Second annual ‘Saints on Their Way’ festival set for Sept. 12-13 in Emmitsburg

The second annual Saints on Their Way gathering and festival hosted by the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will take place Sept. 12-13.

The two-day event will bring together representatives of American causes for canonization, experts on the process, pilgrims and other visitors.

The goal is to celebrate holiness and sainthood within the American Catholic experience while giving those involved in canonization efforts an opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen their work. Following a successful inaugural gathering in 2025, the shrine is expanding the initiative, highlighting its unique role as the home of the first native-born American saint.

The shrine also offers educational resources about the canonization process, including an online resource showcasing the growing number of Americans whose causes for canonization have been opened. 

“St. Elizabeth Ann Seton reminds us that holiness is not reserved for another time or another place and that it can flourish here in America and in every generation,” said Rob Judge, executive director of the shrine. “By bringing together the people devoted to these causes, we hope to strengthen their work while helping more Catholics discover that these remarkable lives still have the power to inspire faith today.”

The weekend will begin with a day of presentations and workshops for those involved in canonization causes, followed by a public festival Sunday. 

The Sept. 13 festival is open to the public and includes the following:

• 11 a.m. – Mass in the shrine’s basilica celebrated by Bishop Roy Campbell of the Archdiocese of Washington
• Noon – Festival begins, featuring booths manned by individual guilds, live music and food trucks
• 12:30 p.m. – Keynote talk by Monsignor Robert Sarno on “A Theology of Canonization.”
• Confessions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
• Tours of the museum and historic buildings

For more information about the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and her legacy, visit setonshrine.org. 

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