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St. Louis, Mo., Jul 8, 2024 / 15:50 pm
Thousands of people joined over the weekend for Eucharistic processions and other events put on as part of the National Eucharistic Revival in St. Louis, a city known as the “Rome of the West” for its many beautiful churches and historically vibrant Catholic presence.
The St. Junípero Serra Route, the longest of the four National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes, began in San Francisco in May and arrived in the St. Louis area July 5 to enthusiastic crowds. The pilgrimage has now proceeded on through Illinois and will culminate, along with the other three routes, with an arrival in Indianapolis on July 16 in time for the National Eucharistic Congress.
Here’s a look at Jesus’ progress through the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Friday
Events in the St. Louis area began on Friday in St. Charles, a small Missouri River town that was once the capital of the state. It also was the home of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a saint who founded a convent and school there in the early 19th century.
After a rosary at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the procession stopped at St. Rose’s shrine less than a mile away and then proceeded to St. Peter Parish. The procession was unaffected by moderate flooding taking place nearby at the Missouri River, which had forced the cancellation of a major Independence Day celebration that was also scheduled to take place July 5.
The Eucharistic is carried from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in St. Charles, Missouri. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Perpetual Pilgrims Jaella Mac Au and Patrick Fayad lead hymns as the Eucharistic procession makes its way through St. Charles, Missouri. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Children play as procession participants wait to enter the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne for adoration. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Families joined the procession as the Eucharist left the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, headed for St. Peter Parish. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNAOn Saturday, the Perpetual Pilgrims — young people committed to walking the entire route with Jesus — visited the Missionaries of Charity at their St. Louis home, which is close to St. Josephine Bakhita, a historically Black parish.
The pilgrims were welcomed by the people of St. Josephine’s for lunch, and then Auxiliary Bishop Mark Rivituso blessed a large number of “Blessing Boxes” containing donations, collected by the archdiocese, for refugee families in St. Louis. The pilgrims then joined the Missionaries of Charity for adoration before the Eucharist was processed to St. Josephine’s for continued adoration.
The pilgrims then proceeded to an apartment complex where a large number of Latin American and African refugees live. The pilgrims helped the families carry their donated boxes to their apartments.
Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis blesses boxes full of donations, collected by the archdiocese and loaded in a van, which the pilgrims later distributed to refugees. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis adores Christ in the Eucharist at the chapel of the Missionaries of Charity. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis carries Christ in the Eucharist to St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Perpetual Pilgrim Patrick Fayad lifts a heavy "Blessing Box" full of donations, assisting the Missionaries of Charity as they distribute the boxes to refugee families. The sisters frequently come to this apartment complex to offer assistance to the families and faith instruction to the children. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNASunday
Sunday’s festivities began at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. Following the Mass, hundreds of people gathered to accompany the Eucharistic procession on a roughly five-mile trek to St. Stephen Protomartyr Church.
The route took the pilgrims through numerous historic neighborhoods in St. Louis as well as past the Missouri Botanical Garden and through Tower Grove Park. Despite temperatures approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, numerous families with small children made the journey. A large cadre of police facilitated the procession’s progress the entire way.
The participants took part in Eucharistic adoration upon arrival at St. Stephen.
(Story continues below)
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Crowds pack the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis for Sunday Mass with Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. The Perpetual Pilgrims sat in the front row. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
Father Aaron Nord, pastor of St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, carries the Eucharist through St. Louis on the way to his parish. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
The Eucharistic procession makes its way past the Missouri Botanical Garden. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
A family kneels as the Eucharist makes its way through Tower Grove Park. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
The Eucharistic procession arrives at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church after a roughly 5.5-mile walk in 90-degree heat. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA
