PROVIDENCE — Every year on Holy Thursday night, pilgrims across the global Church visit churches to adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
This venerable tradition dates back to the earliest days in the Church when Roman Christians would visit various holy sites as a form of penance, explained Assistant Chancellor for the Diocese of Providence, Father Nathan Ricci, J.C.L.
After Boniface VIII inaugurated the Holy Year in 1300 which brought many pilgrims to Rome, the practice continued. The seven church pilgrimage was especially popularized by Saint Philip Neri in the 16th century, who led pilgrims to the four major basilicas and three minor basilicas in Rome, where the faithful would stop to read holy scripture and offer prayers.
“Pilgrims throughout the world continue this practice every Holy Thursday night, including here in the diocese,” said Father Ricci. “The various altars of repose are decorated fittingly and solemnly. We asked the local pastors to share the times their churches will be open for adoration in order to encourage the practice among the faithful.”
Throughout the past six years, the tradition has continued to grow in popularity at St. Pius V, led by parishioner Jason DeSilva. Tyler Rowley has been helping to organize the prayerful visit for the last four years, with last year’s pilgrimage drawing about 100 people.
“For me this is the day of Lent when I feel like I enter most fully into the life of Christ,” said Rowley. “It is late at night, Jesus has been arrested, he is locked away in an unfamiliar place, and you try to remain with him and keep watch through the night.”
On Holy Thursday, St. Pius V will have two buses that will hold 100 people and others are welcome to follow in their cars. The parish will provide booklets that correspond the appropriate scripture readings to the “stations” of Holy Thursday.
“We enter the church, someone reads the passage aloud, we pray silently for five minutes, and then conclude with a hymn, ‘O Sacrament Most Holy,’” Rowley explained.
This year, the route throughout Providence will include St. Joseph Church on Hope Street, Our Lady of the Rosary, the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Holy Ghost Church, Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Providence Seminary, ending the evening at St. Pius V.
Our Lady of Victory Church, Ashaway, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Holy Angels Church, Barrington, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9:30 p.m.
St. Luke’s Church, Barrington, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m. (confessions as well)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bristol, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Elizabeth Church, Bristol, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Mary Church, Bristol, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Patrick Church, Burrillville, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Theresa Church, Burrillville, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9 p.m.
Holy Spirit Church, Central Falls, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Joseph Church, Central Falls, after 7 p.m. Mass until 1 p.m.
St. Eugene Church, Chepachet, after 7 P.M. Mass until midnight
SS. John and Paul Church, Coventry, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Our Lady of Czenstochowa Church, Coventry, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Holy Apostles Church, Cranston, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Mark Church, Cranston, after Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Matthew Church, Cranston, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Mary Church, Cranston, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Cumberland, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Aidan Church, Cumberland, after 7 p.m. Mass to 10 p.m.
St. Joan of Arc Church, Cumberland, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. John Vianney Church, Cumberland, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9:30 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, Cumberland, after the 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Our Lady of Mercy Church, East Greenwich, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
Our Lady of Loreto Church, East Providence, after 7p.m. Mass until midnight
Sacred Heart Church, East Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass to 10 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier Church, East Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Paul The Apostle Church, Foster, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Philip Church, Greenville, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Joseph Church, Hope Valley, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9 p.m.
St. Mark Church, Jamestown, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Our Lady of Grace Church, Johnston, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Rocco Church, Johnston, after 7 P.M. Mass until midnight
St. Jude Church, Lincoln, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena Church, Little Compton, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Lucy Church, Middletown, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m. in Parish Center
St. Thomas More Church, Narragansett, after Mass until midnight
Jesus Saviour Church, Newport, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, Newport, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Bernard Church, North Kingstown, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Francis de Sales Church, North Kingstown, After 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, North Scituate, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Pawtucket, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. John the Baptist Church, Pawtucket, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church, Pawtucket, after Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Anthony Church, Pawtucket, after Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Barnabas Church, Portsmouth, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight.
St. Anthony Church, Portsmouth, after the 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. until midnight
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
Holy Name of Jesus, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Mary Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. until midnight
St. Michael the Archangel Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Patrick Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. until midnight
St. Pius V Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight with Night Prayer
St. Sebastian Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Thomas Church, Providence, after 7:30 p.m. Mass until 9:30 p.m.
Holy Ghost Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Providence, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Brendan Church, Riverside, after 7 p.m. Mass to 10 p.m.
St. Margaret Church, Rumford, after 7 p.m. Mass to 10 p.m.
St. John the Evangelist Church, Slatersville, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9 p.m.
St. Francis of Assisi Church, South Kingstown, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, after 7 p.m. until midnight.
St. Theresa Church, Tiverton, after 7 p.m. Mass until midnight
St. Alexander Church, Warren, after 7 p.m. Mass until 9 p.m.
St. Mary of the Bay Church, Warren, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Warren, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena Church, Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Gregory the Great Church, Warwick, 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
St. Kevin Church, Warwick, 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
St. Peter Church, Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
St. Rita Church, Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Timothy Church, Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
St. Anthony Church, West Warwick, 11 p.m.
St. Mary Church, West Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.
SS. Peter and Paul Church, West Warwick, after 7 p.m. Mass until 11 p.m.
Immaculate Conception Church, Westerly, after Mass until midnight
St. Clare Church, Westerly, after 7 p.m. Mass until 10 p.m.