Pilgrimage for the Sea Services Celebrates Attendance Revival After Pandemic

EMMITSBURG, MD – The Sisters and Daughters of Charity, devoted to the care of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, welcomed more than 400 visitors on Sunday, Oct. 1, for the annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services. Organizers say the registered attendance of 411 is the most since the COVID pandemic. “I’m very, very pleased,” said Sponsoring Committee Chairman Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.). “We had a large crowd. That’s delightful.” Mr. Rob Judge, Executive Director of the Shrine, said the Pilgrimage, which has been celebrated nearly every year since 1977, reached record annual attendance of 450 to 500 before the pandemic, “but COVID really took it down, so this is a kind of re-birth.” Adding to the sense of renewal was the return of a sit-down dinner for pilgrims, served again this year for the first time since 2019. For the past three years, the sisters have instead distributed take-home meals. The 2023 Pilgrimage came at a busy time at the Seton Shrine, just a week after the sisters opened a $4 million museum and visitors center that showcases in immersive and interactive ways the life and legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton—a Catholic convert and America’s first native-born saint.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend F. Richard Spencer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), was the principal celebrant and homilist for the 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Mass, which was broadcast live on EWTN. Bishop Spencer noted we have terms of endearment and “nicknames” for some of our most beloved saints. For example, we refer to our Blessed Mother variously as Mary, Queen of Peace; Mary, the Sorrowful Mother; Mary, Our Hope; and by many other titles. Likewise, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), founder of the Sisters of Charity in the United States in 1809 and an early leader in U.S. Catholic education, is known as “Patroness of the Sea Services,” so fashioned in the 1970s by the late former U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains and future New York Archbishop John Cardinal O’Connor, because her two sons by marriage, born prior to the death of her husband and before her entry into religious life, were both seafarers: William Seton served in the U.S. Navy for 17 years from 1817 to 1834 before resigning his commission as lieutenant; Richard Seton was a civilian seafarer who died in 1823 of a fever contracted on a voyage to Africa.

“All of these titles are supportive of intercessory prayer,” Bishop Spencer noted. “The history and power of intercessory prayer can be found in the Old Testament as far back as the first Book of Kings, Chapter Two, where King Solomon named his mother as queen and said he would never deny her requests. Jesus, a thousand years later, would be very much familiar with this Old Testament story and would no doubt give his own mother the same honor…. Mary prepared the world during that first Advent period for the birth of Jesus.  Now, two-thousand years later, we are experiencing a second advent period as Mary prepares the world for the Second Coming of Christ.  And while we wait, we, the disciples, carry on the works of mercy, forgiveness, and love.  And so, just as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton did with her various ministry initiatives that gained her titles, we are challenged to acknowledge our role in God’s plan by name as ‘sons and daughters of God’. And seafarers in particular can see in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Patroness of the Sea Services, someone through whom we can implore Almighty God with intercessory prayer for our safety and salvation.”

The Pilgrimage for the Sea Services is co-sponsored each year on the first Sunday in October by the Seton Shrine and the AMS to pray for those who serve at sea in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and Public Health Service. The Sea Services Pilgrimage Sponsoring Committee is chaired by retired Admiral and Mrs. Fallon and co-chaired by retired U.S. Navy Captain and Mrs. Daniel D. Thompson. “The purpose of it is to welcome members of the sea services and their families,” Admiral Fallon said, “to come up here in this beautiful shrine and to together appeal to Mother Seton to continue to intercede on our behalf—all those members of the sea services—with the Lord, that our people will be safe and their families will be taken care of while they’re gone. So it’s really pretty simple. It’s really a supplication for our Patroness to keep a watchful eye on those that are serving these days.”

The mid-afternoon Mass opened ceremoniously with Presentation of the Colors and singing of the National Anthem. The Knights of Columbus provided ushers. Sister Mary Catherine Conway of the Daughters of Charity (DC) welcomed the pilgrims, whose ranks included active-duty and retired seafarers, as well as members of other military branches, and their families. Among the pilgrims was Ms. Trudy Murtaugh, whose husband served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. Ms. Murtaugh said she makes the pilgrimage every year. "I'm so grateful to the military,” she said. “Since I've been part of it I know what that's like and for the families also as well and it's wonderful to see the young people who are training to be in the military, all that they go through and all the commitment that they make. I appreciate that so much." Two other pilgrims, retired U.S. Navy Commander and sponsoring committee member Fred Beverly and his wife Sherry, said the event has become a family tradition. The U.S. Naval Academy alumnus said “I did a career in the Navy. I was third generation in the Navy and our son is a Marine. So everything comes together for us here.”

Concelebrating with Bishop Spencer were Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, along with other priests with deacons assisting at the altar. Catholics from the U.S. Naval Academy animated the liturgy with sacred song under the direction of Mr. Monte Maxwell. After his homily, Bishop Spencer went to the communion rail where he blessed a tray full of Mother Seton medals, provided by the Shrine and presented for the blessing by Admiral and Mrs. Fallon. Each medal displays an image of Mother Seton on the obverse and an anchor on the reverse. The medals, worn by members of the Sponsoring Committee, are also available free to the public. To request a medal please contact the Seton Shrine at (301) 447-6606 or setonshrine.org/contact-seton-shrine.

The song of praise after communion was the Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” sung with an additional verse:

Midshipmen of our own Navy

Saint Elizabeth Ann’s sons served at sea;

She prayed for them both day and night

That God would guide them with His light;

Oh, Mother Seton, hear my plea,

As you did for them, now pray for me.Amen

Next year’s Pilgrimage for the Sea Services is set for 3:30 p.m. (EDST) on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Seton Shrine, 339 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727. The public is invited. News coverage is welcome.

This information was provided from the Archdiocese For Military Services.