Diocese of Alexandria participants join National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

The National Eucharistic Congress happening July 17-21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is ready to welcome thousands of pilgrims to the 10th Annual Congress. However, before this powerful weekend of transformation occurs, a historic journey of the Blessed Sacrament is taking place.

Four Eucharistic processions are crossing the United States leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress. These four routes will travel across 1,000 host cities over a period of 60 days for a total of 6,500 miles traveled. The St. Juan Diego Route, which started at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brownsville, TX, traversed the state of Louisiana with stops in Dioceses along the I-10 corridor.

On Friday, June 7, Bishop Robert Marshall led a group of 56 pilgrims from the Diocese of Alexandria to New Orleans. The group departed by bus, stopping along the way for a wonderful meal and fellowship at Don’s Seafood in Gonzales. After traveling the remainder of the way, the group checked into the hotel to settle in and refresh before departing for Notre Dame Seminary where they joined other pilgrims from across the region for the Eucharistic Procession from the seminary to St. Rita’s Catholic Church.

The Eucharistic Procession started at 6:30 p.m. and was led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, with Archbishop Hughs and Bishop Marshall in procession. Included in the procession were servers of the Archdiocese, members of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver, The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and other religious organizations. The voices of the faithful rang out as hymns were sung during the procession, the crowd was so large that you could hear the singing echo as it traveled throughout the procession. It was estimated that over 800 people accompanied the Blessed Sacrament to St. Rita’s church, where it was overflowing with adorers as people stood both inside and outside. With periods of silent adoration, music, reflection from one of the national pilgrims, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Benediction, the time at St. Rita’s was one of true Revival in Spirit. One of our local pilgrims described the experience as “Such a great blessing! It was truly special and spiritually uplifting to experience this event in community with fellow believers from our Diocese and beyond. I am so glad I was able to take part.”

After the events at St. Rita’s, our group gathered back at the hotel for continued fellowship, and reflection of the day’s events. There we were treated to a charcuterie board that covered an entire 6-foot table, with various selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and simply too much to mention! The next morning after breakfast, the group departed the hotel for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on State Street in New Orleans. There we took part in a planned private tour of the Shrine, and listened to the historical roots of the Urseline Sisters and the church, and joined in the Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Marshall. At the conclusion of mass, a private tour of the museum was offered where relics of the days of old were on display, highlighting the rich history of the Urseline sisters in New Orleans. After the tour, the pilgrims boarded the bus and journeyed back to Alexandria, where the Bishop said a final blessing and our part in the route of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage concluded.

Thanks to a generous gift from Catholic Home Missions, the cost of the trip was subsidized to an affordable rate for all who attended. Please, the next time you hear of a second collection for Catholic Home Missions, your support would be greatly appreciated.

For more information on the National Eucharistic Revival, Pilgrimage, and Congress, please visit eucharisticrevival.org.