Revival Events Coming to You this Summer!
Pilgrims along the Serra route, having traveled hundreds of miles across the Western United States, are in Nebraska! They head to Iowa next week. Stay up to date here!
Learn about the highlights along the Serra Route and experience the stories behind the Perpetual Pilgrims’ Eucharistic travels.
National Eucharistic Congress Coverage Week of 7.15.24
Please see the schedule below for Spirit Catholic Radio programming for the week of 7/15/24. There are some small changes due to the National Eucharistic Congress Coverage.
Event Highlights 6.25.24
- Pilgrims arrived in Ogallala June 13 and 14. The Spirit Catholic Radio Community Engagement team was at the St. Luke Community Potluck on the 13th and the morning Mass on the 14th to invite attendees to view the Blessed Carlo Acutis Eucharistic Miracles Display!
- June 21: Eucharistic Procession from The Cloisters on the Platte to the Holy Family Shrine. 1-3:30pm CT. (Formal Transition between the Diocese of Lincoln and the Archdiocese of Omaha with both Archbishop Lucas and Bishop Conley). Event concluded with 3:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family Shrine. 500 people in attendance!
- June 22: Mass at Saint Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, Omaha at 9am. Fellowship Breakfast followed at 10am.
- June 22: Adoration at St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, NE, 12:30-3:30pm. Holy hour at St. Augustine Indian Mission to follow Adoration. St. Augustine Indian Mission is a “Catholic institution founded by St. Katharine Drexel that serves K–8 students from the Omaha and Winnebago tribes and teaches traditional Native American culture and language.” (excerpted from National Eucharistic Revival blog post)
- June 22: Eucharistic Adoration at St. Wenceslaus Church in Omaha, 7-8:30pm. St. Wenceslaus had Spirit Catholic Radio’s Eucharistic Miracles Display for viewing during this time.
- June 22: St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha – Eucharistic Miracles Display.
- June 23: There will be a trolley along the Omaha-Council Bluffs route with stops at St. Cecilia Cathedral, St. John’s at Creighton, River’s Edge Pavilion, and Corpus Christi. The trolley service will run continuously between the stops starting at 11 AM and ending at 5:30 PM. View the trolley route here
- June 23: Sunday Mass with Archbishop Lucas at St. Cecilia Cathedral Omaha, 10:30am-12pm.
- June 23: Eucharistic Procession from St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha, to St. John Parish at Creighton, 12-1pm
- June 23: Eucharistic Adoration at St. John Parish (Creighton), 1-1:45pm
- June 23: Eucharistic Procession from St. John Parish (Creighton) to Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, 1:45-3:15pm. This Eucharistic Procession was the formal transition from the state of Nebraska into the state of Iowa, passing from the Archdiocese of Omaha into the Diocese of Des Moines.
- June 23: Bilingual Sunday Mass in Council Bluffs at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, 1:30-2:30pm. Music was in both English and Spanish.
- June 23: Eucharistic Procession from Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3-5pm. Bishop Lucas from the Archdiocese of Omaha hands Jesus in the monstrance to Bishop Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines. Hand-off of the Blessed Sacrament took place on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, 3pm. The Eucharistic Procession then continued onward to Corpus Christi Catholic Church with multiple stops at altars of repose for prayer and Scripture readings along the way. See video here! A Eucharistic procession of 2,000 Catholics passed through downtown Omaha!
- June 23: Fellowship Dinner at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Council Bluffs, 5-6pm. Holy Hour with Benediction at Corpus Christi, 6-7pm. Prayer time included evening prayer and a reflection talk. Adoration continued overnight until 8am.
- June 24: Mass at Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs, 8-9am
- June 24: Eucharistic Procession on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. This Eucharistic Procession was approximately 8 miles. Immediately after Mass at Corpus Christi, the Blessed Sacrament was driven to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail and the procession toward Holy Rosary parish will began from there. The procession continued toward Mineola and then the Eucharistic Caravan drove to Glenwood for lunch and prayer.
