National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to pass through Diocese of Salt Lake City

+ Enlarge

SALT LAKE CITY — As Catholics in the United States prepare for the final event of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, 24 young people will begin walking across the country in “one of the largest Eucharistic pilgrimages in history,” states https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/. “Just as crowds followed Christ throughout his earthly ministry, our nation will process with our Eucharistic Lord over 6,500 miles – through cities, along highways, and past rural towns – on his way to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.”

The National Eucharistic Revival was called by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops “[t]o inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist – and who are then sent out on mission ‘for the life of the world,’” the website states.

The revival began in 2022 with the diocesan phase. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, this phase included a series of Eucharistic reflections that were read at Masses throughout the diocese, as well as a rally that drew 10,000 Catholics from throughout Utah for a day of catechesis and fellowship.

For the parish phase of the national revival, which now is wrapping up, parishes throughout the diocese hosted events such as retreats and presentations focused on the Eucharist, and additional times for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The final phase of the revival is the National Eucharistic Congress, which will take place July 17-21 in Indianapolis, Ind. It has been 83 years since the previous national event, and tens of thousands of Catholics are expected to attend. Among them are the pilgrims who will begin walking on May 17 along one of four routes that will cover the continental U.S. Six of the pilgrims will be traveling through Utah on the St. Junipero Serra Route, which will begin in San Francisco, go north into Nevada and Oregon, then move east into Idaho, south into Utah, then east through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and ending at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana. This is the longest route, covering more than 2,200 miles.

The pilgrims are expected to be in the Diocese of Salt Lake City May 31 through June 5. Local Catholics are invited to attend the events that will occur in conjunction with the pilgrimage (see schedule, below.)

Catholics in Utah “are most certainly encouraged to join at any different point along the way,” said Father Christopher Gray, the diocesan point person for the Eucharistic Revival. “I invite Utahns to treat the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events as an adventure. Set some time aside, travel to where the pilgrimage is passing through, then seek it, join it and carry the adventurous spirit of the pilgrimage back with you to your own particular community.”

He suggested that anyone wishing to participate in the pilgrimage familiarize themselves with the schedule, and to be aware that it is subject to change. “There are two different kinds of events, essentially,” he said:  One is walking along the route with the pilgrims, the other is the events at the locations, such as Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or meals.

Those who participate in events related to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will be able to receive a plenary indulgence. “It will also be granted to the elderly, infirm, and all those who cannot leave their homes for a serious reason and who participate in spirit with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, uniting their prayers, pains, or inconveniences with Christ and the pilgrimage. This indulgence is granted under the usual conditions of sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father,” according to a press release from the USCCB.

The Catholic community in the Uinta Basin is looking forward to hosting the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage participants and join the diocesan efforts involved in the event, said Father Edward Leondhas, administrator of Saint James the Greater and St. Helen parishes and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Mission. “It is our privilege to welcome the diocese and the pilgrims” to the Vernal area for these events, he said. “We are so happy and excited to have that.”

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Events in Utah 

May 31: Transfer from the Diocese of Boise to the Diocese of Salt Lake City

Mass at 11:30 a.m. with Bishop Peter F. Christensen and Bishop Oscar A. Solis at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 302 E. Oneida St., Preston, Idaho. This will be followed by the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament from the Diocese of Boise to the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and lunch. To RSVP for the lunch, visit:https://events.blackthorn.io/en/DnDCa1K7/g/serra/serra-route-diocese-of-boise-4a2PDnqpQp/overview.

May 31: Arrival of Pilgrimage at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

The National Pilgrims are scheduled to arrive at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 725 South 250 East, Hyde Park, at 3 p.m. There will be opportunities for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and dinner. Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. All-night Adoration will start at 9 p.m.  

June 2: Corpus Christi Procession to St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

The pilgrims are scheduled to enter Park City on the Rail Trail at 11 a.m. and head toward the historic Old Town Chapel, 121 Park Ave., Park City. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a 4-mile Eucharistic procession from the chapel to the main church, 1505 White Pine Canyon Road, Park City. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and a celebration will follow.  

June 3: Salt Lake City Events

The pilgrims are scheduled to process from the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City to the St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center, 170 University St., Salt Lake City. Mass and dinner will follow. Times to be determined; visit https://www.dioslc.org/eucharistic-revival/national-eucharistic-pilgrimagefor information.

June 4: Uinta Basin Events

The pilgrimage will continue to the Fort Duchesne Reservation Community with a procession at 10 a.m. starting at Eagle View Elementary School, 301 5750 East, Roosevelt and ending at the Fort Duchesne Community Center, 7723 Small Loop Road, Fort Duchesne. Mass will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the community center. A presentation on the Ute Tribe will follow. Lunch will be hosted by St. Helen Parish at the church, 432 East 200 North, Roosevelt, followed by a Hispanic program and a rosary. At 5 p.m., a procession will begin from Utah State University Uintah Basin, 320 Aggie Blvd., Vernal to St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 138 North 100 West, Vernal.  

June 5: Vernal Events

The final morning will start with Mass at 8:30 a.m. at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 138 North 100 West, Vernal, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. After breakfast, the pilgrims continue on to Colorado.