‘Called to be Pilgrims’

August 18, 2026

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly joins French Knights and others for the 50th Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac

By Cecilia Engbert

August 18, 2026

A member of St. Louis, King of France Council 16501 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and other participants in the Pilgrimage of Fathers carry their banners in a procession during Mass in Cotignac. — Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly (second from right) prays the rosary with brother Knights from St. Louis, King of France Council 16501 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer during the Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

More than 2,000 men, including Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and dozens of other Knights, participated in the 50th annual Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac, a three-day walking pilgrimage held in southeastern France.

From July 3-5, husbands, fathers and aspiring fathers walked about 75 miles (120 kilometers) in the blazing heat across the Provence region, participating in what has become one of France’s largest gatherings of Catholic men. As they made their way toward Cotignac, home of two apparition sites — of the Blessed Mother in the 16th century and St. Joseph in the 17th — the pilgrims sought the intercession of Mary and Joseph as they reflected on their own roles as protectors and providers for their families.

“The unity that is here is a very, very real thing to experience,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “It’s a hard pilgrimage. It’s July, it’s very hot, and it involves some suffering. But that’s what a pilgrimage is, and I think that suffering brought everyone together under the guidance of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Graces.”

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly prays with brother Knights before the statue of St. Joseph at the Monastery of St. Joseph on Mont Bessillon. — Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly (wearing the blue shirt) prays with brother Knights before the statue of St. Joseph at the Monastery of St. Joseph on Mont Bessillon during the Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac, France. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

The Pilgrimage of Fathers began in 1976 when Jean-Louis Bouzereau, concerned about his wife’s high-risk pregnancy, promised the Blessed Virgin Mary he’d walk the distance from his hometown of Aix-en-Provence to Cotignac if the baby was delivered safely. Upon the birth of his daughter, Bouzereau kept his promise, making the journey alongside one friend that summer. From there, the gathering grew; some 80 Pilgrimages of Fathers take place throughout France each year, attracting thousands of men, including hundreds of French Knights.

“The Knights of Columbus are called to be pilgrims — not just for a weekend through these pilgrimages, but throughout the year in our parishes,” said France Territorial Deputy Arnaud Boutheon, who participated in this year’s pilgrimage to Cotingnac. “What we must live out in our councils is a distillation of this experience centered on our principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.”

Every participant brings his unique intentions, but all are united as they pray for renewed commitment to their vocations and entrust their families to the care of Mary and St. Joseph. The fraternal communion among the men sustains them throughout the arduous pilgrimage, said Remy Thiollier, a member of St. Louis, King of France Council 16501 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer.

“During this walk, you sweat; there are tears of joy, there are tears of compassion that appear, and so we live and relive our faith,” Thiollier said. “We come back grown, we always come back different from a pilgrimage.”

The supreme knight meets with French Knights following an open-air Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces. — *Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly meets with French Knights following an open-air Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces *during the Pilgrimage of Fathers to Cotignac.* (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)*

In Cotignac, the pilgrims visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces on Mont Verdaille and the Monastery of St. Joseph on Mont Bessillon. In 1519, the Blessed Mother appeared to a woodcutter on Mont Verdaille, requesting that a church be built there. In 1660, St. Joseph appeared on Mont Bessillon to a shepherd dying of thirst, revealing to him a spring under a boulder and saving his life. The site attracts some 150,000 pilgrims every year.

Remarking on France’s rich Catholic heritage — in Cotignac and beyond — Supreme Knight Kelly encouraged French Knights to remain committed to their nation and to continue their faithful Catholic witness. The first councils in France were chartered 10 years ago, in August 2016. Today, the jurisdiction counts more than 1,700 Knights in 65 councils.

“Do what you can to stay united in charity, in unity, in fraternity, and also importantly, patriotism,” the supreme knight said. “France is a great nation. It’s the eldest daughter of the Church, and you should be proud of who you are as Knights. Continue doing what you’re doing under the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney, and under the guidance of St. Joseph.”

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CECILIA ENGBERT is a content producer for the Knights of Columbus communications department.

Knights representing councils throughout Mexico carry banners into the Sanctuary of the Martyrs of Christ the King.

‘Called to be Pilgrims’

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