Eucharistic pilgrimage progresses through diocese

Although they believe the Lord’s Eucharistic presence can be found at any tabernacle, adoration chapel, or Mass in their hometown – as well as all over the globe – Robert and Elizabeth Cordoba made a point of traveling from Denver to Wichita to join the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in progress.

“When we saw they were going from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, we said, ‘Let’s go,’ but we had a prior commitment and couldn’t make it (for the earlier portions of the pilgrimage), so we have met up with it here in Wichita,” said Robert, who with Elizabeth is a member of Most Precious Blood Parish in Denver.
“We went to the Eucharistic Congress last year in Indianapolis, which was amazing and inspired us to come on the pilgrimage this year,” Elizabeth said. “This was awesome and beautiful.”

She was referring to the Eucharistic procession that followed a Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, May 28. The congregation that filled the cathedral for Mass emerged from its doors onto Wichita’s Central Ave. and – with the help of police escorts to block and redirect traffic – processed to Wichita City Hall singing and praying as Bishop Carl Kemme bore the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance.

As the group mounted the city hall steps, he set the monstrance on a table by the building entrance and knelt with most of the rest of the assembly as adoration, prayers and hymns continued.
Some participants estimated the crowd at about 500, but regardless of the precise number, the bishop considered it impressive.

“The turnout was amazing, more than I anticipated, to be honest,” he said after the event. “But in one sense, I wasn’t at all surprised. So many people here are deeply in love with the Eucharist.”

Sublime experience

Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Mary Agnes Wasinger and Sr. Mary Elizabeth Boede suggested that bringing the Lord’s real presence out of the sanctuary and into the city streets was a testimony to the world. 

“It was very powerful to know the graces that were extending to the city,” Sr. Mary Elizabeth said. 

“Jesus is Lord of all, and though he is present to everyone all over the world, his real presence in the Eucharist is a special gift,” Sr. Mary Agnes said. “This was a way to bring that out to people who may not have the chance to come (into a church to) adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”

That echoed a point Bishop Kemme made in his homily during the preceding Mass. 

“A Eucharistic procession is a witness to faith,” the bishop said. “It publicly proclaims the real presence of Jesus, not just a symbol or a sign, but Christ’s true body and true blood, truly and substantially present in the consecrated host. It is one thing to believe this and keep this mystery contained within the four walls of our churches, but it is quite another to bring this mystery out into the streets for all to see. Faith is a public matter and so must be our devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.”

The event also helped inspire 13-year-old Maria Werth and 10-year-old Paul Werth, who came with their mother, Jennifer Werth of Sacred Heart Parish in Colwich, and their grandmother, Janet Meyer of St. Anthony Parish in Garden Plain. Maria said her devotion to the Eucharist had blossomed thanks in part to the holy hour her family keeps at noon on Mondays, which helped her appreciate the outpouring of public devotion at the Eucharistic procession.

“It was sublime,” she said. 

Bishop Kemme said he also appreciated the experience of taking Christ to Wichita’s seat of government and interceding for the city. “The prayer for the city was especially moving,” he said. “Every city needs peace, Wichita is no different.”

Unbowed by weather

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s other events in the Diocese of Wichita included Eucharistic adoration in the cathedral on May 28 in an event that originally was scheduled to take place outdoors at the Bishop Carroll Catholic High School Football Stadium.

Spring showers moved that event indoors, but such dampness was no impediment the next morning. Pilgrims assembled at Bel Aire’s Church of the Resurrection for both the Fr. Kapaun Pilgrimage – that would conclude in Venarable Emil Kapaun’s hometown of Pilsen – as well as the pilgrims resuming the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on the St. Katherine Drexel Route.

After an early morning Mass on Thursday, May 29, both sets of pilgrims set out on the same journey for a while until they diverged toward their respective destinations.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrims next proceeded to St. Paul, where that night they held a holy hour, procession and vespers at St. Francis de Hieronymo.

“I was there for the procession and the adoration,” said St. Francis and St. Ambrose Parish Secretary Jackie Harmon. “It was one of the most beautiful experiences I recall in my life. There were a lot of people there and I have spoken to many who were deeply moved emotionally by the event. We are so blessed to have it in our church.”