Eucharistic Congress starts July 17 in Indiana; Eucharistic Pilgrimage underway Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, July 5, 2024
The Perfect Storm: The Merging of two journeys into one Encounter By Oscar Rivera Jr. Director of Youth Ministry orivera@dioc-fr.org
FALL RIVER — One of my favorite movies is the Perfect Storm. The movie is based on areal event that occurred in 1991 of a fishing vessel, the Andrea Gail from Gloucester, captained by Billy Tyne (played by George Clooney) returning to Gloucester with a poor catch, prompting Captain him to embark on a late-season fishing expedition to redeem himself. Despite the poor results, and struggling with a rag-tag team of fishers, things change at the Flemish Cap. Hurricane Grace had been merging with another weather front and the challenge was evident. Lose the catch, or fight the storm. Though I am not a meteorologist nor ever desired to be one, I have been always fascinated by the merging of two storms. The timing, temperature, and settings must be perfect. The real-life name of what happened in 1991 was known as the “Perfect Storm” and it unfortunately claimed 19 lives. Two unrelated groups with very related missions would merge into one perfect gathering on June 21, 2024. On May 18, 2024 the first group left on foot from New Haven, Connecticut with a destination of Indianapolis, Indiana where the Catholic Church in the United States will come together for the first National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in 83 Years. The NEC team said the following: “This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church. We are expecting tens of thousands of pilgrims.” The other group was from the Diocese of Fall River. The 60 (52 teens and 8 adults) would load a charter bus and leave early Thursday morning, June 20, to get to Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steu8 Turn to page two
Seton Route National Eucharistic Pilgrims — The Seton Route National Eucharistic Pilgrims take a photo before setting out on a recent pilgrimage day in Pittsburgh. From left to right: Amayrani Higueldo (Philadelphia), Zoe Dongas (Nashville), Natalie Garza (Kansas City), Marina Frattaroli (Dallas), Father Roger Landry (Diocese of Fall River), Christoph Bernas (Pittsburgh), Dominic Castens (LaCrosse). Their journey can be followed each day on SetonPilgrimage.org.
By Joan D. Warren Editor
joandwarren@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — A contingent of parishioners from the Diocese of Fall River is attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 17-22. They will meet up with the Seton Route National Eucharistic Pilgrims that includes Father Roger Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and Interim Executive Editor of The Anchor. Many Fall River parishioners are traveling with a group from the Diocese of Providence on a bus journey that is touted to be a true pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life different. At least a dozen men and women from the Diocese, hailing from parishes in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Somerset, North Dartmouth, and East Sandwich, have secured transportation and lodging with the Providence group. More are traveling to Indianapolis on their own. Deacon Joseph Harrington, Associate Director of Strategic and Pastoral Planning for the Diocese, will be among the pilgrims on the bus trip. Director of Youth Ministry Oscar
Rivera Jr. is attending the Congress and will be a speaker during the conference. Leading up to the Congress is the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, now underway, accompanying Jesus from city to city across the U.S. It is one of the largest Eucharistic pilgrimages in history. There are four groups of pilgrims from around the country traversing into the city at the start of the event on July 17: Marian Route (north), St. Juan Diego Route (south), and the St. Junipero Serra Route (west) and the Seton Route (east). The National Eucharistic Revival movement is a joyful, grassroots response of the Church in the United States to the divine invitation to grow in Eucharistic knowledge, faith, gratitude, amazement, love and life. Through the Eucharist, God desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world. Laurie Larsen-Silva, of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, is looking forward to the adventure. “It will be a great blessing to be in Indianapolis when the perpetual pilgrims all arrive after their many days of walking, praying and witnessing our shared faith in our Eucharistic Lord. My husband Mark and I were able to be present in New Haven for the boat departure of the St. Elizabeth Seton pilgrims. It was a 8 Turn to page two July 5, 2024 †
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