Seven Churches Visitation

Join in this Lenten tradition to visit seven churches on Holy Thursday — giving you an opportunity to recall the seven stops of Jesus Christ along the Via Dolorosa.

Also known as “Visita Iglesia,” the visitation to seven churches on the evening of Holy Thursday dates back to the 16th century,
originating in Rome with St. Philip Neri.

The pilgrimage encompasses the seven Roman basilicas: St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls, St. Sebastian,
Santa Croce-in-Jerusalem and St. Lawrence-Outside-the-Walls.

Following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved on an Altar of Repose for Adoration.

During the pilgrimage, the faithful visit several churches – sometimes seven, or whatever number is possible – to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church, remembering Our Lord’s words to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to keep watch with Him for one hour.

Pilgrimage Churches 2025

• Queen of the Apostles, 503 North Main St., Belmont; 7:45 to 11 p.m.
• St. Ann, 3635 Park Road, Charlotte: 8 p.m. to midnight 8:30 p.m. in the cafe
• St. Gabriel, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte: After 7 p.m. Mass to midnight in the school cafeteria
• St. John Neumann, 68451 Idlewild Rd, Charlotte: After 7 p.m. Mass to midnight in the Parish Hall
• St. Mark; 14740 Stumptown Rd, Huntersville: After 7 p.m. Mass until midnight in the Parish Hall
• St. Matthew, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.: 8 - 10:30 p.m. in the Parish Center gym
• St. Michael Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia; 8:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday in the parish gym
• St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte: 8 p.m. to midnight in the great hall of the Family Life Center
• St. Thomas Aquinas, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte: 8:30 p.m. to midnight in Aquinas Hall
  

Check each parish website for any updates or changes.