By Jonah McKeown
CNA Staff, Feb 18, 2025 / 14:45 pm
Get ready for an exciting journey as organizers have just announced the full route for the upcoming National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. This incredible pilgrimage will involve carrying Christ in the Eucharist over 3,300 miles from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, starting in May.
“We are thrilled to be gearing up for the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. We trust that God has profound blessings and graces in store for us as we journey with Jesus through cities and towns nationwide again this summer,” said Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., in a statement on Feb. 18.
This year’s pilgrimage follows the success of last year’s four simultaneous Eucharistic pilgrimages, culminating in the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024 in Indianapolis. Over a quarter of a million people across the country participated in these pilgrimages.
The 2025 route is named after St. Katharine Drexel, a saint who dedicated her life to serving impoverished African American and Native American populations in the United States. The “Drexel Route” will begin with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Indianapolis on Sunday, May 18, and then continue northwest through Illinois to Iowa, before heading southwest through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Eucharistic Pilgrimage Across America: A Journey of Faith and Healing
From the Lone Star State of Texas, the pilgrimage route stretches westward through the picturesque landscapes of New Mexico, Arizona, and finally reaches its destination in sunny California.
This year, twenty Catholic dioceses and four eparchies will be hosting a series of pilgrimage events along the route, culminating in a grand celebration in Los Angeles on the feast of Corpus Christi, June 22nd. A dedicated group of young adult “Perpetual Pilgrims” will be carrying the Eucharist throughout the journey, inviting others to join them for various portions of the route.
Participants in the pilgrimage can look forward to a rich tapestry of spiritual experiences, including daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, processions, inspirational talks, and communal meals with the Perpetual Pilgrims. The focus of this year’s pilgrimage will be on encountering the Eucharistic Jesus in marginalized communities, with visits planned to assisted living facilities, food banks, detention centers, hospitals, and even a federal prison.
In addition to these meaningful encounters, there will be special stops at significant Catholic landmarks such as the tomb of Venerable Fulton Sheen, the Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother, mission churches in Southern California, and St. Michael Church near Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation.
As part of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope, the pilgrimage will also emphasize Eucharistic healing, with events planned to honor victims of tragedies, offer prayers for migrants and refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border, and bring solace to communities affected by natural disasters like wildfires.
One of the unique highlights of the pilgrimage will be a Eucharistic procession starting at the iconic baseball field from the movie “Field of Dreams” in Iowa. This special event will be part of a series of stops that aim to deepen the participants’ connection to their faith and the Eucharist.
Join us on this transformative journey of faith, healing, and community as we travel across America, carrying the light of the Eucharistic Lord to all corners of the country. Let your heart be filled with hope and inspiration as you walk alongside fellow pilgrims on this sacred path.
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