Seven J.C. area churches to host stational pilgrimage on Holy Thursday evening

Seven parishes in and near the Capital City will host an evening of silent pilgrimage and prayer following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 14.

The Most Blessed Sacrament will be reposed for Adoration in all seven churches until midnight.

The churches include:

• St. Andrew Church, 400 St. Andrews Drive in Holts Summit;
• the Cathedral of St. Joseph Adoration Chapel, 2201 W. Main St., just east of the Cathedral, in Jefferson City;
• Immaculate Conception Church, 1206 E. McCarty St. in Jefferson City;
• St. Peter Church, 216 Broadway in Jefferson City;
• St. Martin Church, 7148 St. Martins Blvd. in St. Martins;
• St. Francis Xavier Church, 7319 Route M in Taos; and
• St. Stanislaus Church, 6418 Route W in Wardsville.

All are invited to participate in the centuries-old tradition of visiting at least seven Altars of Repose in local churches.

In Rome, the custom is closely tied to visiting the seven major Roman basilicas. Catholics remember when Jesus asked His disciples to stay and watch with Him while they were in the garden after the Last Supper.

This tradition of mindful watching is a pilgrimage to various altars of repose, in different churches that correspond to each of the seven places, or “stations,” that were made by Jesus between the Last Supper in the Upper Room to His crucifixion on the cross.

At each of the seven stops, a brief meditation is made upon the events of the first Holy Thursday following the Last Supper:

• Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22: 39-46)
• Jesus bound and taken before Annas (John 18: 19-22)
• Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas (Matthew 26: 63-65)
• Jesus taken before Pilate (John 18, 35-37)
• Jesus taken before Herod (Luke 23: 8-9; 11)
• Jesus taken before Pilate again (Matthew 27: 22-26); and
• Jesus crowned with thorns (Matthew 27: 27-31).

Upon entering each church, pilgrims visit the Altar of Repose, kneel, make the Sign of the Cross, read the appropriate Scripture passage for each station, and engage in private prayer and adoration.

At the seventh station, many will close their pilgrimage by opting to observe a Holy Hour.