Category: Diocese of Scranton News

“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.”

Dear Friends,

These words from Saint Matthew’s Gospel that will be proclaimed during the great Vigil of Easter, confronted the first followers of Jesus on the very day of his resurrection and boldly affirmed God’s promise to save his people.

Yet despite such powerful words of faith that we read in the scriptures and proclaim whenever we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, the reality of life at times can consume us with grief, pain and fear. These days are no exception.

Once again, we approach Holy Week and Easter with our world engulfed by war and suffering – in Iran, throughout the Middle East, for four years in Ukraine, and in far too many places to name around the world. At this very hour, men and women in our armed forces are in harm’s way as they seek to secure a more peaceful existence for all. Right here, in our own land, immigrants who have become our neighbors and friends, fear for their well-being as their hopes for a better life for themselves and their families are dashed. Antisemitism has once again raised its ugly head. And amid such upheaval and pain, we have our own stories to tell of the crosses that we carry – crosses made of grief and loss, illness, addiction, loneliness and sin.

And so as we have done countless times before in the face of such heartbreak, these sacred days beckon us to turn to the only place that enables our broken world and lives to find forgiveness, healing, hope and peace: the Paschal Mystery, the Easter miracle, the promise won for us through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus!

But how does a mystery fraught with suffering and death provide us with hope? In his work, The Passion and the Cross, Father Ronald Rolheiser writes that it is only in and through the mystery of the cross of Jesus and our own, which we feebly attempt to carry with dignity and hope, that we find our peace. “Jesus never promised us rescue, exemptions, immunity from cancer or escape from death. Rather, he promised that in the end, there will be redemption, vindication, immunity from suffering and eternal life. But that’s in the end; in the early and intermediate chapters of our lives, there will be the same kind of humiliation, pain and death that everyone else suffers.” Yet, Rolheiser goes on to note, “Taking up your cross and being willing to give up your life means living in a faith that believes that nothing is impossible for God.”

Brothers and sisters, for all that we have experienced throughout the journey of our lives – in joy and gladness – and, yes, even in suffering, death and in the many wounds that we have endured – our belief in the power and grace of God to work wonders in our world even in these most challenging times is where resurrection begins to enter our lives today and peace begins to take hold of our wounded spirits! While God doesn’t promise us a perfect world free from suffering, no matter how faithful we are, he does promise forgiveness, redemption and life because of Jesus’ cross.

One of the greatest signs of the power of God at work in our world through the Risen Lord is the presence of well over 300 catechumens and candidates from throughout the Diocese of Scranton who will be baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and presented for full communion in the Catholic Church during the great Vigil of Easter. These catechumens and candidates – our relatives, neighbors and friends – will join with catechumens and candidates from around the world in numbers that we have not experienced in years to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ and to assume their place with us in Jesus’ body, the Church.

As bishop of this great local church of the Diocese of Scranton, I am profoundly touched by the example of your lives. In the midst of all that life unfolds, you continue to live your faith and fulfill the promises of your Baptism. You continue to serve your brothers and sisters. And you continue to derive hope from a living relationship with the risen Jesus.

During these final days of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, I pray that we will come to appreciate more deeply than ever the fact that we are indeed blessed by God in more ways than we might believe or imagine. May we continue to trust in God’s promise to sustain us and dispel our deepest fears. And may we open our hearts to the risen Jesus and allow him to fill them with his love and peace.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton

SCRANTON – Hundreds of Catholics from across the Diocese of Scranton are gathering in churches throughout the region this Lent, filling pews for special evenings of prayer, reflection, and Eucharistic devotion as the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, leads Lenten Holy Hours in each of the Diocese’s 12 deaneries.

At Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton, the church was nearly filled as parishioners from multiple parishes came together to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. At Saint John Bosco Parish in Conyngham, more than 300 people attended the Holy Hour for the Hazleton Deanery.

For many participants, the experience has been both powerful and deeply personal.

“It made me feel connected,” said Angel Parra of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton after attending the Holy Hour at Divine Mercy Parish. “As a young Catholic, I don’t have many friends around my age who are Catholic. Just being around that many people praying together was a really refreshing experience.”

