilica at 9 p.m. The faithful gathered outside of Our Lady of Consolation and departed from the shrine church, filling the street and sidewalks as they processed down to Shrine Park.
The Miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Consolation, which is on display at the basilica, was elevated and processed in a truck to the park. Bishops, priests, deacons and seminarians led the procession.
Bishop Thomas led the faithful in praying the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary along the journey. Thousands held candles as they prayed and processed to the park.
In Shrine Park for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which began around 9:30 p.m. at the park’s outdoor altar, the faithful sang hymns to the Blessed Mother and offered praise and thanksgiving. The park was filled with individuals sitting in lawn chairs as well as many standing for the Mass.
“The feast of the Assumption is one of hope, ultimately, that we, too, will follow where Mary has gone,” Bishop Fernandes said in his homily.
“We journeyed from the basilica all the way down here to the park, following in the footsteps of Mary. We pilgrims on our journey – we want to walk as she walked, in fidelity to the Lord.”
The bishop reflected on the example of the Blessed Virgin. He encouraged the congregation to imitate the Blessed Mother, not only in hearing the word of God in Sacred Scripture but in acting on it and sharing it with others, especially the vulnerable and those in need.
“Mary is a woman of contemplation on the word, but she is a woman also of action, of true charity,” Bishop Fernandes said. “She is the first evangelist, if you will, bringing good news, bringing the joy of her Son, Jesus, to the whole world.
“We have just celebrated the National Eucharistic Congress, 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.”
After Mass, the faithful processed back to the basilica shrine. Bishop Thomas led those gathered in praying the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary during the procession.
The evening concluded at the basilica after the recitation of the rosary. The Miraculous Statue was repositioned inside of the basilica shrine above the basilica’s right altar as several congregated around the statue and sang the Salve Regina.
Many faithful stayed to pray and explore the basilica shrine, which has an upper and lower level. Several saint statues, vestments, relics and recorded miracles are housed in the basilica’s lower level.
The sacrament of reconciliation was offered earlier in the afternoon. Several Masses were also offered throughout the day at the basilica, including a Mass in the Chaldean Rite.
Thousands of Chaldean Catholics were present for the pilgrimage. Chaldeans originate from an Eastern region that includes modern-day Iraq. Their heritage dates back to St. Thomas the Apostle, who witnessed to their ancestors in the region.
Carol Jesko, a Carey native, was excited to welcome thousands of Catholics to her hometown for this year’s procession and Mass. A lifelong Catholic, Jesko was baptized at the Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation.
“It’s a big crowd this year,” she said. “The weather’s beautiful – it’s never rained on a procession.”
Jesko and her husband, Terry, live a few blocks west of the basilica and have a view of Shrine Park from their house. They invite pilgrims to use their driveway each year for parking, as the streets surrounding the basilica shrine are often filled during the solemnity.
Jesko said all of the houses on her street, with the exception of about two, belong to Catholic families. One of her neighbors estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 pilgrims visit annually during the days around the solemnity.
“The house on the corner, the Chaldeans bought it, and they only come for like two weeks this time of the year and stay in the house,” she said.
The Jeskos enjoy observing pilgrims flock to the basilica shrine for the procession and Mass each year for the Solemnity of the Assumption.
“All the people and the candles – we have stood inside the park – the Shrine Park – and watch them come,” she said. “It’s just overwhelming. It really is.”
Tom Kiger, from about 40 miles north in Bowling Green, was eager to drive down to the basilica shrine for the statewide Eucharistic pilgrimage.
“It’s a four-bishop celebration, so that’s a pretty big deal,” he said.
Kiger said he visits the basilica shrine about two or three times each year. This year was his first visiting the shrine for the vigil of the solemnity. His visits to the shrine have impacted him.
“You can just tangibly feel the grace and the Holy Spirit here,” he said. “When you walk in there, the air is just dense and heavy with grace.”
Lisa Wirth, a parishioner at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church, also attended the statewide Eucharistic pilgrimage in Carey. She traveled with a group from her parish.
“It’s really beautiful,” she said of the pilgrimage. “We’ve seen so many people who’ve come from so far, and there’s just a joy in everyone being together that’s just really exhilarating.”
Wirth said she was looking forward to the celebration of the Mass, especially with Bishop Fernandes serving as the homilist. She had been eager to attend the pilgrimage after an encounter a couple of months back.
“I was in New York City earlier this summer, and I met a lady on the stairs of the New York Public Library, and we started chatting, and she said that she volunteered here at this event,” Wirth said.
“And so, ever since June, I had it in my mind that I wanted to come. And then, this group brought up about coming, and I was like, “OK, I feel like I’m meant to be here.’”