The fourth day of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Seton Route featured Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a Mass in Spanish celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes at Columbus Christ the King Church on Thursday evening, June 27.

Earlier in the day, there was a Eucharistic procession in Pickerington before the pilgrimage shifted to Columbus St. Catharine Church for a Holy Hour with the Lord Jesus and then on to Christ the King.

Ten priests concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Fernandes. The congregation included the pilgrims traveling from Connecticut to Indianapolis and religious sisters from various orders that serve the diocese in Hispanic ministry and through various apostolates. 

Christ the King parishioners and visitors said they felt blessed to have the pilgrimage come to them.

“It is an honor to have been here,” said Jose Avalos, a church leader. “It is wonderful to feel the presence and I am very grateful to God. It is something unique and I think that all the parishioners have enjoyed it a lot, in the glory of our Lord Jesus.”

“It was very beautiful, and I connected a lot with the pilgrimage because I never felt what I felt today in other worships in the church,” said Angela Ramirez, a 15-year-old altar server. “Being the bishop here, it made me reflect more on my relationship with God.”

Maria Amaro, a hospital group member, said, “I really liked the pilgrimage because I felt God's presence a lot this afternoon. I have invited you, brethren, to seek our God and that more pilgrimages may continue to take place, so that God may always have us in His hands. He always wants to take care of us, but we don't let him. I ask God to guide us in the right way.”

Isabel Rivas, a Christ the King parishioner for 18 years, said she had not experienced an event like this one. “This is something very exciting and beautiful. Through this event, more people can be invited to integrate and learn.”

Lupita Ramirez, a parish leader and Hispanic choir member, said she also had never witnessed anything similar in the church. She has been at Christ the King for 15 years and became Catholic 20 years ago.

“It is a very special and great experience,” she said. “I followed the pilgrimage since it began. For me, who grew up in another denomination, I have had very great experiences with Eucharistic adoration and especially at this time.”

Javier Negrete, a Hispanic youth group leader who has been at Christ the King for a year, was excited to see young people witness such a big moment when the parish family is united in heart with Jesus.

“It is extremely important as a parish to express our faith publicly and to welcome our brothers and sisters who are not necessarily part of this parish,” he said. “Professing our faith in a public way is important and you don't know who can see and witness what is happening. Who knows that a heart comes and has that encounter with Jesus.”

Avalos believes that the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this month will rekindle faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

“It is something that reaches all ears and especially all hearts that come close,” he said. “It will be very helpful to feel God’s presence so close.”

Angela Ramirez agreed that other Eucharistic events will bring more Catholics to belief in the Real Presence.

“I think people don’t have that strength yet,” she said, “but being here living it, they're going to feel that connection and faith can increase. May the Lord continue to prosper in every person who has come and so more people will be present praising Him.” 

Several members of the parish expressed a desire to see more opportunities for Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, to be made known in the public square.

“It would be very nice if it were done every year,” Rufino Tolentino said. 

“It's a great blessing,” said Jorge Guiltron, a parish leader. “God is good and I believe that He wants you to do more things and give more. He is there and this is something that lifts us up.” 

“The more noise we Catholics make with these processions, the more people will know about it,” Lupita Ramirez said

Several parishioners said that among the evening's highlights were seeing so many visitors in attendance and also was the testimony of a young woman who shared her faith in the Eucharist.

“At that moment, I thought of my young children and other young people, the way the world is and how it is leading them to worldly things and moving them away from God,” Rivas said. 

Guiltron was moved by seeing such reverence for the Eucharist, especially from Bishop Fernandes.

“How the bishop smiled when he elevated the Blessed Sacrament, you can see how in live he is with Our Lord,” Guiltron said.

The evening sunlight shines down through the stained glass windows at Christ the King Church during Mass. Photo courtesy Andy Long
Bishop Earl Fernandes carries the Blessed Sacrament out of Christ the King Church to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage van. Photo courtesy Andy Long
The Blessed Sacrament is returned to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage van at Christ the King Church, Photo courtesy Andy Long 
Father Roger Landry, chaplain for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Seton Route, places the monstrance in the van. Photo courtesy Andy Long
Jesus is present on the altar during Eucharistic Adoration at Christ the King Church before a Mass that was part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Photo courtesy Andy Long
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stop at Christ the King Church began with time for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Photos courtesy Andy Long
Four members of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love pray during Adoration. They are traveling with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage's Seton Route. Photo courtesy Andy Long 
Prayers and singing were part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage evening at Christ the King Church. Photos courtesy Andy Long