Annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services is Oct. 5

Members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Merchant Marine, and the public will come together on Oct. 5 to honor St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, “patroness of the Sea Services.” The annual pilgrimage for the Sea Services is hosted by the Daughters of Charity, and supported by a committee of retired Naval Officers and their spouses, chaired by Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret).

The Mass begins at 3 p.m. in the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. The Seton Shrine will be open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for tours.

Admiral Watkins has been closely associated with the Seton Shrine and the Daughters of Charity since 1977 when, with then Chief of Navy Chaplains John O’Connor (later Cardinal John O’Connor of New York), he worked to proclaim the newly canonized Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as “Patroness of the Sea Services” because of her link to the Navy through her two sons.

The principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass will be Archbishop Timothy Paul Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. The Naval Academy Catholic Midshipmen Choir from Annapolis will provide the music for the liturgy.

Catholic Review

The Catholic Review is the official publication of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.