By Deacon Matthew Hecker, Ph.D.
for the Register
As part of the U.S. bishops’ three-year national Eucharistic Revival launched in 2022, the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln announced a series of local events and activities in support of the Eucharistic Revival.
Among those local activities, on Aug. 4, 2023, Bishop James Conley announced a “Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage” program for the Lincoln Diocese. The program is modeled on the successful tourism passport created by the Nebraska Tourism Commission.
In describing the plans, Bishop Conley said,“The Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage is a way to deepen our understanding, love and appreciation for the great gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist and, at the same time, enjoy ‘a wide variety of travel adventures’ alone or with family members and friends, to places in the diocese that, perhaps, you have never visited before.”
The pilgrimage includes stops at 17 different parishes across the diocese. At times designated by each participating location, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, and pilgrims are invited to visit each participating parish and make a holy hour. Eucharistic Passports were printed and distributed throughout parishes so that pilgrims may stamp their passports.
The pilgrimage was officially opened on the weekend Aug. 12-13, 2023, and it continues to until July 17, coinciding with the opening date of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
In order to generate interest and provide a little “saintly” competition, Bishop Conley added an incentive to the pilgrimage.
“Because of the vast distances that cover the 25,000 square miles of our diocese, and the unique times that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed at 17 Eucharistic sites, the completion of the entire Eucharistic pilgrimage will not be an easy task,” he said. “You might call this a holy competition of prayer, but there will be prizes and special recognition given to the first 10 people who complete the entire pilgrimage.”
Bishop Conley is pleased to announce the names of the 10 winners and the prizes they received.
In order, the winners are:
Duane Oden of St. Joseph Parish in Beatrice;
Sean Quigley of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln;
Phyllis Kool of North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln;
Robert LaBrie of St. Anne Parish in Doniphan;
Pat Heinemann of St. Mary Parish in Wallace;
Rosario Montalvo of Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln – with Graciela Dias de Leon and Maria Guadalupe Dias de Leon;
the Becerra and Solano family of Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln;
Richard and Jane Rayer of St. Catherine Parish in Indianola;
Richard Brunner of St. Mary Parish in Lincoln; and
Richard and Cathy Haden of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish in Lincoln.
Each of the 10 winners was awarded a certificate of completion and a cash prize of $200.
The National Eucharistic Revival began in the Diocese of Lincoln June 19, 2022, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In addition to the passport pilgrimage, the revival included a “Eucharistic Encounter” June 20, 2023, Eucharistic mission trips to Mexico City, as well as numerous Eucharistic events hosted by local parishes.
The revival continues June 2 with an outdoor Mass and Eucharistic procession at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat Center in Waverly.
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is scheduled to pass through the Lincoln Diocese, June 14-21.
[Editor's note: Find our more about Diocese of Lincoln plans for the Eucharistic Revival at lincolndiocese.org/revival]