- June 24: Fellowship lunch at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Glenwood, IA, 1-2pm. Holy Hour with Benediction, 2-3pm.
- June 24: Fellowship Dinner at St. Patrick Church in Imogene, IA, 5-6pm. Holy Hour with Benediction, 6-7pm. Overnight adoration was available until 9am
- June 25: Mass with Bishop Joensen at St. Patrick in Imogene, IA, 9-10am
- June 25: Solemn Eucharistic Procession from St. Patrick Parish (Imogene, IA) to Corner of Wabash Trace Nature Trail and 120th Street. This is a 1-mile Solemn Eucharistic Procession leaving St. Patrick’s Church in Imogene to head towards St. Mary’s Church in Shenandoah.
- June 25: Holy Hour with Benediction at St. Mary Parish in Shenandoah, IA, 11am-12pm
- June 25: Fellowship Lunch at St. Mary’s Parish (Shenandoah, IA), 12-1pm
Spirit Mornings Coverage (heard weekdays 7-9am)
Tune in to Spirit Catholic Radio to hear updates along the route and be inspired by listening to Eucharistic-themed guests and segments!
- Coming up! July 1st is the Feast Day of St. Junipero Serra. He is the saint whom the Eucharistic Pilgrimage Serra Route is named after. This Eucharistic Procession Pilgrimage passed through Nebraska and Iowa over the past couple of weeks. Hear more about this missionary saint and get a recap about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage from Riley Johnson. Riley Johnson, Director of Communications at the Archdiocese of Omaha, will be interviewed on Spirit Mornings July 1st.
St. Junipero Serra
- Check out this piece of Eucharistic Congress history! Listen to the interview with Corbin Hubbell and Dennis Drudik here to learn more about this historical artifact.
- Fri., June 21: Tune in to Spirit Mornings Show to hear Fr. Hans from St. Cecilia Cathedral talk about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage being in Omaha and the events on June 23. Hear the interview here.
- Thurs., June 20: Corbin Hubbell and Dcn. Hecker from the Lincoln Diocese will share details on the events surrounding The St. Junipero Serra route. Hubbell and Deacon Hecker will provide an update from Seward. Listen to the interview here.
Hear from one of the Perpetual Pilgrims, Jack Krebs, a UNL graduate. Learn about what his experience has been like so far as he travels across the country on the Serra route. Listen to the interview here.
Hear from Peter “Graceman” Le – Author of “My Life of Grace: How I Found Hope in Suffering”- a book on the Eucharist. Listen to the interview here. - Wed. June 19: Hear Kris McGregor, Founder of Discerning Hearts, speak about Saints and the Eucharist series – https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/
Hear from Vivian Dudro – editor of “Carlo Acutis: Holiness for the Third Millennium” a powerful comic book, about this soon to be saint. Hear Kris McGregor’s interview here. Heart Vivian’s interview here. - Tues., June 18: Corbin Hubbell from the Lincoln Diocese will share details on the events surrounding The St. Junipero Serra route of the National Eucharist Pilgrimage passing through Lincoln and parts of Nebraska. Corbin Hubbell will provide an update from Holdrege. Fr. Jay Buhman, pastor of All Saints in Holdrege will be interviewed about all the preparation that has done into hosting a stop on this national pilgrimage. Listen to the interview here!
- Mon., June 17: Tune in to the Spirit Mornings Show to hear Christian Clifford – author of books about Saint Junípero Serra and California mission history, including one about his 800-mile walk of the California Missions Trail. The Serra route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is passing through Nebraska!Also hear from Maryanne Dailey – details on the events surrounding The St. Junipero Serra Route of the National Eucharist Pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress that will pass through St. Patrick’s Parish in Imogene, Iowa. Missed it? Listen to Christian’s interview here. Listen to Maryanne’s interview here
- Learn more about the Pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Omaha by listening to this interview on Spirit Mornings.
