As dawn broke on Thursday morning, downtown Atlanta witnessed a heartfelt demonstration of solidarity and spirituality as hundreds of Catholic sisters participated in the “Outdoor Pilgrimage of Hope”, organized by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).
Approximately 470 participants engaged in a contemplative walk spanning nearly two kilometers, praying together from 7 to 8 am. The pilgrimage was marked by moments of silence and guided reflections on significant societal issues.
The participants paused at three critical locations, each symbolizing a dedicated focus on key issues they aimed to address: forced migration, climate change, and racism.
This event was complemented by virtual participation, with 75 individuals joining via Facebook Live from the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, where the LCWR’s four-day conference is being held this year.
Accompanied by an escort from the Atlanta Police Department, the pilgrims halted at designated stops, reinforcing LCWR’s commitment to the ideals presented in the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato si'”, which emphasizes environmental and social justice.
Bridget Bearss, co-chair of the pilgrimage and LCWR’s associate director for transformative justice, spoke about the initiative. “This is an initiative that is happening throughout the United States as a means of welcoming a variety of people to engage in this year of Jubilee,” she stated. “We are committed to deeply investing ourselves in being pilgrims on the journey on behalf of Laudato si’, the themes of Laudato si’.”
Pope Francis has declared 2025 a Holy Year, or Jubilee, which is a significant Catholic observance occurring every 25 years, intended for prayer, reconciliation, and pilgrimage. The theme for this year’s Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope”, encourages Catholics globally to renew their faith and engage in acts of hope through prayer and social advocacy.
Sister Susan Francois from the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace in New York, who has attended the LCWR assembly since 2015, recorded her experiences on TikTok during the event. “Hundreds of Catholic sisters and friends” were seen praying in unison amidst an overcast sky.
The response on social media was poignant, with comments like “This is true Christianity” and others expressing a newfound faith in humanity, despite identifying as non-religious.
Francois shared that the pilgrimage held a personal significance for her, as she has been actively involved in supporting families at an immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey. “I met a seven-year-old girl last Saturday who was trying to visit her dad before he was deported to Ecuador,” she recounted. “Their faces were in front of me, and I was just holding them especially in prayer and sending them love.”
The prayerful walk also included supplications in Spanish to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Annmarie Sanders, a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and communication director for LCWR, described the experience as profoundly impactful. “There’s lots of great poverty here in downtown Atlanta, so it felt like a wonderful opportunity for us to make public our commitment to work, particularly for those three issues: forced migration, climate change, and racial equality,” she reflected.
This year’s LCWR assembly gathered around 860 individuals, including 570 leaders from women’s religious congregations, with representatives from 18 different countries. Notably, for the first time, the assembly also welcomed chief administrative officers, communicators, and justice promoters serving these congregations.
The LCWR represents a network of 294 congregations, totaling approximately 35,000 women religious in the United States. The annual conference, which has been held since the organization’s inception in 1956, commenced on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday, featuring high-profile addresses from notable figures, including Jesuit priest James Martin and Sister Simona Brambilla, who is the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
“I think the belief that the power of our prayer could really make a difference – to just see nearly 500 people coming together in that sense of faith to put more positive energy into the atmosphere – will hopefully influence the course of the world to create a more peaceful place,” Sanders remarked, highlighting the collective intention of the pilgrimage.
image source from：sightmagazine
