LAPORTE – The population of a Northwest Indiana community nearly tripled when approximately 60,000 people lined the downtown 4th of July parade route as a public sign of their patriotism, with the parade theme “Calling You Home.” The following day, another large crowd in LaPorte packed Holy Family Parish-Sacred Heart church where they heard another calling followed by publicly displaying their faith.
“How appropriate we hear the words from Jesus, ‘Follow me’ as we’re about to follow after Jesus out the doors of this church,” said Father Nate Edquist during his homily.
The Mass preceded the nearly three-mile July 5 Eucharistic procession through LaPorte’s downtown from Sacred Heart to St. Joseph church. The procession was part of the Marian route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
“We know people who need an invitation. They need to hear what St. Matthew heard, ‘Come follow me,” said Father Edquist.
He continued, “We’re going to hear that invitation, ‘Come, follow me’ as the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is processing out the doors of this church.
“We give this public show of our faith in order to show that we have been invited to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. So, now we take part in the invitation that is extended to other people,” Father Edquist concluded.
“I hope the procession encourages people to not be on the fence as Father Edquist said during his homily. I hope it encourages others to return to church,” said Pat Van Waardenburg, of All Saints in San Pierre.
Donna Kida, of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, was able to join in the procession aided by a golf cart.
“It was awesome. A lot of thoughts and prayers were going through my head,” she revealed. “It was a very touching experience. How could you not be close to our Lord?”
Excitement for the pilgrimage grew for Sharon Richie of Ss. Cyril and Methodius.
“I wanted to be a small part of that. I can’t make it to Indy, so this procession allows me to be a small part of the revival,” said Richie. “It’s overwhelming. We’re building our faith, opening our hearts to Jesus, and opening up to serve others.”
“It was awesome to see everybody come together and show devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,” said seminarian Ryan Pierce. “It’s super awesome just to be able to show as a public sign of our devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
“I appreciated the opportunity to get out of our comfort zone and to get out and be a sign of our faith in the Lord, to show we’re serious about this and we want other people to know and believe,” said Pierce.
Thomas Lang described being part of the LaPorte procession as something inspired by the Holy Spirit.
As the Milton, Wis. family were returning from a funeral in Canada on Independence Day with a heart-felt desire to take part in the Eucharistic Pilgrimage, an internet search revealed one day and one small town on the Marian Pilgrimage’s route fit into their schedule – LaPorte.
“We slept in a rest stop and were able to make it in at five this morning to Holy Family. We were the first ones there and spent time praying until Mass. What a blessing,” detailed Lang.
“I felt chills dozens of times during the procession when I saw people coming out of their shops or people staring. We had people ask what’s going on and we told them, ‘This is Jesus. This is our faith,” replied Lang. “I feel God orchestrated us being here. It was so beautiful.”
Caption: Richard Stith, a St. Paul Catholic Church parishioner, kneels as the Deacon Ivan Alatorre carries the Blessed Sacrament along Campbell St. enroute to St. Paul Catholic Church as part the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on July 3 in Valparaiso. Hundreds joined in the Eucharistic procession that began at St. Teresa of Avila Student Center. Richard’s wife, Rosemarie is standing next to him. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)