Thousands of people attended the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Washington, D.C. as a public display of faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. The pilgrimage was part of a series of four pilgrimages from across the country that will converge in Indianapolis, Indiana in July for the National Eucharistic Congress. Participants along the “Seton Route,” which began in New Haven, Connecticut, reached Washington on June 8 and will continue their pilgrimage in Loretto, Pennsylvania. More than 2,500 people registered to attend a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before the procession on Saturday.
Volunteers helped organize the procession and ensure participants followed directions, including Sherri Sarcemo from Rockland, Maryland, who walked the day’s route. The Catholic Church believes in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated host during the Eucharist, making the pilgrimage a means for participants to travel with Jesus throughout the procession in various cities. Eucharistic adoration provides a beautiful way to honor and give glory to Jesus Christ, and the pilgrimage allows for the sharing of faith with others in addition to prayer and penance.
During the pilgrimage, participants had the opportunity to listen to lessons about Jesus Christ, sit in Eucharistic adoration, and walk with a priest holding a monstrance displaying the Eucharist. Deacon Steve Nash, who had not participated in a Eucharistic procession of this magnitude before, emphasized the importance of bringing Jesus to the whole world and the significance of being with Him and others in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress in July. The event was a special experience for both participants and spectators alike, with attendees expressing excitement and joy at being able to walk with Jesus through the streets.
Among the crowd were several “perpetual pilgrims” who were following the pilgrimage full time from its beginning in May to its conclusion in July. Even those who did not initially plan to attend, such as Ethan Strohmetz, a student at the Catholic University of America, found themselves drawn to the event. Strohmetz had participated in Eucharistic adoration before but was surprised by the size of the procession and described it as a good start to the morning. The National Eucharistic Congress, the first since 1941, marks the culmination of the pilgrimages from across the country and serves as a gathering of Catholics from different regions in celebration of their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ.
Overall, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Washington, D.C., brought together thousands of individuals from various parts of the country to express their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. The pilgrimage, part of a series leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in July, provided participants with the opportunity to engage in Eucharistic adoration, prayer, and penance while sharing their faith with others. The procession through the streets of Washington allowed attendees to walk with Jesus symbolically and embrace the significance of His presence in the Eucharist. The event was a special and memorable experience for both participants and onlookers, demonstrating the power and beauty of communal worship and devotion.
