It’s not every day that you get to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and the saints – and saints-to-be (God willing)!
As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage made its way through the Archdiocese of Denver, it paused for visits at St. Ignatius Church in Rangely, Holy Name Parish in Steamboat Springs, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Boulder, St. Joan of Arc Parish in Arvada, Light of the World Parish in Littleton, Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Denver, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Holy Ghost Parish in Denver, as well as the Augustine Institute and Christ in the City.
In addition to their parish and ministry visits, the pilgrims lived the Communion of Saints in a profound way, visiting other local Catholic hot spots and walking in the footsteps of some of our beloved saints!
(Photo provided)
Pope St. John Paul II | Camp St. Malo
What’s a Catholic trip through the Rocky Mountains without a stop at the famous St. Catherine Chapel on the Rock at Camp St. Malo?
The Perpetual Pilgrims of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage were in good company when they stopped Wednesday afternoon, following Pope St. John Paul II’s example in their visit to the iconic chapel.
While in town for World Youth Day 1993, Pope St. John Paul II retreated from the hustle and bustle of the city for a day of respite in the mountains. On his “day off,” the Holy Father celebrated Mass for U.S. bishops and cardinals before resting and reveling in God’s beautiful creation.
While the pilgrims might not have had enough time in their schedule for a hike, they did pay a visit to the chapel visited by Pope St. John Paul II, spending time in prayer and worship.
Joining the pilgrims were campers and staff from neighboring Annunciation Heights, the archdiocesan camp, who happened to be at the nearby chapel by some divine happenstance.
“I think it was such a life-giving opportunity, particularly because the campers were already over at Camp St. Malo by some kind of unique coincidence,” said Luke Hlavin, the camp’s director of operations. “It was really exciting to have the camp staff rush over there, and have the campers already be there. It felt like Jesus was on the way and we were rushing out to meet him, like in Scripture.”
The divine appointment won’t soon be forgotten, said Abby Meisner, a first-year missionary at Annunciation Heights.
“It was such a beautiful – and unexpected – gift to have the Eucharistic Pilgrimage make a stop at Camp St. Malo. Witnessing Jesus in the Eucharist traveling to St. Catherine’s Chapel on the Rock and getting to receive benediction with all of the campers and staff from Annunciation Heights was a moment I’ll never forget,” she said.
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(Photo provided)
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini | Mother Cabrini Shrine
As the pilgrims made their way through the Denver metro area, they headed out to the foothills for a time of respite and met another beloved saint with local ties in St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
Affectionately known as Mother Cabrini, the foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus whose life was recently featured in a new film, courageously traveled from Italy to the United States to serve Italian immigrants. In addition to her work in New York and Chicago, she opened an orphanage in Denver and later acquired land in Golden to establish a camp for the children.
The main downside to the land: there was no reliable water source. Water had to be carried up from the stream at the bottom of Mt. Vernon Canyon.
For most, this would have been a dealbreaker, but the saintly Mother Cabrini prayerfully trusted in God’s providential provision and told her sisters to dig in a particular place where they would find a spring. They indeed found that spring, which continues to flow to this day.
Just as it provided a place of rest outside of the busy metro area for the children in Mother Cabrini’s care, the land – and the shrine that now occupies it – continues to provide a peaceful, prayerful environment for spiritual respite.
The pilgrims got a taste of that very serenity as they joined staff members and local religious for prayer and reflection, followed by a meal together.
“We were delighted to have the National Eucharistic Pilgrims visit the Shrine,” said JoAnn Seaman, the shrine’s executive director. “We were so happy to offer them a respite from their journey with a short tour of the Shrine, a hot meal and some time for prayer and reflection. We have been praying for them at our Masses and will continue to ask Mother Cabrini to intercede for them as they continue on to the Eucharistic Congress in July.”
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was filled with countless faithful who had come from all parts of the archdiocese to pray, adore and worship our Eucharistic Lord. (Photo by Andy Sanchez)
Servant of God Julia Greeley | Downtown Denver
Sunday’s historic procession through downtown Denver, which drew thousands of faithful together in prayer and witness, followed in the footsteps of our very own “Angel of Charity,” Servant of God Julia Greeley.
A parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in RiNo, Servant of God Julia Greeley was known for her travels around Denver, pulling her iconic red wagon and making acts of charity and almsgiving on her way.
Julia also made a herculean effort to attend the First Communions of several individuals she had come to know. These celebrations were held all over the city, and Julia would walk to each church – an undoubtedly painful experience for the saintly woman whose bones were riddled with arthritis.
Fueled by her Eucharistic devotion, Julia gave freely to those in need and to the Church she so loved. Her humble witness of faith inspired many who knew her to draw nearer to the Eucharistic Lord Jesus.
In like manner, Sunday’s procession – albeit with more pomp and circumstance – served as an inspiring witness to the beauty, truth and power of the faith as thousands of faithful prayerfully made their way through the city, walking the very steps Julia herself walked a century ago.
For Senite Sahlezghi, that unity of the Communion of Saints in whose footsteps the faithful walked in procession, was impactful.
“It felt like the Church! It was the communion of saints processing in together – Church triumphant, church militant – and, it felt like we were all on pilgrimage towards the goal, which is him,” Sahlezghi shared.