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Colleen Mallette shares her joyful experience as the Eucharistic Revival Pilgrimage came through her state last month. 


The culmination of the American bishops' three-year Eucharistic Revival finished in July after an historic pilgrimage across the country. Four sets of six young adults called “perpetual pilgrims” accompanied Jesus in a monstrance with varying priests, seminarians and nuns from four corners of our country. They traveled for 65 days, a collective 6,500 miles, tracing a massive sign of the cross over the United States as they made their way to Indianapolis from Minnesota, Texas, California, and Connecticut, bringing Jesus in the Eucharist to countless people across the nation. They converged in Indianapolis for the Eucharistic Congress mid-July.  

 

Following the Seton Route

As a northern Ohioan, I followed the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Route that began in New Haven, CT, and gradually made its way through our state on its way to Indiana. I desperately wanted to be a part of this historic event, so I registered to attend the events in Columbus, Ohio, a two-hour drive away for me but the closest the route was coming to my hometown. I wanted my 24-year-old daughter to experience this event (and also used it as an excuse to spend the day with her!), so she and her boyfriend traveled an hour and a half from another part of the state to meet me there.  I was pleased that our oldest child participated in a Mass when the western route came through his location at Salt Lake City, Utah, in May!  

We were blessed with a sunny, warm Sunday, which was perfect for the outdoor schedule of afternoon activities. It began in the Saint Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus. There were plenty of volunteers helping direct all the cars since parking was limited and the church was filled to standing room only! The pilgrims and priest brought in the monstrance at noon. The passionate priest was the only one in this experience who had actually accompanied the monstrance his entire route, and the homily he gave regarding the Gospel of the day, combined with his observances of this momentous revival, were definitely inspiring. He encouraged all listeners to be bold and take their faith out of the church into their everyday lives in order to share Jesus with everyone. 

 

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After Mass, everyone followed the monstrance out of the church and slowly around a large city block, singing and reciting a Rosary at five stops before concluding at the church parking lot for a picnic and meet-and-greet. Father introduced all of the pilgrims who told a little about themselves, why they decided to be a part of this pilgrimage and give up six weeks of their summer, and a story of something that they were impressed by in the course of their journey.  

Their stories, especially having visited an Ohio prison earlier in the week, were so touching. The hopes that this whole event would impact Catholics and random strangers definitely was happening. I was impressed that these young adults desired to sacrifice their summer to accompany Jesus on this trip and share their joy and faith to anyone who would listen. 

 

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A heartwarming day spent with Catholics of all ages

I was also impressed at the range of ages who attended this day’s event, from elderly all the way down to families with kids in wagons and babies in body carriers. In fact, I was admiring a young family with two toddlers sitting and eating their picnic in the grass when the priest commended those with young children for coming and exposing them to the beauty of our belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The parents humbly smiled at each other, and I gave them two thumbs up to commend them as well.  

While leaving the church, the three of us rode an elevator to the restroom with an older woman pushing her husband in a wheelchair. The woman also commended my daughter and her beau for being there and said how wonderful it was to see young adults interested in growing their faith through this experience.    

Overall, this whole day was so heartwarming and worth the drive, as I knew it would be. Being a witness of the historic pilgrimage was only a small part of it — seeing the joy on the pilgrim’s faces, the upbeat atmosphere of everyone present, and the happiness of spending time in Jesus’ presence and receiving Him, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion had the greatest impact for me. 

 

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As a cradle Catholic who only in recent years has been spending time in Adoration, this experience has boosted my desire to relish the quiet time weekly with Jesus in that way. Whether reading, praying the Rosary, praying, or just sitting in silence with Him, I feel more at peace when I take that time. Also, I am determined to recognize the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist with awe and appreciation every time I receive Him at Mass, striving to not be distracted or take it for granted ever again.  

Sr. Alicia Torres, F.E., Managing Editor of the Eucharistic Heart of Revival Newsletter, wrote after the second day of the Eucharistic Congress: 

Here in this place we are discovering anew that when we humble ourselves, pray, and truly seek His face — His beautiful face, revealed to us in the Eucharist—He gives us the supernatural strength to turn away from our sinful ways. He is sending down a superabundance of His merciful love to set us free and heal our land. (July 18, 2024

 

I pray for all Catholics to have this desire to know and appreciate the gift of Jesus in our Mass, Eucharist and Adoration available to us every day. 

 

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Copyright 2024 Colleen Mallette
Images: copyright 2024 Colleen Mallette, all rights reserved.