CV NEWS FEED // The Archdiocese of San Francisco will launch the western route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on May 19, as pilgrims from across the country begin to make their way towards Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress in July.
Four pilgrimages from every border of the United States to Indianapolis will begin this month. The St. Junipero Serra route, the longest of the four, begins at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.
An emailed news release from the Archdiocese reported that the western pilgrimage will be launched with Mass celebrated by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. Following Mass, a Eucharistic procession will go through the streets of San Francisco and head across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Eleven perpetual pilgrims will walk the entire route, and will be joined by Catholics across the western United States for shorter stretches. Two San Francisco seminarians, Jimmy Velasco and Dereck Delgado, will be among the perpetual pilgrims.
Velasco said in a recent interview with the Archdiocese that he believes the pilgrimage and the Congress will bring healing to the United States.
“With all that is going on right now, many forces are working to further divide us. Who better to help bring unity than our Prince of Peace, than our Lord?” he said, continuing:
I believe that because we are walking across multiple states, and especially in San Francisco, the Eucharistic procession is going to generate curiosity and will get people thinking. It’s a good thing that we’re bringing Jesus out there to the world. I feel like it’s certainly going to help heal our divisions.
Delgado added in the same interview that he’s looking forward to participating in such a historic event.
“We have weekly formation sessions with the whole western group of perpetual pilgrims, and one of the things that was brought up was how historical this is because there’s never been an opportunity to bring our Lord this distance, especially our route coming from San Francisco all the way to Indianapolis,” Delgado said. “And … just having that chance to walk with Him on this long journey like the disciples did is a privilege. I’m looking forward to that.”