- Hear Good News Updates on Spirit Mornings about the Procession Pilgrimage!
Perpetual Pilgrim Updates 6.26.24
Serra Route Perpetual Pilgrim, Seminarian Jimmy Velasco, catches us up on the latest pilgrimage experiences during a press conference on 6/26- where he was reporting from Kansas City. Jimmy is a seminarian with the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
- The pilgrims on the Serra Route have been traveling a lot, with having the most ground to cover of all the Procession routes. They were in four states the past week: Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas
- Velasco comments on the vitality of the youth in the Catholic Church. At the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln there were a lot of young families in Mass and you could hear many babies crying. The Church was packed. “It has been wonderful to see and feel the presence of youth on this pilgrimage. The Church is not dying, as some people may claim. It’s still alive in all the youth we’ve seen.” Velasco also mentioned Omaha Archdiocese having many young families, and it was very impactful for him to encounter (what seemed like) hundreds of seminarians from the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha.
- Highlights: They had a retreat at the Seminary in Seward- which was roughly the half way point for the pilgrimage. They got to process everything that has happened so far, hear the Lord speak to their hearts, and get refreshed. Velasco also mentions getting to celebrate Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR) Chaplain’s birthday, and they had a bowling night for team building.
- Velasco’s favorite experience in Nebraska was the hand-off of the Monstrance between the Grand Island Diocese and Lincoln Diocese. He wasn’t sure the exact location of the bridge, kept looking for it, and suddenly it emerges out of many cornfields. After the hand-off on the bridge, they headed to a small church in the Lincoln Diocese. It was wonderful to see the Diocese of Lincoln waiting for them on the other side of the bridge.
- He comments on the incredible Mass at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha. “The Cathedral was beautiful, there was beautiful music. It was packed.” He mentions the Holy Family Shrine was a very neat Chapel overlooking Nebraska and the highway. Lots of people were wondering why they were processing.
- The Pilgrims got to hear beautiful, lively, gospel music at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Omaha. In Winnebago, the pilgrims were received by a lot of people. There was a Native American band playing music as they got out of the van. “It was beautiful hearing about the Native American culture and hearing their music. They were so appreciative of us coming through.” The Hispanic community also joined the procession at Winnebago St. Augustine Indian Mission. Velasco mentioned how special the moment was being in the presence of so many cultures glorifying the Lord.
- Velasco mentions another highlight: this past Monday, they were in Imogene, IA at St. Patrick Church. “The community was so excited for us. It was this very tiny town, but the Church was packed to the brim! We went to the reception hall and that was packed with even more people!” Velasco and the other pilgrims were taken aback by the Church’s reception of them. They loved the Irish band and Fireworks at the Church event, and he was surprised how this tiny town pulled off such an impactful experience.
- Jimmy Velasco has two more years of studying before ordination. After being on this pilgrimage, he feels more drawn to the Lord. He is excited to offer the Sacraments to all of these faithful people he’s seen.
- Velasco is looking forward to exploring Kansas City, and there is a big young adults event planned that sounds very exciting. Next week is their longest walk- 9 miles.
Jimmy Velasco
Perpetual Pilgrim Updates 6.20.24
Serra Route Perpetual Pilgrim, Jaella Mac Au, catches us up on the latest pilgrimage experiences during a press conference on 6/19- where she was reporting from Doniphan, NE. Jack Krebs, another Serra Route Pilgrim, gives us an update on Spirit Mornings. Listen to the interview here!
- The pilgrims attended the Nebraskaland Days Field Mass in North Platte, NE. Nebraskaland is the official state celebration of Nebraska, which has been ongoing since 1965
- Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt and Bishop James Conley concelebrated Sunday Mass and led a Eucharistic procession with hundreds of the faithful at McDaid Elementary School in North Platte, NE.
