The Annual Seven Church Walk is an annual Lenten pilgrimage that brings to life an ancient Holy Thursday tradition in Rome, Italy onto the streets of "little Rome" in Washington, DC. In Rome, following Holy Thursday Masses, pilgrims flock from church to church venerating at least seven Altars of Repose. The custom is closely tied to visiting seven major Roman basilicas ( St. John Lateran, St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and St. Sebastian). The walk includes seven D.C. churches in the Brookland neighborhood, praying together at each station.   Each year has a slightly different schedule and St. Anthony of Padua is always part of the walk.

Although each pilgrim usually starts at the church where they attend Mass and there is no One route, here is a recommended route from Father Fred which starts at

• #1 St. Anthony for 7pm Mass then walk to
• #2 Centro Maria,
• #3 The Dominican House of Studies,
• #4 The Basilica of the National Shrine,
• #5 Catholic University's Caldwell Chapel,
• #6 St. John Paul II, National Shrine, and then end at
• #7 Capuchen College.

If driving, you could also visit the

• #8 Franciscan Monastery,
• #9 The Sisters of Life,
• #10 the Josephites, and
• #11 St. Anselm's Abbey.

At each of the seven stops, a brief meditation is made upon the events 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)
• Jesus given the crown of thorns and led to his crucifixion (Matthew 27: 27-31)

The origin of the Seven Churches Visitation is typically credited to St. Philip Neri and is practiced by Catholics around the world. The devotion can also be traced back to the Station Churches of Rome, where the tradition is still practiced. For participating families with young ones, adaptations can be made for the sake of time. Pilgrims may choose to say prayers for two stations at one location.

The Seven Churches Visitation is a powerful way to spend time in adoration, meditating on Christ’s sacrifice of love for the salvation of souls in preparation for the joy of Easter. There is something special about visiting churches late into the nigh. It is not just because of the opportunity to visit other parishes, it’s because of intentionally seeking Christ to spend time with Him and contemplating the gift of His love.