The Holy Hours began Feb. 19 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Wyalusing and eight more have taken place since that time. The final three Lenten Holy Hours will all take place within the next week.

Each evening includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, time for silent prayer and adoration, sacred music and a homily offered by Bishop Bambera. The theme for this year’s reflection is “Finding Peace in Challenging Times.”

For many who attend, the opportunity to spend quiet time in prayer before the Eucharist during Lent is a meaningful break from the noise and pace of everyday life.

“When you’re in the church right now, there’s nothing to bother you – no phones or television,” said Judy Korgeski of Saint Carlo Acutis Parish in Olyphant. “You can really feel Jesus around us. And especially because of all the people who are with us, you can tell they feel the same way.”

Others say the Lenten Holy Hours offer a powerful reminder of the Church community that stretches beyond their own individual parish.

“We love to pray as a community – just to be together with everybody else and experience these things together,” said Elizabeth Pass of Saint Thomas More Parish in Lake Ariel. “A lot of times we’re praying by ourselves.”

The Holy Hours also give many parishioners the opportunity to see and pray with their bishop in a personal way.

“The shepherd coming to the sheep is very key,” added Marian Menapace who also attended the Holy Hour at Saint Thomas More Parish. “We didn’t have to go to Scranton. To have the Bishop here was pretty awesome.”

Throughout his homily, Bishop Bambera reflects on the Gospel account of the Road to Emmaus, reminding the faithful that Christ walks with them even in the midst of life’s struggles and uncertainties.

He encourages Catholics to trust that God’s love remains constant, even during moments of difficulty.

“God’s love isn’t based on our righteousness or how perfectly we recite our prayers,” Bishop Bambera told those gathered at each Holy Hour. “It is pure gift.”

For many parishioners, hearing that message while kneeling in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been especially meaningful.

“When you are there, in the presence of Christ, it just pours through your heart and enlivens your faith,” said Annette Deitz of Divine Mercy Parish in Scranton.

As the Lenten season continues, Bishop Bambera hopes the remaining Holy Hours will help Catholics deepen their relationship with Christ and discover the peace that comes from encountering Him in prayer.

All Holy Hours begin at 7 p.m., and Catholics are welcome to attend any of the gatherings regardless of parish or deanery affiliation.

SCRANTON – There is now only one week left to vote in the Diocese of Scranton’s popular pastor chef cooking competition, Rectory, Set, Cook!

Because of the generosity of people across northeastern Pennsylvania (and beyond), the friendly competition has already raised more than $125,000 from more than 1,400 donors.

This year, the fundraiser could potentially surpass $1 million in total funds raised since the initiative first launched in 2022.

Rectory, Set, Cook! invites priests from the eleven counties of the Diocese of Scranton to step into their kitchen as “pastor chefs,” creating cooking videos and encouraging supporters to vote for their favorite dish through online donations.

Half of all funds raised benefit hunger and homelessness initiatives of Catholic Social Services. The remaining half goes directly to the participating priest’s parish.
This year’s competition continues through 4 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

Visit dioceseofscranton.org to view all videos and vote for your favorite! You can vote for as many pastor chefs as you would like!

SCRANTON – Hundreds of faithful gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on March 14 to begin one of the region’s most beloved traditions – Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Parade – with prayer and thanksgiving.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist for the annual Parade Day Mass, which has long marked the official start of one of the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parades in the country.

In his homily, the Bishop reflected on the enduring example of Saint Patrick, who returned to Ireland after escaping slavery to preach the Gospel.

“God takes us as we are and uses us as instruments of peace in building his Kingdom,” Bishop Bambera said, noting that Patrick’s life reminds Christians of their call to forgiveness, reconciliation, and service to others.

The Mass drew members of Irish cultural organizations, civic leaders, and parade participants, including visitors from Scranton’s sister city of Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland.

“It’s so fitting that the parade starts with Mass,” said Jarlath Munnelly, Cathaoirleach of Ballina, who traveled to Scranton for the celebration. “Faith was such an important part of keeping (Irish) communities together.”

