Last night, thousands of pilgrims filled the streets of Carey, Ohio, for the annual Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation. The candlelight rosary procession, led by Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, wound its way to the outdoor altar in Shrine Park, where the Vigil Mass was celebrated under the summer night sky.
The beloved tradition draws faithful from across the Diocese of Toledo and beyond each August 14, honoring Mary on the eve of her Assumption into Heaven. Pilgrims carried candles as they prayed the rosary, accompanying the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Consolation in a moving display of devotion.
Bishop Thomas reflected on the significance of the evening: “It’s such a beautiful way to honor Our Lady, to gather together, to be moved by the devotion before that miraculous image and statue of Our Lady, to pray the rosary, to attend Holy Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist, and to honor Mary, the mother of Christ Jesus, in her Assumption into Heaven.”
As the rosary concluded, the faithful processed back to the basilica in the warm August night. Bishop Thomas was joined by all of the diocese’s seminarians, along with priests, religious, and laypeople who have made the procession an annual act of faith.
For many, the Vigil of the Assumption remains one of the most cherished celebrations of the year — a living witness of love for Mary and, through her, for her Son, Jesus Christ.
Posted August 15, 2025 at 10:53 am