The organizers of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 2025 From the United States they shared details about the planned walk of more than 5,375 kilometers that will see Jesus in the Eucharist carried through 10 states of the country by a group of young Catholics, with members of the public invited to join the walk and special events on the road, starting on May 18.
The pilgrimage, called Ruta Drexelwill begin with a Thanksgiving Mass in Indianapolis on Sunday, May 18. Then, the route goes to the northwest through Illinois to Iowa before turning southwest and descending through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
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From Texas, the route continues approximately west through New Mexico, Arizona and finally California, culminating with a Mass, Eucharistic Procession and Festival on June 22 in Los Angeles.
As in innovative Four simultaneous Eucharistic pilgrimages last year, which began in the confines of the country and finally converged in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024, a small group of young people “Perpetual pilgrims“The Eucharist will accompany throughout the way, while anyone who wishes to join small sections of the route can register to do so for free.
Mons. Andrew Cozzens, Bishop of Crookston, Minnesota, who heads the plurian national eucharistic revival of the bishops of the United States, said at a press conference on Thursday that Catholics who participate in any part of the pilgrimage this year have the opportunity to obtain a indulgencea grace granted by the Catholic Church, through the merits of Jesus Christ, to send to a person the temporal punishment he faces for past sins that have already been forgiven.
Mons. Cozzens thanked Pope Francis for granting the “special grace” of indulgence and said that the official decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary that the announcing will spread “as soon as possible.” The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a similar decree for last year’s pilgrimages.
The objective of pilgrimages is to give public testimony of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The organizers claim that a total of 250,000 people participated in the four national pilgrimages last year.
Numerous stops and significant events have been planned
The 36-day Drexel route, named in honor of Santa Catalina Drexel (1858-1955), will take the procession through 10 states, including the two most populated in the country, California and Texas, as well as through 20 Catholic dioceses and four Eastern Catholic Eparchies.
Masses at stops along the road, which include numerous sanctuaries and cathedralswill be offered in several languages and liturgical styles, including the traditional Mass in Latin, Choir Gospel, praise and worship, Vietnamese and Spanish, which represent five different rites of the Church.
In line with the Jubilee Year of the ongoing hope in the Catholic Church, the approach of the Drexel route is in the “hope and healing”, with planned visits not only to churches but also to “prisons, elderly households and places where people need hope,” said Mons. Cozzens.
Service and meetings are planned with the poor and those in need, including opportunities to serve the homeless, visit palliative care centers and participate in a service project with Catholic Charisies.
Masses and special prayers will be offered by Air accident victims from Wichita, Kansas; in the commemorative monument of the Oklahoma City attack; on the southern border; and in areas affected by forest fires in Los Angeles. Numerous men and women of faith have links with the planned stops, such as the tomb of the Venerable Fulton Sheen In Illinois and the Sanctuary of Blessed Stanley Rother Inukiwa City.
The organizers also highlighted the planned pilgrimage stop in the Church and Santa Mónica Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri, a parish with historical links with Santa Catalina Drexel and a vibrant black Catholic community.
The calendar of public events of each diocese along the Drexel route is now officially available on the National Eucharistic Congress website. The intentions of prayer so that perpetual pilgrims take them with them on their trip can be sent here.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Jonah McKeown
Jonah McKeown is editor and producer of Podcasts of Catholic News Agency. He has a master’s degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri and has worked as a writer, radio producer and cameraman.