Local Irish groups also highlighted the religious roots of the celebration.

“It is a celebration of Saint Patrick – traditionally a Catholic holiday,” Tammy Jackson, President of the Society of Irish Women, said. “It almost has to start with the Catholic Church.”

“We are very proud to be Irish Catholic, and we love to come to Mass at the Cathedral on this day,” Anna McTavish of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Scranton, added.

 

SCRANTON – More than 500 young people from across the Diocese of Scranton are being recognized this Lent for their commitment to faith and service as recipients of the 2026 Bishop’s Youth Award.

The honor, presented annually since 1996, recognizes eighth- and twelfth-grade students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their Catholic faith through volunteer service in their parishes, schools, and communities.

This year’s recipients are being celebrated during three special Masses throughout March at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

“While today is exciting and it’s an honor to receive this award, it is a reminder to all of us that whether we’re going into high school or later years in life, we have to continue doing the service that we’ve done to receive this award,” Kevin Vincent Jr., a senior at Holy Cross High School and member of Saints Anthony & Rocco Parish in Dunmore, said.

Students from the Southern Pastoral Region were honored during the first Mass on March 1. The Cathedral celebration drew a standing-room-only crowd of families, friends, and parish leaders.

Among those recognized was Lilly Holtz, an eighth-grade student from Saint Jude Parish in Mountain Top.

“I’m so happy because I just get to help people in my community,” she said, noting her service as an altar server and her role as student body president at Saint Jude School.

Blake Pribula, an eighth-grade student from Corpus Christi Parish in West Pittston, said receiving the award carried special meaning because he had watched his brother receive the same honor.

“I always thought it was really interesting when he received it, and I’m really excited that I can do the same,” he said.

The second Mass, held March 15 for students from the Northern Pastoral Region, drew such a large crowd that overflow seating was needed in the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

For Jesus Hernandez, a senior at Scranton Prep and a member of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Scranton, faith has served as a steady foundation in uncertain times.

“For me, faith has always been my biggest anchor. Christ has always been my biggest anchor,” Hernandez explained. “I think it’s pretty awesome to see how many young people are devoted to their parish and I hope it stays like this for many years to come.”

Meredith Duffy, a senior from Saint Gregory Parish in Clarks Green agreed, saying the Masses are a powerful reminder that young Catholics are not alone in their beliefs.

“I am a sacristan, I’m a catechist for the 8th grade Confirmation class, I volunteer at a lot of bible camps and children’s ministry activities, and it is just a blessing for me to be able to have that involvement in my parish,” Duffy explained. “It is great to be surrounded by fellow parishioners who have also been noticed for the great contributions they’ve made to their parishes.”

The final Bishop’s Youth Award Mass will take place Sunday, March 22, honoring students from the Eastern and Western Pastoral Regions of the Diocese.

HAZLETON – On the weekend of the Third Sunday of Lent, hundreds of people in the greater Hazleton area encountered the story of a modern-day saint whose devotion to the Eucharist continues to inspire believers around the world.

Parishioners from the Hazleton Deanery and beyond were invited to visit Most Precious Blood Church March 7-9 to view an exhibit on Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

The traveling display, on loan from Malvern Retreat House in southeast Pennsylvania, features more than 100 Eucharistic miracles that Acutis researched and cataloged before his death from leukemia in 2006 at the age of fifteen.

Using his skills in computer programming, the Italian teenager designed a website to share the stories of these miracles – a project that continues to evangelize people today.

The exhibit was put on display as part of the Hazleton Deanery’s ‘Road to Resurrection’ initiative for Lent 2026 – a series of opportunities for the faithful to deepen their relationship with Christ during the Lenten season.

The ‘Road to Resurrection’ events began on March 5 with a Holy Hour at Saint John Bosco Church, where more than 300 people gathered in prayer with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.

For Father Anthony Generose, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, said the activities all came together as the result of a Spirit-led collaboration across the deanery.

“This has all come together by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit,” Father Generose said.

Father Generose said he was particularly touched by a video on Saint Carlo Acutis that was part of the exhibit.

