PHOTOS: Jesus passes through St. Louis on National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

On Saturday, the Perpetual Pilgrims — young people committed to walking the entire route with Jesus — visited the Missionaries of Charity at their St. Louis home, which is close to St. Josephine Bakhita, a historically Black parish.

The pilgrims were welcomed by the people of St. Josephine’s for lunch, and then Auxiliary Bishop Mark Rivituso blessed a large number of “Blessing Boxes” containing donations, collected by the archdiocese, for refugee families in St. Louis. The pilgrims then joined the Missionaries of Charity for adoration before the Eucharist was processed to St. Josephine’s for continued adoration.

The pilgrims then proceeded to an apartment complex where a large number of Latin American and African refugees live. The pilgrims helped the families carry their donated boxes to their apartments.

Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis blesses boxes full of donations, collected by the archdiocese and loaded in a van, which the pilgrims later distributed to refugees. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis adores Christ in the Eucharist at the chapel of the Missionaries of Charity. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

Auxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso of St. Louis carries Christ in the Eucharist to St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

Perpetual Pilgrim Patrick Fayad lifts a heavy "Blessing Box" full of donations, assisting the Missionaries of Charity as they distribute the boxes to refugee families. The sisters frequently come to this apartment complex to offer assistance to the families and faith instruction to the children. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA — Perpetual Pilgrim Patrick Fayad lifts a heavy “Blessing Box” full of donations, assisting the Missionaries of Charity as they distribute the boxes to refugee families. The sisters frequently come to this apartment complex to offer assistance to the families and faith instruction to the children. Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

Sunday

Sunday’s festivities began at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. Following the Mass, hundreds of people gathered to accompany the Eucharistic procession on a roughly five-mile trek to St. Stephen Protomartyr Church.

The route took the pilgrims through numerous historic neighborhoods in St. Louis as well as past the Missouri Botanical Garden and through Tower Grove Park. Despite temperatures approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, numerous families with small children made the journey. A large cadre of police facilitated the procession’s progress the entire way.

The participants took part in Eucharistic adoration upon arrival at St. Stephen.

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