The following prayer was submitted to us by Rev. Francis Hoffman “Fr. Rocky”, Executive Director of Relevant Radio.

Dear Father in heaven,

just as the three Kings journeyed from the East to find Christ;

just as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph traveled by foot from Nazareth to the Temple in Jerusalem;

just as Peter and James and John hiked up the mountain all day with the Lord;

just as Christian Pilgrims have trekked across Europe and the Middle East to the Holy Places;

just as Blessed John Paul II voyaged to all mankind to find Christ and bring Christ;

So too we set forth on foot today, starting at the National Shrine of St. Joseph and Walking to Mary, to visit the grounds made holy by Our Lady of Champion, Queen of Heaven, as we commit ourselves to answer her call to “teach the children what they need to know for their salvation.”

May the Archangel Raphael accompany us on our pilgrimage, may our guardian angels protect us, and may we know the joy of the presence of God throughout the day as we rejoice in the gift of life and grace the beauty of your creation.

Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.