- Perpetual Pilgrims van and trailer got stuck at Lake McConaughy! This is a reservoir on the North Platte River. Jaella remarked that digging out the van, working together and pushing the van was a very memorable moment and brought everyone closer together. It was amazing to witness.
- When asked about her time in Nebraska so far, Jaella responded: “Seeing the liveliness of people is so beautiful. We’ve been traveling a lot via car, but we are starting to walk a lot more. We just had 7 and 8 mile processions.”
- Team Chaplain hears many accounts of people’s burdens being lifted
- Community Service projects have been mostly on Saturdays and Serra Route pilgrims have helped with various things such as soup kitchens and small projects at parishes they need help with. Christ in the City (Colorado) stood out to Jaella as they served lunch in the park to those in need. There was food, but also line dancing. She loved how they brought a sense of community through that activity.
- Br. Caleb and Jaella had a meaningful experience during the procession from St. Mary Cathedral (Grand Island) to St. Leo Church (Grand Island). This procession had a lot of houses on the route compared to others. People were coming our of their houses and Br. Caleb and Jaella got to explain to them what was going on. They asked for prayer intentions from the curious onlookers and they even got to pray with them. Jaella remarks, “It was beautiful to be a witness and ambassador for Christ. There were lots of non-Catholics getting to witness the love of Jesus.”
- Jaella’s favorite food so far was having 4 days straight of authentic tacos in Sacramento. There wasn’t just food for the pilgrims, but music as well. They got to hear a Mariachi Band!
- When asked about surprising things along the journey, Jaella commented that interactions with religious have stood out to her. It was beautiful to interact with the Cloistered in Utah and see how they were awestruck by Christ. Jaella also mentioned having spent many hours in a car with Jesus and in constant Adoration was new and different and has been exciting to experience.
- Current location as of 6/20: Serra Route Pilgrims are on a private retreat in Seward
- Marina Frattaroli on the Seton Route reported a special insight, and we want to share it with you. She said about the processions, “I was expecting a lot of alone time, honestly. But it’s never been just us. Our smallest crowd was 30 people. It’s been really beautiful and moving to see people challenging themselves, walking many miles in heat they haven’t been training for. It’s been incredible to see people’s sacrifice for the Lord.”
Jaella Mac Au
Perpetual Pilgrim Updates 6.12.24
Serra Route Perpetual Pilgrim, Patrick Fayad, catches us up on the latest pilgrimage experiences. Patrick is from Omaha, NE!
- Perpetual Pilgrim, Patrick, reports, “It’s been difficult lacking the stability of routine, but that has been really good for detachment though. We can put comforts in place of God, and it has been beautiful to offer it up.”
- Patrick reports the pilgrims are, “All relying on the strengths of each other. The CFR’s (Franciscan Friars of the Renewal) have been the glue for the group with all the differing personalities. They have been great at identifying and clarifying our strengths and gifts and how we can all work together to selflessly serve each other.”
- Patrick Fayad comments on the hospitality they have been shown. “Hospitality has been abundant, they have treated us with the love that they have for Christ, I have encountered some of the most amazing Catholics on this trip. We met a man who donated his kidney to the bishop, people who are working through injuries, but still step forward to help. We have been received with grace, we have eaten some of the best meals and slept in the most comfortable beds.”
Patrick Fayad
Dioceses have asked anyone interested in attending the free events along the route to RSVP online, so they can get a count of how many people will be attending.
RSVP for Grand Island Diocese Events here
RSVP for Lincoln Diocese Events here
RSVP for Archdiocese of Omaha Events here
RSVP for Des Moines Diocese Events here
Be sure to check out Spirit Catholic Radio’s Eucharistic Miracles Display at several locations on the Serra route!
Notable Stops:
Note: This is not a full schedule of events. See the National Eucharistic Revival’s website for full schedule of events, or head to your diocese’s website for event information.