“When you watch the video, you get to see this child that can connect with adults and with youth,” he explained. “I sat there and I wept. I’ve never had the experience of listening to the mother of a saint speak about her son and his friends and the adults that grew up with him in Italy.”

Parishioner Maureen Franzosa suggested bringing the exhibit to Hazleton after encountering it while visiting family near Philadelphia. Franzosa first experienced the display while visiting her granddaughter, who had been asked to reflect on Acutis as part of her Confirmation preparation.

“I walked in and got this serene feeling of peace,” Franzosa said. “I couldn’t believe everything that this young man, in his short life up to 15, had done to try to connect us to the Eucharist.”

She believes the young saint’s witness offers an important connection for youth today.

“He’s a millennial saint. I think he could speak to our youth who need some kind of connection today,” she added.

That same hope inspired members of the Our Lady of Peace Parish Vocation Ministry Team, who helped welcome visitors throughout the weekend.

“One of the target groups for us, as a vocation committee, is the young. We want to bring more teenagers back to the church,” parishioner Nicole Composto said.

As visitors moved from panel to panel, they encountered detailed accounts of Eucharistic miracles from around the world – events recognized by the Church as scientifically inexplicable signs connected to the Blessed Sacrament.

“The displays, the pictures, (they’re) all beautiful,” Composto expressed. “I didn’t realize how many Eucharistic miracles there were. It’s overwhelming to walk through and see how many.”

Judy Kotzer, 84, was also struck by the number of Eucharistic miracles.

“A lot of times we go to Communion and don’t really realize what is there,” she said. “But this really shows us.”

DUPONT – Two newly linked parishes in Luzerne County joined forces at the start of Lent to offer something they had not experienced in years – a parish mission designed to renew hearts and strengthen unity in Christ.

From Feb. 26-28, parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Dupont, and Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca, gathered for “Return to the Heart of the Father,” a three-day Lenten retreat led by national Catholic speaker Allan Wright.

Hosted at both parish churches, the retreat featured opportunities for Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross, a communal penance service and multiple presentations – along with shared meals that gave parishioners time to connect.

“We decided to begin Lent with three days of prayer to reflect upon God’s love for us as we return to the heart of the Father,” Father Thomas Petro, pastor of both parishes, said.

This marks the first Lent the two communities are together in a formal linkage, and the retreat was planned intentionally to build a sense of togetherness.

“It was our hope to allow the parishioners from both parishes to come together and get to know each other in a better way, but also find unity in Christ,” Father Petro added.

The mission was made possible through a grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal.
Wright, an author, adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and Executive Director of the N.J. Family Policy Center, brought Scripture to life through real life stories.

He encouraged participants to recognize the “silent witnesses” of the Gospel – figures such as the servants at Cana and the friends of the paralytic – who made a difference without saying a word.

He also focused on practical reflections of family life and discipleship.

“So much of what Jesus does takes place in the home – his teaching, healing, forgiving, sharing meals – it doesn’t take place on the sandy shores of the Galilee or the bustling streets of Jerusalem but in the home,” he added. “How can we bring our faith alive in the home?”

Parishioners said the retreat left a lasting impression.

“I thought it was fantastic,” parishioner Gary Beccaloni said. “I loved his presentation, his humor, it was an amazing three days.”

Scott Hilenski, who attended all three days, appreciated the insights Wright provided.

“He had a great way of portraying images through meditations that he’s had from different parts of Scripture that you usually don’t hear about,” he said.

In the days since the retreat ended, Father Petro said it offered much more than simply words of positive feedback.

“This retreat, for us, provided us with a great gift – inner renewal,” Father Petro stated. “I could really feel among our people a certain joy and lightness of spirit.”

WILKES-BARRE – Each Friday during Lent, the faithful gather at Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish for a tradition that blends prayer, sacrifice and fellowship.

Known as ‘Stations and Soup,’ the weekly gathering begins with Stations of the Cross at Saint Aloysius Church at 12:10 p.m., followed by a simple meatless meal shared among parishioners and visitors.

“It’s a meager meal,” Father Richard Cirba, pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, said. “During Lent, there is obviously no meat on Friday, so the people who make the soup prepare things like clam chowder or cream of broccoli.”

