July 1-5, 2024
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 is the first undertaken at such a scale—walking coast-to-coast with Our Eucharistic Lord!
Departing from the headwaters of the Mississippi, the northern arm of the Pilgrimage will descend through the midwestern United States, pass through Wisconsin and Illinois, and meet up with the other three Pilgrimage routes in Indianapolis at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
Schedule
Monday, July 1
12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church (2011 Clark St, Whiting, IN 46394)
The church will be open for prayer and Adoration.
Throughout the afternoon, enjoy time for silent prayer as well as time to hear reflections about the Eucharist.
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Gathering Prayer at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church (2011 Clark St, Whiting, IN 46394)
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Solemn Eucharistic Procession throughout Whiting
START: St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
END: Whiting Lakefront Pary
7:30 p.m.
Benediction at the Beach in Whiting Lakefront Park (500 Park Rd, Whiting, IN 46394)
7:45 p.m.
Party on the Beach at Whiting Lakefront Park
End the evening with a meal, music, dancing, and fellowship!
Tuesday, July 2
8:00 a.m.
Mass at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville (1 W. Wilhelm St Schererville, IN 46375)
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Eucharistic Procession from Schererville to Portage
Pilgrims are welcome to join for the first mile after which we will have Benediction, or pilgrims may join for the entire day. We will walk close to 20 miles along the Old Savannah Trail and the Prairie Duneland Trail. Please, have good walking shoes, water, and food with you if you plan to go the whole way. (Est. 7-8 hours of walking at a slightly faster pace than our typical processions)
7:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer and Benediction at St. Mary of the Lake (6060 Miller Ave, Gary, IN 46403)
Wednesday, July 3
8:00 a.m.
Mass at Nativity of Our Savior (2949 Willowcreek Rd, Portage, IN 46368)
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Procession from Portage to Chesterton
Pilgrims are welcome to join for the first mile after which we will have Benediction, or pilgrims may join for the entire day. We will walk close to 9 miles along the Prairie Duneland Trail. Please, have good walking shoes, water, and food with you if you plan to go the whole way. (Est. 4 hours of walking at a slightly faster pace than our typical processions)
4:30 p.m.
Eucharistic Procession in Valparaiso (St. Teresa Catholic Student Center Porter County, 1511 Laporte Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383)
We will process from St. Teresa Catholic Student Center to St. Paul's.
Pilgrims are welcome to join this Eucharistic Procession from Catholic Student Center on Valparaiso's campus to St. Paul's in downtown Valpo. We will walk about 3 miles.
7:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer and Benediction at St. Paul (1855 Harrison Blvd, Valparaiso, IN 46385)
Thursday, July 4
9:00 a.m.
Mass and Prayerful Independence Day at Queen of All Saints (1725 E Barker Ave, Michigan City, IN 46360)
9:45 a.m.
Eucharistic Procession on QAS parish grounds
10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration, speaker, and lunch
1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Travel by bus to Franciscan Hospital Grounds (3500 Franciscan Wy, Michigan City, IN 46360)
Eucharistic Procession to the Hospital Chapel
Adoration and prayers for the sick, medical staff, etc.
Benediction at the hospital.
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Mass, Eucharistic Procession, and 4th of July Festivities with Relevant Radio
Join us for Mass, a Eucharistic Procession, rosary and a 4th of July Celebration. Mass is at 6:00pm at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church followed by a Eucharistic Procession to the Shrine.
Friday, July 5
8:00 a.m.
Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (201 Bach St, La Porte, IN 46350)
9:00 a.m.
Eucharistic Procession through LaPorte
12:00 p.m.
Midday Prayer at St. John Kanty (7012 N 600 E, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will Jesus be exposed in the monstrance the whole time?
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Jesus will be exposed for the majority of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage. For the long stretches that we are walking, a priest chaplain will carry Jesus in the monstrance. However, due to distance and weather considerations, there will be stretches that our team will need to drive, during which Jesus will be placed in a traveling tabernacle.
- How can my organization or ministry participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage?
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Please consider sponsoring meals or snacks for the Perpetual Pilgrims and their chaplains, who rely on the generosity of their brothers and sisters along this massive expedition. Your group is also invited to join us for Mass or an event, or to walk for a segment of the route as a part of the Eucharistic Caravan.
- What should I bring when I walk with the Eucharistic Caravan?
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Be prepared with sunscreen, sunglasses, one water bottle, and a raincoat, because the Pilgrimage will continue rain or shine! Exceptions will be made in cases of inclement weather that poses a threat to safety, determined by Pilgrimage leaders.
Please note: Walking long distances can be physically challenging. Bathroom access will be limited. Please prepare accordingly. - Who is included in the core group of “Perpetual Pilgrims”?
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A group of young adult Catholics from across the United States have been selected from a pool of applicants to be Perpetual Pilgrims. These young adults will be joined by seminarians and ordained chaplains on every route. You can learn more about them here.
- How can I volunteer to host Perpetual Pilgrims?
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We are developing a hospitality network in connection with the dioceses and parishes along each route to coordinate pilgrim stays with families, religious orders, universities, parishes, and other vetted institutions.
Contact hello@eucharisticpilgrimage.org to inquire about hosting. You must complete a background check and safe environment training in order to be eligible to host. - What are the safe environment procedures?
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Safety is a top priority for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage team. The Perpetual Pilgrims will all go through safe environment training and comprehensive background checks. All adults that reside in host homes will also need to complete both their diocesan safe environment training and a background check.
If you see something, say something! If you experience odd behavior or see something you know shouldn’t be there, say something. Please report suspicious behavior to any Pilgrimage Leader. - How will you ensure safety on the roads?
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We are contacting local authorities in each area to let them know our route and ask for their recommendation of safety procedures.
Our support vehicle will be flashing lights to alert cars to our group’s presence. We are looking into purchasing safety vests for the leaders in our group. If it is necessary to cross an interstate or a busy road, the Perpetual Pilgrims will ride in their support vehicle. Additional participants will need to secure their own transportation. - What happens in the case of a medical emergency?
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very group of Perpetual Pilgrims will carry a list of nearby hospitals and urgent care centers for each week. Individuals attending will be responsible for monitoring and attending to health situations in their own family, parish, youth group or other organization.
- Will I need to sign a waiver to participate?
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All pilgrims joining for the public walking segments will need to sign a medical waiver that will be available on our digital registration platform here prior to walking with us.
- What if there is inclement weather?
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If severe weather is observed in the area, we will make the proper announcements via our sound systems, including the severity of the storm. Members of the Eucharistic Caravan will be responsible for exchanging contact information and coordinating transportation of their group (family, parish, youth group, or other organization) in case of inclement weather.
- Where can I learn more information?
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You can learn more about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, including the plans for events in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, on the Eucharistic Pilgrimage site.