"Singing with the Angels" at the CMAA 2009 Chant Pilgrimage in Washington, D.C.

The Church's pastoral solicitude desires that the worship of holy Mass be a unifying experience and prayer for all of the people of God in each parish community. For some time now, however, many parishes have been split musically into different groups along ethnic or other cultural lines.

The Church has only one officially endorsed music: Gregorian chant. As the wide representation at this year's Chant Pilgrimage in Washington, D.C. demonstrates, Gregorian chant continues to promise pastors and musicians effectiveness in not only bringing the whole parish family into a unity around the Lord's presence in the Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass; this ancient music of the Church also promises more effective encouragement to active participation in the music of holy Mass for men and women, young and old and members of every cultural and ethnic group.

These pilgrims traveled from Fort Worth, Texas, to attend the Chant Pilgrimage today.

Scott Turkington leads afternoon chant rehearsal in the Blessed Sacrament chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Pilgrims gather for the Saturday evening reception in the foyer of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

Religious of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception

Students from George Washington University

From left to right: David Lang, the organist at St John the Beloved in McLean, one of the numbers of young people at the pilgrimage, Scott Turkington, and Elizabeth Poel, who began organizing the CMAA workshops at St John's two years ago. Elizabeth was also a major force in organizing this year's pilgrimage at the Shrine with Arlene Oost-Zinner.

Men sing chant, too.

Young schola members from Saint Louis Church in Alexandria, Virginia

Diocesan and religious priests who participated in the day's events included this Dominican friar.

Arlene Oost-Zinner, one of the organizers of the Chant Pilgrimage, of The New Liturgical Movement (right).

Jeffrey Tucker (second from left) of The New Liturgical Movement chats with pilgrims.