This pilgrimage is apparently a rare instance when you travel south and find the climate a bit colder than expected. Yes, after leaving New England — the area that usually gets hit with several inches of snow on a regular basis — and traveling to the "warmer" climes of Virginia/Washington, D.C., we arrived with about four inches of snow on the ground. Perhaps this is St. Damien's way of telling us to expect the unexpected.

At left is the view outside my hotel window as we arrived.

But thanks to the skillful maneuvering of our driver, we arrived in McLean, Virginia safe and sound around 9:00 p.m. I'll also add the weary pilgrims were warmly greeted by none other than Father William Petrie, SSCC, wearing his black Father Damien hat, as they got off the bus and stepped into the snow. The long bus ride melted away after his warm welcome.

Plans are to depart at 9:00 a.m. first-thing tomorrow morning for a quick tour of D.C. sites and then head to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception for noontime to enjoy lunch there and the big Mass in celebration of St. Damien's Canonization at 2:00 p.m. I plan to post more interesting news (and pics) to post after all the festivities tomorrow, including a celebration banquet to take place here at the Hilton Hotel tomorrow night. Stay tuned, God bless and sleep tight ...