Over 400 attend Mass at Maryland Seton Shrine for annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services

Over 400 pilgrims attended Mass in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Oct. 5 for the annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose own sons served in the Navy.

Auxiliary Bishop Gregg Caggianelli of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was the principal celebrant. The bishop, who was in the Air Force before entering seminary, spoke in his homily about a recent conversation with a naval officer about a painting of Christ protecting a sailor on a ship in the middle of a terrible storm.

“This image seems to capture the world we live in,” Bishop Caggianelli said, according to a press release sent via email from the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. “This week two hurricanes passed by in the Atlantic, the government is shutdown, wars plague our world, political divisions seem insurmountable, and storm winds seem to be blowing all around.” 

The bishop told the congregants that they should trust in Christ’s power, despite the many threats of the world.

“We can be tempted to give into despair and fear amid the waves, but we gather to remember that we are not alone,” he said. “We gather as those in the boat with Our Lord, as people of faith, assured of the closeness of God and the embrace of Jesus as His hands wrap around ours at the helm of our lives.”

The bishop also spoke about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Sea Services’ patroness. This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the saint’s canonization, and she is buried at the Maryland-based shrine. 

St. Seton, who was raised Protestant, converted to Catholicism after her husband became ill. After being widowed, the mother of five founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph and the first Catholic girls’ school in the U.S. that did not charge any fees. Two of the saint’s children served in the Navy.

“She knew challenges, setbacks, human loss and tragedy and human limitations,” Bishop Caggianelli said in his homily. “She wasn’t superhuman in her own right, but she was an amazing woman of faith. She allowed God to take the helm. She responded to God and entrusted the projects He inspired, and with faith and God’s grace, she accomplished things beyond human imagining.”

The bishop encouraged all those present to cooperate with God’s grace like St. Seton did.

“Are we willing to cooperate and give God permission to take the helm of our lives to lead and guide us?” he asked. “Give God permission.”

One of the hymns at Mass, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” included an additional verse. According to the release, it read:

“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”