By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
From June 14-21, the Serra Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) will be in the Diocese of Lincoln. All faithful are encouraged to participate in at least one aspect of this historic event.
Beginning on the feast of the Pentecost May 19, four groups of “Perpetual Pilgrims” began traveling with our Eucharistic Lord from points east, west, north and south in the United States. The groups will meet at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17, after covering tens of thousands of miles, processing on foot and in vehicles specially equipped to be mobile adoration chapels.
The parishes of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in North Platte, All Saints in Holdrege, St. Michael and St. Cecilia parishes in Hastings, St. Ann in Doniphan, and the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln have all been identified as locations for the NEP. Local pastors and parishioners have been working with national organizers to identify procession routes, arrange for parade permits, collect volunteers, garner publicity, and handle other details for hosting adoration, processions, and other events.
After a June 14 and 15 visit to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in North Platte and a service project at the local Catholic cemetery, the pilgrimage will head north, where Bishop James Conley will join Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt of the Diocese of Grand Island for 11 a.m. Sunday Mass June 16 at the McDaid Elementary School gym. A procession will follow, carrying our Eucharistic Lord to Holy Spirit Church.
The following day, June 17, the pilgrims will travel to Holdrege. Father Jay Buhman, pastor of All Saints Parish in Holdrege, said his parish has scheduled Eucharist Adoration at 7 p.m., and he is hopeful that members of the faithful will stay through the night.
Meanwhile, his parish is preparing lodging and meals for the pilgrims.
“Once the pilgrims arrive, all the faithful will act with hospitality,” the pastor assured.
After Mass Tuesday morning, June 18, the Eucharistic procession will take a mile-and-a-half route through Holdrege.
“There will be an element of beauty that will hopefully open minds and hearts of even non-Catholics,” Father Buhman speculated.
The next stop that day will be at St. Michael Parish in Hastings, with Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 12:30 p.m. At 1 p.m. a two-mile procession will take our Eucharistic Lord from St. Michael Parish to St. Cecilia Parish. Several parishioners will set up altars on their front lawns or business parking lots along the way. The parish is preparing flyers that explain the Eucharistic procession to hand to curious onlookers, inviting them to learn more about the Catholic sacramental life.
Father Jeremy Hazuka, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Hastings, said that while there has been talk of having such a procession between the two parishes, this is the first time in memory that it will happen.
“It’s a beautiful opportunity,” he said. “It will be good for us to do it once so we can do it every year.”
Adoration at St. Cecilia Church will follow in the afternoon, finishing with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. and closing benediction.
From there, the Perpetual Pilgrims will journey back into the Diocese of Grand Island for the night. Bishop Hanefelt will celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island, followed by another procession, in which the monstrance will be handed off from Bishop Hanefeldt to Bishop Conley across the Platte River near St. Ann Parish in Doniphan.
Any lay faithful who would like to join in the procession may join in at the entrance to the city, at roughly 1st and Bartelt Avenue, around 12:30 p.m. From there, the procession will make its way through Doniphan to St. Ann Church.
St. Ann Parish will host Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 4 p.m., and then the pilgrims will stay overnight in Doniphan before journeying to Lincoln the next day.
Thursday, June 20, will include adoration at Lincoln’s Cathedral of the Risen Christ beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing overnight. At 8:30 a.m Friday, June 21, Bishop Conley will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral, followed by a Eucharistic procession from the Cathedral to the John XXIII Diocesan Center.
Later that day, the NEP will leave the Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop Conley will transfer the Holy Eucharist to Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha during a procession near Gretna, from Cloisters on the Platte to the Holy Family Shrine.
Anyone may participate in one or more aspects of the NEP while the pilgrims are in the diocese. Additional details may be found at https://events.blackthorn.io/DnDCa1K7/5a2PDn1pa8Z
Father Hazuka said it will be simple to participate. He encourages people to open their hearts to what the Lord wants to do through them, then, “Just show up and follow Jesus.”
