CV NEWS FEED // A recent Eucharistic procession in Washington D.C. drew hundreds of faithful Catholics to adore Our Lord while walking through our nation’s capital. The procession offered a glimpse of even bigger plans to bring Christ to the streets of the whole country.
The first-ever National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) is launching in May 2024, a 60-day nationwide event leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress.
The NEP was created as part of the movement for Eucharistic revival in the United States. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to travel from May 19, 2024 to July 16 2024 on four different routes ending at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
Twelve “perpetual pilgrims” will be chosen for each route, along with a priest to accompany them with the Blessed Sacrament. The pilgrims will engage with Catholics across the U.S. as they travel through different towns and parishes before ultimately being sent out as Eucharistic missionaries after the conclusion of the congress.
Young people ages 19 to 29 are encouraged to apply and will receive formation and apologetics training prior to the pilgrimage. Pilgrims will travel predominately by foot, but will also be accompanied by a service vehicle for periods of rest.
NEP describes the pilgrimage as “not one event or a road trip—it is an exciting opportunity for American Catholics everywhere to physically embody our nation’s journey of Eucharistic Revival.”
Each diocese will work with the organization Modern Catholic Pilgrim to coordinate opportunities for Catholics to participate in their own communities, including by joining as “day pilgrims” for Eucharistic processions and other events as the perpetual pilgrims pass through parishes along their route. For those unable to attend public events in person, self-led programs will be available so all the faithful can be united in the revival in some way.
The four routes of the pilgrimage are:
- North – Bemidji, Minnesota (Marian Route)
- South – Brownsville, Texas (Juan Diego Route)
- East – New Haven, Connecticut (Seton Route)
- West – San Francisco, California (Serra Route)
In a press release, Modern Catholic Pilgrim President Will Peterson said that the pilgrimage will create “a stirring vision”:
Christ truly present in the Eucharist, traveling across our nation inviting crowds of hungry souls to come and be fed.The pilgrimage is modeled after the road to Emmaus and is an invitation for pilgrims to encounter the risen Christ on the journey and in the breaking of the bread before being missioned back into their local communities to spread the fire.
