Blazing a Trail: Gaining Momentum

As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage moves into the second half of its trek across the U.S., Jesus is not slowing down! He will visit nine different states this week—Wisconsin, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas—spreading the fire of revival in the wake of his path. As our nation continues to turn all eyes toward Christ’s gift of himself in the Eucharist, here is a sneak peek at some key moments happening on each route:

‍

Marian Route (North)

This week, the Pilgrimage will conclude its time in Wisconsin in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and move into Illinois, visiting the Archdiocese of Chicago. As Our Eucharistic Lord continues to travel closer Indianapolis, check out some of these exciting moments to look forward to:

• A four-mile Eucharistic procession in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will stop at the Archdiocesan Marian Shrine (Milwaukee Fatima Shrine).
• Archbishop Jerome Listecki will celebrate Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, followed by a “Source and Summit” Eucharistic procession for 6.7 miles through downtown Milwaukee to St. Francis de Sales Seminary.
• Nearly 500 are registered to attend Mass and a Eucharistic procession at Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago—the location of the 28th International Eucharistic Congress 98 years ago!
• The Archdiocese of Chicago will host a series of multilingual events at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, including a Holy Hour with the Rosary said in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Polish, and a trilingual Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, and Latin.

‍

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route (East)

The Pilgrimage will accompany Jesus at events in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, and the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, over the weekend before traveling farther into Ohio to the Diocese of Columbus during the week. Take a peek at some of the upcoming highlights on this route:

• The Diocese of Steubenville will welcome the Pilgrimage with a “Sing-spiration” event at Fort Steuben Amphitheatre overlooking the Ohio River.
• Bishop Paul Bradley will celebrate Sunday Mass at Triumph of the Cross Parish.
• The Dioceses of Steubenville and Wheeling-Charleston will come together for a Eucharistic “boater-cade” procession down the Ohio River, led by Bishop Paul Bradley and Bishop Mark Brennan.
• Bishop Mark Brennan will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph and lead a Eucharistic procession with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of downtown Wheeling, West Virginia.
• Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus will celebrate Mass and lead a Eucharistic procession at St. Joseph Somerset—the oldest Catholic church in Ohio.
• Hundreds are registered to attend the celebration of Mass, a Eucharistic procession, and a picnic dinner in the Diocese of Columbus at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, which shares a name with the patron saint of the eastern route.

‍

St. Juan Diego Route (South)

On this route, Jesus will transition from Alabama to Georgia, visiting the Archdiocese of Atlanta before heading north into Tennessee to spend time in the Diocese of Knoxville and the Diocese of Nashville. Here are some ways Our Lord will continue to set hearts on fire along the way:

• Bishop John Nhàn Trần—Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta—will lead an evening of prayer and thanksgiving with the Vietnamese Catholic community at Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church.
• After Morning Prayer, the Archdiocese of Atlanta is encouraging all to go out into the community as the hands and feet of Christ in an Archdiocesan Day of Eucharistic Service.
• Over 700 are registered to attend Sunday Mass and a Eucharistic procession led by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer at the Cathedral of Christ the King in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
• The Pilgrimage will stop at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in the Diocese of Knoxville for several events, including the celebration of Mass and an evening Eucharistic procession with Our Lord to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
• The Diocese of Nashville will process with Jesus in the Eucharist over seven miles to Stones River National Battlefield.

‍

St. Junipero Serra Route (West)

The longest route of the Pilgrimage will continue to spread the fire of Christ’s love in three different states this week. Our Lord will conclude his time in Nebraska in the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, and enter the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Check out some of the highlights:

• Bishop James Conley and Archbishop George Lucas will hand off Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a Eucharistic procession marking the formal transition of the Pilgrimage from the Diocese of Lincoln into the Archdiocese of Omaha.
• The Pilgrimage will stop for Eucharistic adoration at St. Augustine Indian Mission, a Catholic institution founded by St. Katharine Drexel that serves K–8 students from the Omaha and Winnebago tribes and teaches traditional Native American culture and language.
• Hundreds are registered to attend Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop George Lucas at St. Cecilia Cathedral.
• A walking Eucharistic procession will carry Jesus across state lines from Omaha, Nebraska, into the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, where Bishop William Joensen will continue the procession through Council Bluffs to Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
• The Diocese of Des Moines will accompany Our Lord in an eight-mile Eucharistic procession on Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
• Over 500 are registered to attend events at Benedictine College when the Pilgrimage reaches the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, including Eucharistic processions, Mass, Eucharistic adoration, prayer with the Benedictine monks, and a dinner.

‍

Please keep the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in your prayers as the pilgrims accompany Our Eucharistic Lord across the country. You can share your prayer intentions with the Perpetual Pilgrims here, and check the Pilgrim’s Digest every Friday to stay up to date on where Jesus is headed next! And don’t forget to take a look at our interactive map and RSVP to journey with Jesus in this national Emmaus moment.