Diocesan Catholics participate in National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger

Mary Jane Pranger has a special connection to the National Eucharistic Congress: her maternal grandmother attended the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago in 1926. While Mary Jane is unable to attend this year’s Congress in Indianapolis, she was thrilled to participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that preceded it. “It was a memorable trip,” the St. Mary of the Assumption-West Point parishioner said.

Mary Jane was among 40 Catholics from Lee County who traveled by bus or car to the pilgrimage’s stop in Quincy, Illinois earlier this month. The pilgrimage consisted of four different routes beginning in opposite directions of the country, all en route to Indianapolis. Groups of perpetual pilgrims walked entire routes, while a majority of Catholics participated for a few hours at stops along the way. The pilgrimage began in May and concluded July 16, the day before the Congress commenced.

The event in Quincy began with adoration, evening prayer and benediction at a packed St. Peter Catholic Church. It was “standing room only,” recalled Deacon Mike Linnenbrink of the four participating Lee County parishes: St. Boniface-Farmington, St. James the Less-St. Paul, St. John the Baptist-Houghton and St. Mary of the Assumption-West Point. Deacon Mike and lay leaders from the parishes organized transportation as a way to help local Catholics engage in the National Eucharistic Revival. Earlier this year, the parishes offered a seven-session study of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) National Eucharistic Revival, entitled “Jesus and the Eucharist.”

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield led the Quincy procession, carrying the monstrance several blocks to St. Peter’s Cemetery, where Venerable Father Augustus Tolton is buried. The procession then headed to St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, about a mile away. Participants socialized during a potluck there and heard testimony from one of the perpetual pilgrims. The event concluded with adoration.

Father Dan Dorau, pastor of the four Iowa parishes, enjoyed seeing so many Catholics walking the city streets in procession behind the Eucharist, singing songs and making new friends. “The witness of this procession increased my confidence to evangelize.” He had an impromptu opportunity to do so when a man ran across the street to join the procession and ask questions. “He said that many on the other side of the street were speculating, so I had an opportunity to explain the Eucharist and what we believe.”

Mary Jane enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other Catholics. Eucharistic adoration at St. Francis Solanus Parish was a highlight for her. She sat next to a mother with two girls of elementary school age, one of whom helped Mary Jane find the right pages in the parish’s prayer guide. “She would help me and I would point out part of the adoration prayer, ‘Jesus, I love you with my whole heart.’  At times I would notice her mother and (sister) were reverently bowed during this precious adoration hour.”

Participants Gary and Gale Thompson are members of the Houghton parish. Their daughter Amanda lives in Quincy, so the pilgrimage offered an opportunity to engage in the faith as a family. Two of Amanda’s children, Jovie and Calvin, also participated. “It was just so special to be involved in this, to come from so many different towns and cities and parishes and realize we all worship together,” Gale said. “It kind of opens your eyes to your faith a bit more.” She appreciated the opportunity to visit Father Tolton’s gravesite. “To think there could possibly be a saint this close to where we live would be amazing.”

Gale worries about the future of the Church, especially as Amanda, 40, observes how many of her peers have stopped going to Mass. Gale believes events such as the Eucharistic procession could be a good start in getting more young people engaged in the faith. “I would like to see more of this, but we have to encourage participation.”

Linda Baker of the St. Paul parish said the event was uplifting and inspiring. “I’m a grandmother and sometimes I just think the world is so chaotic and that there’s so many problems in the world. It was like a beacon of comfort and peace to go to this Eucharistic Revival pilgrimage. … I was really glad I went; it’s like you’re a part of history.”