Diocesan parishioners take part in historic eucharistic pilgrimage

By Lumen Media staff

Although the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage did not pass directly through the Diocese of Sioux City, the St. Junipero Serra Route passed close enough that several diocesan parishioners participated in this historic journey that is accompanying Jesus from city to city enroute to the National Eucharistic Congress in mid-July in Indianapolis.

A fair number of diocesan parishioners were among the 250 to 300 who participated in pilgrimage stops in neighboring diocese such as at St. Augustine Indian Mission of Winnebago of the Archdiocese of Omaha on June 22 as well as in Omaha on June 23 and later that day passing into Council Bluffs of the Des Moines Diocese.

Cindy Fachman of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City called the eucharistic pilgrimage in Winnebago a great experience.

“Jesus was coming down the road in a van and pulled up to the beautiful church and he was brought out and many who could kneel did and many bowed. It was so heartwarming and full of conviction with such awesome followers,” she said.

The fried bread and corn soup offered before the eucharistic procession, Fachman added, were a bonus to the experience. The drums and flute were awesome. 

Many pilgrims, including Fachman and Betty Pratt of Holy Cross Parish in Sioux City, were moved by the prayers and singing as part of the procession.

“I have been on several pilgrimages but they were more individual, I like that we said the rosary as a group – it brings a commonality to all of our backgrounds,” said Pratt.

Fachman said the Ave Maria was very touching and stressed, “The most touching experience was when they stopped at a house with Jesus and I had tears because of the elderly lady and her joy of Jesus's visit.”

Gearing up for the Sioux City based Holy Moments bus trip to the Eucharistic Congress next month, Pratt said this was a great way to prepare for the upcoming journey.

Dennis Kluver, a 4^th degree Knight from Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City, called it a very big honor to be part of the Knights honor guard for the eucharistic procession. 

He was happy the Knights from various parishes in Sioux City stepped up to form an honor guard. Of the seven 4^th degree Knights participating, six came from Sioux City.

Cleo Harder, a parishioner from Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City, shared these reflections from the Winnebago event, “Our Lord arrives to the beating of the Native American drums, the spiritual emotion that flows through my body cannot be described. It is truly holy land.”

In addition to taking part in pilgrimage on June 22, Harder opted to go June 23 to see the eucharistic procession pass from the Archdiocese of Omaha to the Diocese of Des Moines.

She pointed out that she was on the bridge watching as Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha carried the Eucharist to Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines, which “gave me goosebumps.” From there, Harder joined in the procession.

“Feeling the vibration of the bridge and being a part of the crowd was so spiritual and tremendous. It is a memory that will last forever,” said Harder. Sometime later, after they made their way back over the bridge, she heard a father tell his young son, “We gave Jesus to Iowa and they promised to take good care of him.”

A group of 17 from Ascension Parish in Boone County were also on hand in Council Bluff when the monstrance was passed from Archbishop Lucas to Bishop Joensen. One of the parish trip organizers Deb Franzenburg, who serves as development director for the parish and Sacred Heart School, said it was impressive watching the transfer of the Eucharist from one diocese to another.

“Just to see all of that coming together, to see all of those people coming across the bridge as we’re all waiting,” she said, pointing out that the symbolism of the two groups coming together was powerful.

One parish family, T.J. and Suzanne Schneider and their three young daughters walked in the last mile of the Nebraska procession leading up to the monstrance exchange, and then continued on the first 1.4 mile Iowa segment starting in Council Bluffs. 

Prior to the procession continuing in Iowa, most of the Ascension pilgrims attended the bilingual Mass at Tom Hanafan River Edge Park with Bishop Joensen presiding. Fifteen of the Ascension parishioners made the walk to Corpus Christi Parish despite the high humidity and heat. 

The June 23 segment of the procession was well-organized, the Boone County parishioners said. Directions and information were distributed to participants before the event, trollies and water were available and a meal was served after the Council Bluffs area procession.

The Ascension pilgrimage participation was the culmination of a year’s worth of discussion and planning at the parish regarding the Eucharistic Revival. A subcommittee of five parishioners planned events and parish missions “to bring the whole thing here locally,” the development director said.

Parish organizers took orders and printed matching Ascension Parish t-shirts “so we could all be identifiable as a group.”

Three members of that committee traveled in the three car caravan to Council Bluffs and the family of a fourth committee member will participate in the pilgrimage when it reaches Atchison, Kansas. 

Parishioner Laura Mallas had urged Franzenburg and others over the past several months to consider organizing a group to make the drive to the Des Moines Diocese to be involved in the event.

“She didn’t want this opportunity to pass without being involved as it was going to be monumental,” Franzenburg said. 

The Ascension participants were happy they made the effort to participate in the historic procession, she said. 

“It was nice to be part of something bigger than ourselves, bigger than our own church community,” Franzenburg noted.