Washington DC – Thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., on Saturday as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, publicly demonstrating God’s love. Faith and devotion For Jesus Christ.
This pilgrimage is one of four pilgrimages from across the country that will converge in Indianapolis, Indiana in July. National Eucharistic Congress,
The Pilgrims on the “Seton Route”, which began in New Haven, Connecticut, on May 17, arrived in Washington on June 8.
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They will be in Washington on the morning of June 9, then continue their pilgrimage to Loretto, Pennsylvania on Monday, June 10.
An employee with the Washington Archdiocese told Fox News Digital that more than 2,500 people had pre-registered to attend the mass held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before Saturday’s procession began.
“It’s a great time spent with the Lord,” a deacon told Fox News Digital during the pilgrimage Saturday. (Christine Roussel/Fox News Digital)
One of them was Sherry Sarsemo of Rockland, Maryland. She said she worked as a volunteer in the procession and walked the route all day. Volunteers were there to keep order, make sure people followed instructions and to man the loudspeaker through which the prayer of the Rosary could be heard.
The Catholic Church believes that “The Whole Christ According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “In the Holy Communion of Jesus Christ the presence of God — body, blood, soul and divinity — is truly present in the bread and wine.”
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As a result, the consecrated host becomes an object of devotion – and pilgrims believe they are traveling with Jesus during the procession through the streets of various cities.
It’s “a great way to interact with others and share the faith.”
“Eucharistic adoration is a very beautiful way to honor and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ,” Sarsemo said.
He said he volunteered during the pilgrimage because it was “a great way to interact with other people here and share the faith.”
Volunteers pose outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception ahead of the Eucharistic pilgrimage on Saturday, June 8. (Christine Roussel/Fox News Digital)
He said that Catholicism emphasizes prayer and atonement.
a pilgrimage, especially on a hot day in June in Washington, D.C.“It provides an opportunity for a person to submit to discomfort as atonement for the sins of the world,” he said.
During Saturday’s event, the pilgrimage made several stops in Washington’s Brookland neighborhood, where attendees had the opportunity to hear readings about Jesus Christ and sit in on Eucharistic adoration.
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The procession is led by a priest carrying a “monstrance” in his hand – a special vessel in which the Eucharist is displayed.
Steve Nash, a deacon ordained at a parish in Largo, Maryland, told Fox News Digital it was the first time he had attended a Eucharistic procession of such a large scale.
On the morning of Saturday, June 8, thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC to participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. (Christine Roussel/Fox News Digital)
“Jesus must be brought to the whole world,” he said. “We are all sinners. So it’s good that we are here.”
“There’s no better place in the whole universe than this – to be with the Eucharist and to be with others, and to prepare for the Eucharistic Congress in July. It’s a wonderful time spent with the Lord,” Nash said.
“It’s amazing,” he added.
“To be able to pass that on to others is a very special thing. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I heard about it.”
Ally Rush, of Arlington, Virginia, was all smiles while speaking to Fox News Digital about her excitement before the pilgrimage begins.
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“Jesus is here,” she said. “We have to move, we have to follow Him in the streets.”
“To be able to pass that on to others is a very special thing. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I heard about it,” said her friend Flannijn Phillips of Nashville.
Some attendees in Washington, D.C. told Fox News Digital they believe it’s important to bring Jesus to the cities. (Christine Roussel/Fox News Digital)
The gathered crowd also included many “continuous pilgrims.” These young adults will be involved in the pilgrimage throughout its duration, from its start in May to its conclusion in July.
One man who initially did not plan to attend the pilgrimage on Saturday was Ethan Strometz.
As a student at the Catholic University of America in Washington, he was unaware of the pilgrimage until it caught his eye while getting coffee.
“I just stepped out and saw him go by,” he said.
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Strohmetz said he had attended Eucharistic adoration before, but was surprised to see such a large procession.
“It was a good start to the morning,” he told Fox News Digital.
The National Eucharistic Congress has been held nine times before; this year’s event is the first since 1941.
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The Associated Press contributed reporting.
