By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
Duane Oden, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Beatrice, achieved a remarkable feat by completing the entire Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage not once, but twice! For Oden, this pilgrimage was not just a road trip; it was a source of fellowship and immense joy.
Oden’s spiritual journey began with a significant revelation in his 30s. Though baptized Lutheran as an infant, he wasn’t actively engaged in church life until one day when he felt compelled to open the Bible and delve into the Acts of the Apostles.
“Something told me it was an actual fact as I was reading,” he recalled.
That pivotal moment led to his official conversion to the Catholic Church June 6, 1992, an anniversary he holds dear. Since then, his commitment has only deepened. Actively involved in St. Joseph Parish, he faithfully attends daily Mass, serves as an acolyte, and contributes in various capacities. His dedication extends beyond mere participation, encompassing daily recitations of the rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and regular Eucharistic adoration.
While Oden had embarked on many pilgrimages before, including visits to the Holy Land, Ireland, Fatima, Lourdes, and holy sites in Wisconsin, the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage held a special place in his heart.
“This one was special because it was in my diocese; it felt like a family affair,” he noted. “Our own bishop came up with this for us, and I knew right away I wanted to do it.”
Retired from a 42-year career with Black Hills Energy and unmarried, Oden felt he had the freedom to dedicate himself fully to this endeavor.
With quick planning, Oden began his pilgrimage in August 2023, swiftly filling his passport within a mere 10 days. He completed two stops per day and stayed overnight to complete the westernmost locations in one trip.
“The first pilgrimage was one of thanksgiving,” he reflected. “It was the perfect opportunity to take time to give thanks for what God has done in my life. I have completed a great career, I have family and friends; I’m not without hardship, but without my Catholic faith I couldn’t have borne the hard parts, and adoration is a big part of that in my life. The pilgrimage was a very joyful experience.”
Oden decided to complete the pilgrimage a second time, for Lent.
“When you go on pilgrimages, it’s important to remember who you are going to visit. It’s not so much about the travel, but who’s at the destination waiting to spend time with you,” he said. “I love Eucharistic adoration, but this was special because it was intentionally organized for our diocese,” he said “I was a part of something bigger, in a way representing my parish.”
Oden expressed gratitude for Father Leo Kosch, pastor of St. Joseph, who offered him encouragement and support throughout his experience.
Oden fondly recalled the sense of unity and camaraderie among fellow pilgrims, likening it to a family reunion.
“The unity of the clergy, meeting so many nice people, it felt like a family trip,” he reminisced. His pilgrimage also brought him closer to fulfilling a personal goal of visiting every church in his diocese.
While each location was special for Oden, St. Patrick in Imperial was a standout stamp on his passport.
“Driving four and a half hours for one hour of veneration might sound crazy, but it was pure joy!” Oden said. “Hypothetically, if my father was in Imperial, or Rulo, or anywhere, and called me up and asked ‘Duane, would you come visit me?’ without hesitation I would go. To me this was the same. The pilgrimage is a call, asking us to take the time to go and visit the Blessed Sacrament.”
Throughout each pilgrimage, Oden began his hour of adoration with a list of intentions, a list that unexpectedly continued to grow.
“I was leaving adoration one time and had a conversation with a man; he told me he was a recovering drug addict and he asked me to pray for him,” he recounted. “Another passport location had a Catholic school, and a teacher helped me find the adoration chapel. That small interaction made me think about how much teachers do. So I also began praying for the teachers in our Catholic schools. I never thought about those intentions until I came across them, until they were literally put right in front of me during the pilgrimage.”
Another memorable moment came at the Newman Center in Lincoln, where Oden saw a giant sign-up board filled with the names of young people committed to Eucharistic adoration at all different times.
“It filled me with hope to see all those names of young people committed to adoration,” he reflected.
Looking ahead, Oden plans to participate in the National Eucharistic Revival Pilgrimage as it comes through Nebraska this month and he is eager to attend the National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21 in Indianapolis. He hopes that more people will discover the transformative power of Eucharistic adoration in today’s fast-paced world.
“Eucharistic adoration is an opportunity to step away from the noise and open your heart to the Lord,” he emphasized, encouraging others to start slowly and allow God’s grace to work within them.