June 19: St. Mary Cathedral, Grand Island – At 10:30 am, Spirit Catholic Radio will air the 8AM Morning Mass with Bishop Hanefeldt. Mass will be followed by Eucharistic Procession (Formal Transition between the Diocese of Grand Island and the Diocese of Lincoln). This will be a prayerful and beautiful transition of the passing of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage from one diocese to another across the historic Platte River in Nebraska with both Bishop Conley and Bishop Hanefeldt. Procession will start at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island, NE and end at St. Ann’s in Doniphan, NE with Eucharistic Adoration 4PM.
June 21: Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Lincoln – 8:30AM Morning Mass and 10AM short Eucharistic Procession to John XXIII with Bishop Conley. 1PM Eucharistic Procession between Cloisters on the Platte to Holy Family Shrine (Formal Transition between the Diocese of Lincoln and the Archdiocese of Omaha with both Archbishop Lucas and Bishop Conley). Event concludes with 3:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family Shrine.
June 22: St. Wenceslaus Church, Omaha – Eucharistic Miracles Display, Eucharistic Adoration 7-8:30PM. The Eucharistic Miracles Display will remain til June 24th for viewing.
June 22: St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha – Eucharistic Miracles Display
June 23: St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha – Eucharistic Miracles Display, Morning Mass 10:30 AM with Archbishop Lucas, and 12PM Eucharistic Process from Cathedral in Omaha, NE to St. John’s at Creighton University, Omaha. 1PM Eucharistic Adoration at St. John’s. 1:30 PM Bilingual Mass at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. 1:45 PM Eucharistic Procession from St John’s Omaha to Tom Hanafan Park. 3PM Eucharistic Procession from River Park to Corpus Christi Parish in Council Bluffs, IA.
In a press conference about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, Fr. Malachy Napier, CFR, beautifully described the events coming this summer. Never has there been a procession across the U.S., bringing Christ to all these different communities. This Eucharistic Pilgrimage, with the 4 routes, is making an intentional cross over the country, blessing the country with a massive wide Benediction. He noted interestingly, “the pilgrims are making their journey ‘across’ (a – cross) the country.” Fr. Napier emphasized this procession comes at a time when the U.S. needs unity.
What is the National Eucharistic Revival?
Prepare the way of the Lord! The National Eucharistic Revival, called for by the United Stated of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), is an ongoing Catholic initiative purposed to inform, educate, and inspire Catholics and non-Catholics alike into deeper relationship with the Eucharistic Lord. The Revival is designed with different phases, with the website for the National Eucharistic Revival stating, “It takes time to kindle a living, loving relationship—and a relationship with Jesus Christ is no exception. That’s why the National Eucharistic Revival allows three years for discernment, encounter, and grassroots response on the diocesan, parish, and individual levels.”
Diocesan Year: The Revival began on the feast of Corpus Christi, 2022, with countless Eucharistic Adoration and Procession events across the country. These Eucharistic moments would be the sparks that set U.S. Dioceses ablaze with Eucharistic fervor, with year 2022-2023 having been dedicated to diocesan revival. In the summer of 2023, Spirit Catholic Radio was blessed to be able to work with the Diocese of Grand Island, Diocese of Lincoln, and Archdiocese of Omaha. Together, we brought the faithful a three-day event called the “Eucharistic Encounter,” attended by nearly 3,000 people. The wonderful priests and staff at St. Mary Cathedral (Grand Island), Cathedral of the Risen Christ (Lincoln), and St. Wenceslaus Church (Omaha) were incredible hosts, which helped these events be so impactful and far reaching. The three events featured a National Eucharistic Revival speaker, Fr. Malachy Napier of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR), Eucharistic Adoration, music, various saint relics, diocesan/parish ministries and apostolate information tables, and the 157 Panel Eucharistic Miracles Display, designed by Blessed Carlo Acutis and provided by Spirit Catholic Radio.
