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June 20, 2023By Lisa Kochanowski, OSV News
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (OSV News) -- Catholics from across northeastern Indiana participated in a 100-mile Eucharistic pilgrimage from Fort Wayne to South Bend June 4-11 that served as test run for next summer's National Eucharistic Pilgrimage leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
"Together we walk the road to Emmaus side by side with the risen Christ," said Will Peterson of Minnesota-based Modern Catholic Pilgrim, who organized the pilgrimage across the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. "We hope everyone who walked a mile or the whole journey was rejuvenated in Christ and is set on fire to change your community."
The pilgrimage began following Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, with Father Stephen Felicichia -- an associate pastor of a Fort Wayne parish and former artillery officer in the U.S. Army -- carrying the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a group of Catholics, for 10 miles to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Arcola.
"This past week, people joined the procession as it moved then from Arcola to Churubusco, then on to Albion, Ligonier, Goshen, Elkhart, Mishawaka and ending the 100-mile trek this morning here at St. Matthew Cathedral on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, Corpus Christi," Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend said at the pilgrimage's closing Mass in South Bend.
"I pray that this cross-diocesan pilgrimage, which has been a pilot preparation for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimages next July, will bring many blessings to our diocese," he said.
The national pilgrimage -- which has four routes -- will culminate in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21, 2024. The pilgrimage and the congress are part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the U.S. Catholic Bishops to renew devotion to the Eucharist.
Bishop Rhoades said that he and Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, planned to meet with Pope Francis this month to have the pope bless the monstrance that will be used at the congress.
Bishop Cozzens is overseeing the National Eucharistic Revival as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. Bishop Rhoades led the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine from 2018-2021, while it led the development of a teaching document on the mystery of the Eucharist, which has influenced the revival.
The cross-diocesan pilgrimage had a core group of four people, growing as large as 80 people at times along the way. Some attended Mass with the pilgrims and walked a few miles, while others joined at different points of the route.
Each day, the core team walked their planned distance with other pilgrims. At the end of the day, they celebrated Mass and received meals and lodging from parishes and local Catholics.
"Seeing people go down to their knees in their front yard as we walk by and then go to the parish was impactful," said Peterson told Today's Catholic, the diocesan news outlet. "The hospitality of people in the diocese has been tremendous."
The journey's big concern was the route. Each evening, the planning team would scout the route and make sure it was obstacle free and safe for the walkers. Sometimes, they tweaked the route to ensure safe terrain.
Participants joined the pilgrimage for many different reasons, some with family and friends, while others walked solo. Many could only participate in part of the journey because of work or family commitments but spent as much time as possible in prayer and adoration of the Eucharist.
Eric Bradley joined the group at St. Vincent de Paul in Elkhart with his 3-year-old son Luke. His 13-year-old son completed the 12-mile walk from St. John the Evangelist in Goshen the day before, inspiring his dad to join.
"It's good to take Jesus to the streets," said Bradley. "My son said it was very moving."
Anne Oliva, a parishioner of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka who attended the evening Mass at her parish, felt called to join the last mile of the 100-mile journey. She and her daughter Catherine joined the 1.2-mile solemn procession that began at South Bend's Veterans Memorial Park and ended at St. Matthew Cathedral.
"I think it's important to have a public procession about the Eucharist," Anne Oliva said.
Catherine agreed, adding, "It's so important for us to make that public witness." She was unable to attend more of the pilgrimage because of work commitments, but had an evangelization moment as the group passed her workplace, giving her the opportunity to explain the procession to a colleague.
"I hope people get a strengthening of our faith and a deeper meaning of our faith, that we are not alone, and that God is always with us," Anne Olivia said.
She said she is happy the diocese did something like this, noting that historically people went on pilgrimages to pray for safety during times of war and division. With the world's contemporary challenges, she felt this is something society needs.
"When we are properly disposed and open our hearts to the graces of holy Communion, we are transformed into what we receive," Bishop Rhoades said during his homily. "My brothers and sisters, this is how Jesus builds up his church -- through the Eucharist, he transforms us into unity with himself and with one another. On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we give thanks for the great gift of this new manna from heaven. May we always receive holy Communion with humility, properly disposed, with reverence and adoration, and with love and devotion."
