May 4, 2026

Diocese prepares for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage June 18-20

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, entitled “One Nation Under God,” will visit the Diocese of Springfield June 18-20. The pilgrimage is in honor of the 250^th birthday of the founding of the United States. A spiritual journey, it will begin on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, in St. Augustine, Florida, near the site where the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in what later would become the United States of America.

It will then make its way up the East Coast making stops in most of the 13 original colonies, concluding in Philadelphia, Independence Day weekend.

The pilgrimage will travel into Massachusetts at the New York border, arriving at The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge on Thursday, June 18.

“What is really unique about this is that dioceses are planning events based on what is most important in that diocese, culturally, historically cool sites. For example, in Florida they are doing a boat pilgrimage on the water between two parts. In Colonial Williamsburg, they’re doing a procession through Colonial Williamsburg,” said Joe Austin, the director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship. His office is coordinating the local visit.

Austin clarified that the pilgrimage will be made by van with 9 young adults, called perpetual pilgrims and a chaplain. At each stop, local dioceses will plan processions and events.

“So, they will first come through Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge. Then that evening, they will come to the Forest Park amphitheater. This is really going to be an incredible event and we are really carefully designing this event to bring all cultures from our diocese together featuring witness talks in their native tongue,” he said.

The Forest Park event is entitled “Ignite,” and will also feature live music and a eucharistic procession. Later in the evening, the pilgrimage will make a stop at St. Paul Parish in Springfield, before going to St. Michael’s Cathedral for all night eucharistic adoration.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is the patron saint of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. St. Francis Cabrini was an Italian born nun and first U.S. citizen to be canonized. On Friday, June 19, the pilgrimage will stop at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Springfield, which was built by Italian immigrants.

“I was very excited and most grateful St. Francis Xavier Cabrini is the patroness of the pilgrimage because I have a lifetime devotion to her, in fact,” said Michael DiVenuto, a lifetime parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

The parish will show a DVD produced by DiVenuto, a catechist, and Deacon Robert Farrell.

“I have been asked to participate in a presentation at the parish hall in a video we produced several years ago. The video contains symbols in the church. The idea came from a tour that I observed that Michael DiVenuto was conducting with participants of RCIA, taking them through the church. I spoke with Mike and said we should put a video together,” said Deacon Farrell.

Some of the images in the video include a pelican feeding her young carved into the altar. Early Christians associated this image with the Eucharist.

 “The Eucharist is not just about private prayer and devotion. It is something with a capital E that should strengthen us and that’s what we hope to do here at Mt. Carmel,” said Stigmatine Father Robert White, the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. “That’s typical of the Italian community to reach out to those who are need.”

The parish will be assembling blessing bags for the homeless as part of their participation.

“The Eucharist calls us to be ministry to other people, in the service of Jesus, the important aspect of Eucharist, the vital aspect,” said Sister of St. Joseph Betty Matuszek, pastoral assistant.

Also on June 19, the pilgrimage will stop at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee and end with a closing procession, all night adoration and Mass at Thomas Aquinas College in Northfield.

The pilgrimage will continue into New Hampshire on June 20.

The local route has been changed and more events will be added. To stay up to date, go to diospringfield.org.