Blazing a Trail: The Body of Christ

This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—a feast that calls us to focus on the manifestation of the Body of Christ in both the Holy Eucharist and the Church. Traditionally, in communion with Jesus and each other, we turn our attention to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and celebrate the solemnity with public Eucharistic processions. What greater Eucharistic procession is there to participate in than the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage?

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Gathering as the Body of Christ

Marian Route (North)

The Pilgrimage in the north enters the Diocese of Winona-Rochester this evening. After Jesus moved the hearts of over 7,000 to accompany him in a Eucharistic procession through St. Paul, MN, last weekend, we can’t wait to see whom the Holy Spirit will call to join this week’s events. Here are some to look forward to:

• On Saturday morning, Bishop Barron will celebrate Mass at Pax Christi Catholic Church.
• Bishop Barron will celebrate a Diocesan Mass at the Rochester Mayo Civic Center for the solemnity. It will be preceded by a Holy Hour at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and a Eucharistic procession led by the Bishop.
• The Diocese of Winona-Rochester will carry Jesus for multiple 10.5-mile Eucharistic processions from parish to parish.
• The Crossings Center will host a family-focused evening of music, food, faith, and fun, with an outdoor concert featuring Steve Angrisano and Sarah Hart.

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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route (East)

After having visited New York City and Trenton, NJ, last week, Jesus will continue to travel through more large East Coast cities. In the next week, Our Eucharistic Lord will make several more stops in Philadelphia before entering the Diocese of Harrisburg and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Check out some of the upcoming events happening there:

• The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has planned a Eucharistic Encounter and Open Mic Night for young adults at the National Shrine of St. John Neumann on Saturday evening.
• Archbishop Nelson Pérez will celebrate Mass for the solemnity at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, followed by a Eucharistic procession to St. Patrick’s Church.
• As part of a celebration of “Eight Days of Eucharistic Joy,” the Diocese of Harrisburg will host the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for Masses, processions, adoration, and shared meals including a Hispanic food festival.
• Hundreds are registered to attend events at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where the namesake of the eastern Pilgrimage route is entombed. There, Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate a bilingual Mass and lead a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Emmitsburg.
• Two hundred years ago, Mother Seton and her sisters would often walk “up the mountain” to pray. This week, crowds will follow in her footsteps in a Eucharistic procession on the campus of Mount St. Mary’s University and Seminary to the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes.

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St. Juan Diego Route (South)

In the south, the Body of Christ present in the Most Holy Eucharist will continue to spark revival across Texas and into Louisiana. The Pilgrimage will spend the weekend traveling through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Diocese of Beaumont on its way to the Dioceses of Lake Charles, Lafayette in Louisiana, and Houma-Thibodaux. Here are some of the upcoming highlights:

• The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham will host an Evening of Prayer tonight in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
• Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica on Sunday, followed by a Eucharistic procession. The Cathedral Basilica—originally constructed in the early 1800s—is considered the “mother church” of the Catholic Church in Texas.
• In the Diocese of Beaumont, Bishop David Toups will celebrate a Sunday evening Mass for youth and young adults at Blessed Carlo Acutis Chapel on the solemnity. Preparations are currently being made for the canonization of the namesake of this chapel!
• A Solemn Pontifical Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Toups of the Diocese of Beaumont on Monday afternoon at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica.
• Several Eucharistic processions, Masses, and shared meals will be held in the Diocese of Lake Charles, the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana, and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux during the week.

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St. Junipero Serra Route (West)

After leaving four states with the fire of the Holy Spirit last week, the Pilgrimage will travel through two more states in the west over the next seven days. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will visit the Diocese of Salt Lake City, UT, and make his way into the Archdiocese of Denver, CO. Take a look at some of the ways the Serra route will encounter Our Lord this week:

• On the solemnity, the Diocese of Salt Lake City will have a Eucharistic procession on the Rail Trail and through Park City to St. Mary of the Assumption, where Bishop Oscar Solis will celebrate Mass in the evening.
• The pilgrims will process with Our Eucharistic Lord through the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah to Fort Duchesne Community Center for a presentation on the Ute Tribe.

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Please continue to pray for the Church—the Body of Christ—and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as Our Lord journeys to give the gift of himself in his Most Holy Body and Blood. Check back here weekly to see where Jesus is going next on the longest Eucharistic procession in U.S. history!

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Come and Meet Jesus on the Road

Visit our interactive map and RSVP to be a part of the crowds who are publicly professing our faith in walking alongside Christ and witnessing to the world that Jesus is a King worth following.