While the meal offers nourishment, the focus of each week’s gathering remains on the centuries-old devotion of the Stations of the Cross, which invites the faithful to reflect on Christ’s journey to Calvary.

“The Stations are a powerful devotion because they allow us to walk the road with Jesus – the 14 Stations of the Cross,” Father Cirba explained. “We do it out of love for Him and because He died for our sins and for our salvation.”

Following the prayer service, parishioners gather to share soup, bread, and conversation.

“We usually have five different types of soup,” parishioner Peg Warmouth said. “It’s nice because it gets people together that we don’t see every day because we all go to different Masses. We also have people who don’t belong to our parish who come. Everybody is welcome.”

Barbara Flora, another parishioner who helps prepare soup for the gathering, said the meal reflects the spirit of sacrifice that marks the Lenten season.

“It is my little offering that I can do, and I bring it here to share it with people,” Flora said.

For many participants, the gathering offers more than a meal – it provides an opportunity to build relationships within the parish community.

“One of the sweetest things is the camaraderie,” Flora added. “You get a chance to speak with people that you don’t get a chance to see during the week. You see them at Mass, and you see them for Stations – but you don’t know their names yet – so you can sit with them and enjoy being together with one another.”

In a busy world, Father Cirba believes the ‘Stations and Soup’ tradition offers an opportunity to pause, pray, and remember the meaning of the Lenten season.

“We live in a world that is in desperate need of peace and justice,” he said. “This is one of my favorite devotions during Lent because it helps us to grow in our love for Jesus and the cross.”

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) – Pope Leo XIV announced March 19 that he is asking the presidents of all bishops’ conferences around the world to convene in Rome in October to renew and deepen the Church’s discussion on marriage and family in light of “Amoris Laetitia.”

The pope issued the invitation at the end of a message marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of “Amoris Laetitia,” Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the pastoral care of families published after the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family.

“In light of the changes that continue to impact families, I have decided to convene the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences from around the world in October 2026, in an effort to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today, in light of Amoris Laetitia and taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches,” Pope Leo said.

“I entrust this journey to the intercession of Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth,” he added.

“Amoris Laetitia,” Latin for “The Joy of Love,” was signed by Pope Francis on March 19, 2016, and released publicly the following April. The document, which runs more than 50,000 words, addressed married life and love, children, extended family, education and related pastoral challenges, with special attention to integrating wounded or marginalized families into the life of the Church.

“Our era is marked by rapid changes which make it necessary, even more than ten years ago, to give particular pastoral attention to families, to whom the Lord entrusts the task of participating in the Church’s mission of proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel,” Pope Leo explained in the message.

He added that there are “places and circumstances in which the Church ‘can become the salt of the earth’ only through the lay faithful and, in particular, through families.”

“For this reason, the Church’s commitment in this area must be renewed and deepened, so that those whom the Lord calls to marriage and family life can, in Christ, fully live out their conjugal love, and that young people may feel attracted, within the Church, to the beauty of the vocation to marriage.”
At the time of its publication, “Amoris Laetitia” garnered an uneven reception. While Church leaders generally praised the exhortation’s aim of improving pastoral care for families, it met swift and sharp criticism for some ambiguities that appeared difficult to reconcile with Church teaching, especially pertaining to divorced Catholics in new civil unions, without a prior declaration of nullity, and their reception of the Eucharist. Disagreement among theologians and Church leaders persists over these elements.

Pope Leo called the document “a luminous message of hope regarding conjugal love and family life” adding that both “Amoris Laetitia” and St. John Paul II’s 1981 exhortation, “Familiaris Consortio,” “strengthened the Church’s doctrinal and pastoral commitment to the service of young people, married couples and families.”

“On this 10th anniversary, we give thanks to the Lord for the stimulus that has encouraged reflection and pastoral conversion in the Church, and ask God for the courage to persevere on this path, always welcoming the Gospel anew in the joy of being able to proclaim it to all,” Pope Leo said.

