By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

ATLANTA—Archbishop John F. Donoghue is inviting Catholics from across the archdiocese to join him on a Jubilee Year pilgrimage Sept. 25 to 29 to national shrines in Washington, D.C.

The pilgrimage will include a full day spent at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It will also include a tour of the Franciscan monastery located in the nation’s capital, the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

The pilgrimage will depart Monday, Sept. 25, from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2855 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, at 7:30 a.m. and travel by air conditioned motor coach to the Days Inn Crystal City in Arlington, Va. Stops will be made for lunch and dinner. Those departing from IHM need to be at the church between 7 and 7:25 a.m. Those electing to be picked up at Exit 58 on Interstate 85 will board at 8:30 a.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, following a breakfast buffet, the group will tour the Franciscan monastery in Washington and Mass will be celebrated there. The afternoon and evening will be free. On Wednesday, Sept. 27, following a breakfast buffet, the group will visit the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. Mass will be celebrated there and lunch will be provided. Afterward, pilgrims will visit Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and pray a rosary in the grotto area. Dinner will be provided that evening at “The Cozy,” a family-style restaurant in Emmitsburg.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, the itinerary includes a full day of spiritual renewal at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It will include a tour of the shrine, opportunity for confession, afternoon rosary, free time to visit the bookstore, gift shop and the many shrines within the basilica, and Mass celebrated by the archbishop. The day will end with a dinner hosted by the archbishop. The Shrine has been designated a pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year and pilgrims may receive the Jubilee Year indulgence through this visit, reception of the sacraments of confession and Communion, and prayers for the pope’s intentions.

On Friday, Sept. 29, following a breakfast buffet, buses will depart at 7:30 a.m. for Atlanta. There will be stops for lunch and dinner, with an estimated arrival time in Atlanta between 7 and 8 p.m.

Cost, including four nights lodging, round trip travel, travel to and from the shrines, breakfast Tuesday through Friday, lunch and dinner on Wednesday and dinner on Thursday, will be $645 per person for one person in a room, $415 per person for double occupancy, $340 per person for three to a room and $300 per person for four to a room.

For information and application forms, contact Tom Aisthorpe at The Georgia Bulletin at (404) 877-5517; Mary Elkins at (404) 231-4568 or (404) 218-0433; or a parish pilgrimage coordinator. Information can also be found at the archdiocesan web site www.archatl.com. Those interested are encouraged to submit registration forms as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is Aug. 31.