National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Rekindles Faith in Archdiocese of Atlanta – Georgia Bulletin

Photo by Johnathon Kelso

ATLANTA — The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passed through the Archdiocese of Atlanta, with pilgrims spending three days walking in the searing southern heat.

Camille Anigbogu, Shayla Elm, Issy Martin-Dye, Charlie McCullough, Joshua Velasquez, Mackenzie Warrens and seminarians Dylan James Young and Noah U’ren are the eight perpetual pilgrims who walk the St. Juan Diego route of the National Pilgrimage. Their journey to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis began in Brownsville, Texas on May 19.

The pilgrims stopped in the archdiocese seven times, first attending a welcome Mass at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Newnan, south of Atlanta, on the morning of June 21. The first Eucharistic procession took place at St. Mary Academy in Fayetteville on June 21, and the last at St. Joseph Church in Dalton on June 23. Parishioners from the archdiocese and neighboring states joined them to participate and celebrate the Eucharist.

Musicians join the Blessed Sacrament procession at St. Joseph Church in Dalton during a stop on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage June 23. Parishioners also kept vigil during an all-night adoration, which continued until the next morning. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

Pilgrims travel longer distances in a van, carrying the Eucharist and their belongings. For shorter, safer distances, they walk and move with the communities they visit.

When the group arrived at St. Mary’s Academy, the faithful knelt and prayed as the monstrance was led in procession, kicking off their visit.

Father Valery Akoh, parish priest of St Matthew’s Church in Tyrone, received the Blessed Sacrament and led the Eucharistic caravan around the academy football field, reciting the rosary along the way.

“It’s very hot outside, but it’s warm and welcoming,” one parishioner told a friend. “That’s what it feels like, the love of God.”

Joshua Velasquez, an undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame, testified in the academy’s auditorium, speaking about his experience on the pilgrimage so far.

Velasquez’s Polaroid camera is kept by his side throughout the trip. He captured images of their travels and memories. In his testimony, Velasquez shared a sobering moment when he took a photo of the monstrance in their van.

“I decided to take a photo of our Lord in the dark van, and it’s safe to say that the two photos I took turned out to be in pitch black,” he said. “It made me think: Where is the light? Even though it was scary to see a void, I saw that there was something beautiful there. Because when things seem like total darkness, that’s when the light shines brightest. »

The crowd began to understand Velasquez’s story and knelt as he developed his reflection in the Polaroid images.

“Today I want you to think about the mystery of our Lord’s passion,” Velasquez said. “See how our Lord brings light into the darkness, how even darkness is light to God, because he brings good out of the deepest evils. Whatever place of darkness is in your hearts, hear that the place of darkness can become light. From darkness comes light. »

After prayer and private moments with the Eucharist, the pilgrims shared a few farewells with the academic community and packed up their truck. As the pilgrims left, veiled women chased the van, chanting “que viva Cristo Rey.”

The pilgrims drove to a nearby Shell gas station, where they began their journey on foot to Our Lady of Vietnam Church in Riverdale. Led by Bishop John Tran of Atlanta, the pilgrims and a caravan walked the sidewalks, attracting the attention of neighborhood residents and passing motorists.

Bishop John Nhàn Tran walks with the Blessed Sacrament to Our Lady of Vietnam Church in Riverdale, accompanied by clergy and members of the parish. The June 21 procession was part of the national Eucharistic pilgrimage. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

The pilgrims’ visit to Atlanta also included morning prayer June 22 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church with Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III, followed by Mass at Lyke House Catholic Center which serves college campuses in Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College. and Georgia State University.

Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., called for June 22 to be a day of archdiocesan service in solidarity with pilgrims. The pilgrims volunteered alongside Bishop Shlesinger and the Missionaries of Charity at the order’s home in Stone Mountain, where the sisters provide academic enrichment to students who are mostly Burmese refugees.

Bishop Hartmayer welcomed pilgrims to Christ the King Cathedral on June 23 for Sunday Mass and a procession on the cathedral grounds.

“Our God is love”

The final stop in the archdiocese, at St. Joseph Church in Dalton, allowed pilgrims to immerse themselves in the passionate Hispanic Catholic community. With approximately 700 registered participants, several different ministries showcased their talents and love for the faith in their own unique ways as they saluted the pilgrims and the monstrance.

Women dressed in colorful capes representing Our Lady of Guadalupe led the procession and sang soothing Spanish hymns to the Eucharist and the pilgrims. Musicians dressed in shimmering gold costumes performed mariachi songs; their music radiated all along the walk to the church field. A group of performers wearing flower crowns danced with maracas and drums and knelt to meet the Blessed Sacrament.

Father José Refugio Oñate Melendez, pastor of St. Joseph Church, led the procession. The faithful gathered in the church field to celebrate the arrival of Jesus. The eight perpetual pilgrims testified before the crowd, speaking in Spanish if they could and receiving applause from the community.

“Nuestro Dios es Amor,” Velasquez said. This means: “Our God is love”.

Pilgrim Shayla Elm, originally from North Dakota, spoke about how her life has been affected by God’s plan and how she felt called to seize this opportunity.

“I asked the Lord if He would like me to share a few words with you all, and the word that kept coming up was curiosity – being curious about our Lord and why He has you where He has you. a,” Elm said. “How did I end up here, on this stage in front of all of you in Georgia? This is something that I find very curious for me. We all have the opportunity tonight to be curious about what is going on in each of our hearts.

Perpetual pilgrims of the Juan Diego Route joined Missionaries of Charity Bishop Bernard E. Shlesigner III of Atlanta and Father Mark McCormick of the Diocese of Rapid City for a day of service June 22 at Stone Mountain. The sisters provide academic resources at home for most Burmese students. Photo by Terry Pickard

Issy Martin-Dye, a journalism student at Ohio University, spoke about her journey and how her faith grew.

“It’s been a joy to travel across the country with Jesus and witness to Him in such a unique way. He just shows us how simple He is and how simple His love is, and how willing He is to come to us now,” she said. said. “It is not for the future or the past, it is for the present moment.”

Church members kept vigil during an all-night adoration at St. Joseph, which ended at 7 a.m. the next day.

The Perpetual Pilgrims on the Route of Saint Juan Diego “have basically traveled around the world and witnessed many cultures in Georgia,” Elm said, adding that they have seen how the Eucharist is revered in Hispanic cultures, Vietnamese and American.

Pilgrims now head north through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the National Eucharistic Congress on July 16.

“I’m excited to meet the other routes again, get together and exchange stories about our experience,” Elm said of the Indianapolis convention. “I’m excited for young adults to pass our faith on to the next generation.”