National pilgrimage makes history with first eucharistic pilgrimage across Chesapeake Bay June 11, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, Local News, News ANNAPOLIS – After an evening that saw the first-ever eucharistic procession in the state capital’s streets, Catholics recorded another first June 11 with the first eucharistic procession across the Chesapeake Bay, according to the parish historian of St. Mary’s here. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God,” passed through St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis June 11. The pilgrimage then continued with a three-boat procession across the Chesapeake Bay to the Diocese of Wilmington, which includes Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff) The final day of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s three-day visit to the Archdiocese of Baltimore began with Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with about 180 in attendance. Redemptorist Father Patrick Woods, pastor, welcomed the pilgrims as the celebrant. Father James Bors, priest-secretary to Archbishop William E. Lori, preached the homily, noting the connections between St. Barnabas, whose feast was celebrated that day, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who lived in the Carroll House adjacent to St. Mary’s, and who was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Father Bors, a Navy veteran, noted that Barnabas and Carroll were both well-educated, wealthy and champions of “revolutionary movements,” among other parallels. Barnabas persuaded the Apostles to accept Paul of Tarsus after his conversion to Christ. Charles Carroll “persuaded Maryland’s legislature to restore religious liberty to Catholics using his anonymous ‘First Citizen’ letters published in the Maryland Gazette here in Annapolis,” he said. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God,” passed through St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis June 11. The pilgrimage then continued with a three-boat procession across the Chesapeake Bay to the Diocese of Wilmington, which includes Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff) As Barnabas was sent to Antioch to represent the Apostles, Carroll was sent by the Continental Congress to Canada as a diplomat to gain support for the Revolutionary War. “Each was victorious,” Father Bors said. “Through heroic virtue and God’s grace, both prevailed against strong political and religious headwinds. Against persecution, Barnabas won the crown of Christian martyrdom. Against persecution, Charles Carroll overturned Maryland’s anti-Catholic penal laws and laid the groundwork for religious freedom nationwide. With the theme of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage “One Nation Under God,” marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Father Bors said the freedom from sin won by Christ and the freedom to worship as Catholics won by Carroll and others call us to play our part in continuing “these revolutionary ‘new world’ movements – Catholicism and the American experiment.” He referred to the new pastoral letter, “In Charity and Truth,” by Archbishop Lori, successor to Archbishop John Carroll, Charles’ cousin, because it articulates the role of virtue in public life and virtue as the foundation of civic friendship. Participants in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God,” watch as the Blessed Sacrament is placed on a boat at the Annapolis Yacht Club June 11, following a walking procession from St. Mary’s Church. A three-boat flotilla crossed the Chesapeake Bay, where a delegation from the Diocese of Wilmington received the Eucharist for continuation up the East Coast to Maine. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is part of the Wilmington diocese. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff) “Archbishop Lori’s pastoral letter provides more than historical perspective and social theory. He calls us Catholics, and all people of good will, to a path forward, with seven Practical Commitments for a Renewed Political Culture, so that we can be, like St. Barnabas and Charles Carroll were in their day, instruments of renewal by cultivating the habits of virtue, with our lives anchored in prayer,” Father Bors said in the homily. After the Mass, the congregation processed out of the church, with Father Bors holding the Eucharist in a monstrance, followed by the perpetual pilgrims who have accompanied the Body of Christ since it started in Florida over the Memorial Day weekend. Worshippers followed the monstrance along the streets to the Annapolis Yacht Club for departure to the Eastern Shore. Marie Jordan of St. Philip Neri Parish in Linthicum, said she attended the Mass and procession to participate in sharing Christ with the world and to join the mission of consecrating America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She said being in a group of people providing public witness to the faith was “hopeful and encouraging.” From Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, Michaela McGowan came so she could set an example for her children who accompanied her, ages 6, 10 and 12. The occasion of the pilgrimage “means that truth, goodness and beauty still exist in the world, and that is something worth celebrating, especially with how things are in today’s world,” she said. Bishop William E. Koenig, who leads the Diocese of Wilmington, processes with the Blessed Sacrament along the Bay Bridge Marina promenade in Queen Anne’s County June 11, following a transfer by Father James Bors, priest secretary for Archbishop William E. Lori, in which he completed a one-hour journey across the Chesapeake Bay by boat. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is part of the Wilmington diocese. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is traveling from Florida to Maine over the coming weeks as part of the celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff) At the City Dock, Fathers Bors and Woods and some of the perpetual pilgrims boarded the boat Sandra K, where Father Bors stood on the foredeck to bless the city and the bay, before securing the monstrance to a table inside the boat. A five-boat flotilla left the dock with the Eucharist in the lead and the other boats forming the shape of a cross as they moved across the Chesapeake Bay at about 8 knots, arriving at Kent Island at around 11 a.m. There, the Eucharist was received by Bishop William E. Koenig of Wilmington, whose diocese includes all of Delaware and the Maryland portion of the Eastern Shore. The pilgrimage will spend a little more than 24 hours in the Diocese of Wilmington, where stops include a sunrise eucharistic procession on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., June 12 followed by a Mass with consecration to the Sacred Heart in Wilmington later that morning. Some of the perpetual pilgrims noted that the Chesapeake Bay crossing was the second of four boat pilgrimages planned for the journey, which will make its way through most of the original 13 colonies. The path will take them as far north as Maine before heading to Philadelphia for two Masses and a Family Rosary Across America July 4, with a eucharistic procession through downtown Philadelphia July 5. Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org More local coverage of National Eucharistic Pilgrimage: Rain, sun and rainbows mark eucharistic pilgrimage stops in Anne Arundel County National Eucharistic Pilgrimage features a blessing for Baltimore from atop the Washington Monument National Eucharistic Pilgrimage arrives in Maryland Read More Eucharist National Eucharistic Pilgrimage reaches Maine before turning toward Philadelphia Eucharist transforms believers into Christ’s body and counters division, pope says National Eucharistic Pilgrimage includes boardwalk evangelization along Atlantic shore Eucharistic pilgrims focus on bringing Jesus to everyone Archbishop Lori: Sacred Heart reconciles divisions and transforms hardened hearts Rain, sun and rainbows mark eucharistic pilgrimage stops in Anne Arundel County Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media Print
