National Eucharistic Pilgrimage features a blessing for Baltimore from atop the Washington Monument

Carrying a golden monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament, Father Michael DeAscanis paced his 227-step climb up Baltimore’s Washington Monument, repeatedly praying one complete “Glory Be” for every 10 steps until he reached the top.

Pilgrims participating in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s leg of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, which was placed at the base of the Washington Monument in Baltimore City June 10. Baltimore is the first diocese established in the United States, and the procession celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The steady ascent carried the pastor of the Pastorate of St. Louis in Clarksville and St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton more than 120 feet above the city to a lookout inside the historic monument. There, framed by windows facing in every direction, he raised the monstrance and traced the Sign of the Cross – blessing Baltimore from north, south, east and west.

Below, more than 200 people gathered outside the monument, designed in 1815 by American architect Robert Mills, who later designed the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

As Father DeAscanis offered a prayer for Baltimore and the nation, the crowd – wet from morning showers – sang religious and patriotic hymns, including “God Bless America.”

“Convert us from our sins, Lord Jesus,” the priest prayed from inside the monument. “Bless all who live here, all who work here, all who govern here. Give us wisdom to make good decisions. Strengthen our families, strengthen our parishes and churches. Renew, Lord Jesus, Catholic faith in our country, in our diocese, in our parishes. Jesus, you can do it. Convert our hearts.”

Pilgrims of all ages did not let the steady rain deter them as they walked along Charles Street in Baltimore June 10, making their way to the Washington Monument, as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s leg of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God.” (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The poignant moment was part of the Baltimore leg of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which began May 24 in St. Augustine, Fla., and is making its way up the East Coast to Maine and then back down to Philadelphia as part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.

The route is named for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of the 2026 pilgrimage. Nine young adults, known as “perpetual pilgrims,” have traveled every mile since Florida.

Held under the theme “One Nation Under God,” the pilgrimage arrived in the Archdiocese of Baltimore June 9 in Washington County and continues through June 11 with additional stops in Severna Park and Annapolis.

The June 10 events in Baltimore began with an 8:30 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by Monsignor Jay O’Connor, episcopal vicar for the eastern vicariate of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

A woman traces the Sign of the Cross on a child during a June 10 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

In his homily, Monsignor O’Connor said the pilgrimage is all about assuring the nation, culture and the larger world that Christ chooses to be present with his people in the Eucharist and that he strengthens, guides and encourages everyone to walk with him on a journey to heaven.

Lucy Mae Curtis, a 63-year-old Pentecostal who lives not too far from the basilica, sat on a large flower planter as she watched a eucharistic procession march down historic Charles Street on its way back to the basilica from the Washington Monument.

Wearing a neon green Grinch hat and sporting a nose ring, Curtis marveled at the solemnity of those participating and embraced a young missionary from the basilica’s Source of All Hope urban missionary program as she passed by.

“We need more of this,” Curtis said. “There’s something that ain’t right in the city. The devil has to be driven out of this city because he’s reigning and he’s causing too much confusion, mischief and hatred.”

Father Michael DeAscanis, pastor of the Pastorate of St. Louis in Clarksville and St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, raises a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament outside the Washington Monument in Baltimore June 10, 2026. (George P. Matysek Jr./CR Staff)

Curtis asserted that many people seem to have more allegiance to divisive political figures than to Christ.

“Who has the higher power?” she asked.

Kathy Bentz, a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope in Dundalk, took a day off from work to attend the pilgrimage. Faith is needed more than ever, she said, because people are “looking for hope.”

“I need to be around people who get me and I get them,” she said. “And that’s why I’m here. I feel like I’m in the presence of good and it makes me want to do better. I think everybody can do just a little bit better and that’s all the Lord asks of us.”

A young man from Glen Burnie, who helped carry an ornate baldacchino sheltering the Blessed Sacrament as Monsignor O’Connor processed through the streets, called it an honor. He declined to give his name but said he came to pray for the nation – and is looking ahead to June 11, when U.S. bishops are scheduled to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during their spring plenary assembly in Orlando.

“I think that the consecration to the Sacred Heart is going to make a tangible difference in our country,” he said. “I care about our country.”

After the procession, participants toured the basilica and gathered at the Sexton’s Lodge Café, a basilica outreach that offers free coffee, pastries and fellowship to parishioners, visitors and people experiencing homelessness alike.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

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