Parish Year: The Eucharistic Encounter was the summit of Diocesan level revival efforts and also the kick-off for the year of parish revival. Year 2023-2024 saw a nation-wide effort at the parish level for encouraging Eucharistic devotion. Spirit Catholic Radio witnessed these efforts by seeing an overwhelming increase in requests for our free Eucharistic Miracles displays. Starting in Fall of 2022 when the revival began and up until now, we have received over 60 requests for the displays, including requests from states outside of Nebraska and Iowa, such as South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, and Minnesota.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress: The year of parish revival is punctuated at its end with two major events. Thousands will participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which is a nationwide endeavor to have four Eucharistic Processions starting from each side of the U.S. end in Indianapolis with the National Eucharistic Congress, July 17–24. The four routes are named the Marian Route, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route, St. Juan Diego Route, and St. Junipero Serra Route. The Marian Route begins in the North with Lake Itasca, MN. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route begins in the East with New Haven, CT. The St. Juan Diego Route begins in the South with Brownsville, TX. The St. Junipero Serra Route begins in the West with San Francisco, CA. The Serra Route may sound familiar! That’s because this procession pilgrimage route will be headed through Nebraska and Iowa this summer. Pilgrims on these routes will carry the Eucharist and travel a total 6,500 miles, stopping in many parishes, major cities and holy sites along the way. Laypeople are encouraged to attend Procession stops and partake in this special pilgrimage. Learn more about the National Eucharistic Congress from the chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress, Bishop Cozzens, by listening to this interview on Spirit Mornings.
The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis will be a momentous event. As the National Eucharistic Revival website states, “Making History: The First National Eucharistic Congress in 83 Years. This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church.” The Congress is a multi-day event, featuring some of the best and most well-known speakers and performers in Catholicism. Some names include: Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, Gloria Purvis, Fr. Josh Johnson, Matt Maher, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The event will include impact sessions, reverent liturgies, breakout sessions, an expo hall, Eucharistic procession and adoration, confession, and revival sessions. The Revival proclaims, “Each day of the Congress is packed with opportunities for personal transformation and life-giving Catholic community.” Following the National Eucharistic Congress will be the third and final year of the Revival effort. It will be dedicated to the faithful “going out on mission” to revitalize the world.
Interested in attending the Congress? Reach out to your (Arch)Diocese to see if they are putting groups together to head to the National Eucharistic Congress, or if they are offering special rates.
Receive a Plenary indulgence
Excerpted from a National Eucharistic Revival email message.
News from the Vatican: several key moments in the National Eucharistic Revival are now opportunities to gain a plenary indulgence!
Anyone who participates in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage or attends the 10th National Eucharistic Congress will be granted this special remittance of temporal punishment associated with confessed sins (under the usual conditions of an indulgence). That means every stop along the nationwide Pilgrimage route and the Congress event itself are now even greater opportunities for grace than they were before!
Read the full press release to find out more about these special indulgences, the Apostolic Blessing that will be imparted at the Congress, and how these graces will flow into the Year of Mission.
What can you do?
As we head into the final year of the Revival, it calls for personal witness and action. Develop your relationship with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament by attending Eucharistic events at your parish, participate in the Eucharistic Pilgrimage procession events this June, start or join a Bible study or book club (reading about the Eucharist). Go to Eucharistic Adoration and invite friends and family. Do what you can to deepen your love of Christ and to understand His full essence in the Eucharist. Be that personal witness to others- take it to your community. Get people asking you about your faith. Share the love of Christ that awaits all of us in the Eucharist.
Check with your parish to see what they have planned for the revival. If you feel called to help the mission at your parish, bring the Eucharistic Miracles Display to your parish and community. Bring the display, coordinate a Knight of the Holy Eucharist to come give a presentation on the Eucharist, and schedule an evening of Eucharistic Adoration. So many people reach out to us for our display and plan events just like this at their parish.
