Column: Eucharistic Pilgrimage Arrives May 24

“Let Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: He is God with us. Seek him without tiring, welcome him without reserve, love him without interruption: today, tomorrow, forever!”
— St. John Paul II to the youth of Bologna, Italy (September 1997)

On Divine Mercy Sunday, roughly 140 people came together here at the church to be consecrated to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist as part of the National Eucharistic Revival underway across the country this year. As a priest, it does my heart good to see so many parishioners turning to the Blessed Sacrament—the source and summit of our faith—with greater and greater devotion.

We have so many occasions to show reverence for the Blessed Sacrament here at St. Michael, including Mass every day of the week, perpetual Adoration, monthly Mercy Nights throughout the school year, and more. But this month we have a special opportunity: Everyone is invited to the church to welcome the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as it passes from Itasca State Park and the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

Thousands followed Christ throughout his earthly ministry. Since his Resurrection, countless Christians have traveled to holy sites in order to connect concretely with places where heaven and earth have touched. While pilgrimages have a long legacy within the Church, this Eucharistic Procession is the first undertaken at such a scale—walking coast-to-coast with Our Eucharistic Lord!
 —from the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage website

Starting on Pentecost, May 19, four processions will set from the north, south, east, and west, arriving at the Eucharistic Congress on July 16. The northern, or Marian, route passes through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

• It is set to arrive at the Church of St. Albert in Albertville at 5:00 PM, on Friday, May 24, for a period of Adoration.
• At approximately 6:00 PM on Friday, weather permitting, we will walk in procession from St. Albert to our church for a special Mass at 7:15 PM, followed by Adoration.
• The pilgrims will begin their Saturday with Mass at 8:00 AM here at St. Michael, then set out for St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Saint Paul.

These four cross-country processions with the Holy Eucharist provide a powerful witness of the faith of US Catholics and the power of Jesus Christ truly present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—in the Holy Eucharist. Please join us for the procession from St. Albert, Adoration, and both Masses if you are able.

God bless you!

Father Brian Park
Pastor