By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
From Imperial to Rulo; through Plattsmouth, Beaver Crossing and Holdrege, Bishop James Conley has invited the diocese to embark on a Eucharistic pilgrimmage in the year ahead.
“It’s an invitation to deepen our understanding, love, and appreciation for the Holy Eucharist,” Bishop Conley said. He detailed the heart of the pilgrimage in a previous column in the Southern Nebraska Register: “Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity, present in the Most Holy Eucharist, hidden under the appearance of bread, is awaiting your prayerful visit in the chapels and churches across our beautiful diocese.”
The Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage has been inspired by the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and the Nebraska Passport Program.
Elaborating on the Eucharistic initiative’s essence, Father Christopher Eckrich, priest secretary to Bishop Conley, said: “This program is designed to lead the faithful to the Adoration chapels and churches with exposition throughout the diocese. It’s an invitation for individuals to deepen their faith journey in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. While it’s easy to become parish-centric, this program aims to broaden horizons, reminding everyone that we belong to a larger community and highlighting the abundant opportunities for Exposition in southern Nebraska.”
Eucharistic Passports can be picked up for free at all parish churches in the diocese along with Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation prayer cards. Pilgrims can use these passports to navigate 17 designated Eucharistic Adoration sites, collecting stamps at each to track their journey. The stamps are conveniently located at the back of each location. The passport includes space for recording the date of the visit. It also includes prayers and a guide for how to make a holy hour. For additional guidance, pilgrims can download the Hallow App and explore the “holy hours” section.
Peggy Been, a member of St. Patrick Parish in McCook, delved into the significance of Eucharistic Adoration and the transformative power of the Pilgrim Passport. Recalling her earlier experiences with adoration, she said, “My first experience with Eucharistic Adoration was as a child when we would stop at the church just to visit with Jesus. Even then, I felt the profound presence of Jesus in our church.”
As she grew older, Been admitted that the challenges of adult life made these moments rarer and more rushed, making the passport’s structured guide on “How to Pray a Holy Hour” incredibly helpful.
She added, “As an adult, life gets so much busier and more complicated, and those visits become less in frequency and more harried and rushed. I find my mind racing along a hundred thoughts and to-do list items that the visit seems all about me and nothing about our Lord. But that is precisely what makes Eucharistic Adoration even more important and meaningful. Jesus asks us to come away to a quiet place and be with Him. The important thing is to keep returning to the Lord in front of the tabernacle, in His Holy Presence, and be available to receive His love, His graces, and His friendship. Just come and see.”
St. Patrick Parish in Imperial stands out on the pilgrimage map as the westernmost location, situated roughly 300 miles from Lincoln. Father Lothar Gilde, pastor of St. Patrick Church warmly invites all Eucharistic adoration pilgrims, emphasizing the unique commitment it represents.
“For many in our diocese, a trip to Imperial is a pilgrimage in its own right,” he said. “I eagerly await the new faces and believe God’s blessings are in abundance for those dedicating time to adoration.”
He was quick to mention St. Patrick’s adoration sessions on every second and fourth Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., highlighting, “This pilgrimage fosters increased diocesan interaction and reveals the universal desire for the Lord. I believe that God will send his blessings to those who make the effort to spend time with him in adoration, whether it’s down the street or across the state.”
The emphasis of the pilgrimage, as Father Eckrich pointed out, is on Eucharistic adoration, motivating participants to visit churches specifically during exposition and adoration, enhancing the journey’s sanctity. For those who might be hesitant about completing the entire pilgrimage, he offers comforting words:
“Our Lord knows your heart, and any attempt to visit him is pleasing to him. While it might be fun to visit every site over the next 11 months, he is just grateful for the effort you’ve put in to be with him in those various quiet moments you make in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage program is a fun opportunity to see the diocese, but be at peace and knowing that he is pleased with those little moments or whatever it is you’ve been able to accomplish.”
As a token of appreciation and encouragement, the first ten pilgrims completing the journey by July 17, 2024, will be awarded special prizes and recognition. Pilgrims are also encouraged to share their experiences by sending photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A gentle reminder, however, is issued for participants to remain respectful during adoration and not take selfies with the Blessed Sacrament.