(OSV News) – Registration for public events during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage opened March 18, revealing abundant opportunities for Catholics to join the nine “perpetual pilgrims” traveling the East Coast route from Florida to Maine that culminates in an Independence Day weekend celebration in Philadelphia.

The pilgrimage runs May 24-July 5. As in the two previous pilgrimages held in 2024 and 2025, the 2026 pilgrims and their chaplains will accompany the Eucharist throughout the route, even as they travel in their van. Public pilgrimage events focus on the Eucharist with Mass, adoration and processions, as well as charitable service and fellowship.

The public can register to attend pilgrimage events at eucharisticpilgrimage.org.

“In the past few years we’ve witnessed a powerful renewal of Eucharistic faith across the country,” said Jason Shanks, National Eucharistic Congress president, in a March 18 statement. “The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is one of the most visible expressions of that renewal, as believers bring Jesus in the Eucharist out into our streets and communities and inviting people everywhere to encounter Him.”

With the theme “One Nation Under God,” the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage route commemorates key Catholic landmarks and events in American Catholic history as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The pilgrimage’s route includes public events in 18 dioceses and archdioceses and two Eastern Rite eparchies in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The pilgrimage will launch Memorial Day weekend with Mass at Our Lady of La Leche Shrine at Mission Nombre De Dios in St. Augustine, Florida, the site of the first Mass celebrated on American soil in 1565. It will also include commemorations of the Georgia Martyrs, five Franciscan missionaries who were killed for their faith in 1597, whose beatification is expected Oct. 31; the celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi in the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia; and stops in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the nation’s first Catholic diocese and home to the United States’ first Catholic cathedral.

Other stops include a blessing over Washington from the Arlington Memorial Bridge, a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington, and, in Boston, a Eucharistic procession along the Freedom Trail and an outdoor Mass on Lexington Battle Green.

Shrines and basilicas that the pilgrimage will visit also include the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington and the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The route ends with 24 hours of Eucharistic adoration in the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia followed by a closing Mass and Eucharistic procession through the streets of the city.

In the National Eucharistic Congress’ statement, Archbishop Nelson J. Perez of Philadelphia said hosting the pilgrimage’s closing events is a “joy” for him and his local Church. He noted that his diocese is the only in the country to house two saints, St. Katharine Drexel and St. John Neumann.

Philadelphia is “the place that Catholics can reference to remember our history in this great country and the future we are building here,” he said. “We will humbly and proudly bring Our Lord into the streets of this historic city to commemorate what is equally our heritage and our call as Christians to live as One Nation Under God.”

The route is dedicated to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian-American religious sister who cared for the immigrants and poor in New York during the turn of the 20th century, and who was the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint. Pilgrimage events in Philadelphia include multiple showings of “Cabrini,” the 2024 biopic of her life.

The National Eucharistic Congress nonprofit organizes the pilgrimage, which first took place in 2024 ahead of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, and which returned last summer with a route from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

Dioceses and archdioceses with stops along the route are St. Augustine; Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; Washington; Baltimore; Wilmington, Delaware; Camden, New Jersey; Paterson, New Jersey; Springfield, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Boston; Fall River, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Philadelphia.

This year’s pilgrimage will take place in solidarity with the U.S. bishops’ call to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It also aims to broadly involve the Church in the U.S. through a campaign to offer 250,000 Holy Hours “for the renewal and blessing of America,” according to its website.

Catholics can also participate spiritually through submitting prayer intentions and attending an online lecture series highlighting “the enduring Christian and Catholic ideals that define and sustain America’s national identity,” according to organizers. The free, weekly lectures will be available on the National Eucharistic Congress’ Manna app.

“As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, this pilgrimage is a powerful reminder that the deepest foundation of our country is our dependence on God,” said Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, who is chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress, in a statement. “By carrying the Eucharist across our nation and gathering in prayer, we are asking the Lord to renew the Church and to bless our country so that we may truly be one nation under God.”

Online merchandise for the pilgrimage is also available at the National Eucharistic Revival Store, which currently lists shirts, mugs and pins with the “One Nation Under God” Cabrini route logo.

According to organizers, the site of the 2029 National Eucharistic Congress will also be soon announced.