This summer, Jesus will process across the United States alongside 24 faithful and brave souls serving as perpetual pilgrims on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
If it’s not the longest and largest Eucharistic procession that the U.S. has ever seen, then it’s certainly in the top five. The pilgrimage is part of the National Eucharistic Revival taking place right now in the U.S. that will culminate in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind. July 17-21. It will mark the first National Eucharistic Congress here in the U.S. in 83 years.
The national pilgrimage will consist of four separate routes that will all converge in Indianapolis, just in time for the congress. Each route of the four routes will start in different parts of the country: the Marian Route starts north in Lake Itasca, Minn.; the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route starts east in New Haven, Conn.; the St. Juan Diego Route starts south in Brownsville, Texas; and the St. Juniperro Serra Route starts west in San Francisco, Calif. Altogether, the pilgrimage will be on the road for 60 days with a combined total of over 6,500 miles traveled.
Those of us here in the Archdiocese of Denver will be lucky enough to have the St. Juniperro Serra Route of the pilgrimage roll through here June 5-12. The pilgrimage will be making stops at several parishes along the way, including Holy Name Parish in Steamboat Springs, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Boulder, St. Joan of Arc in Arvad and more. There will be a number of events that take place over those days that people can register to participate in. Click here for the full list of events.
Two of the 24 perpetual pilgrims who will be embarking on this pilgrimage are from Denver. Shayla Elm is the Community Engagement Manager for Christ in the City, and Jennifer Torres has been serving the Denver Metro area for the past five years in various apostolates catering to the homeless, pregnant women and under-resourced families.
“The goal of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is to illuminate the hearts of all with the love of the Eucharistic Lord,” Torres said. “As we walk through the roads and streets of many cities and towns we as pilgrims desire to invite all to encounter Jesus in a new way.”
Both Elm and Torres applied to be pilgrims for different reasons yet share the same desire to serve the Lord and bring the Eucharist to as many people as possible.
“The Eucharist is the center of my life and faith, and I feel called to share with others how he has changed my life,” Elm said. “I was attracted to how radical this pilgrimage truly is and saw it as an ultimate way to bring others to know and love our Eucharistic Lord.”
Both of them are grateful they’ll get to spend so much time with the Lord as they traverse across the country with his Eucharistic presence by their side at all times.
“I am most excited to spend so much time with Jesus and see Him through the eyes of my teammates and chaplains,” Torres shared. “That was what drew me in initially to this opportunity. It is overwhelming to think of how much time we will be with him, with traveling, walking, celebrating the Mass, and in silent adoration.”
Elm added, “I am most excited to meet so many new people and watch them encounter our Lord. The amount of works He will do is almost unfathomable, and I am excited to have a front-row seat.”
The pilgrims have to fundraise finances, since they are stepping away from their normal lives and jobs for two months. They would be grateful for any financial support. You can read more about all of the pilgrims and make donations at eucharisticpilgrimage.org/perpetual-pilgrims.
More important than financial support, however, is spiritual support.
“The best support for us is your prayers! Through the spiritual, physical, and financial preparations there are many opportunities for us to trust blindly,” Torres concluded. “I know the intercession of the greater Denver community will greatly increase our faith and hope in Him. I have received abundantly from this Archdiocese and desire to be a great steward to those I meet this summer.”
“We really need your prayers,” Elm concurred. “Each route spans many miles, in many terrains, with many people! Prayers for the safety and health of our pilgrims are needed.”