Catholics across the country are in the midst of the National Eucharistic Revival, a movement to restore understanding and devotion to Christ and renew the worship of Him in the Eucharist. The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a vital part of the movement and is preparing to host perpetual pilgrims who will travel with the Eucharist on a two-month journey of faith and evangelism.
The Revival started in 2022 and is a three-year movement directed by the nation’s bishops. It consists of a cross country pilgrimage with four routes with a final stop at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind. Fittingly, one of the routes is named for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton who had a particular devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
“Including the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on this route is really special,” said Becca Corbell, Associate Director of Programs at the Shrine. She noted that Mother Seton’s decision to convert to Catholicism was largely influenced by her desire to experience the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
“Realizing that Catholics believe that you can receive Christ and have just that really intimate physical closeness — she couldn’t turn back from that once she knew that was available to her.”
The other routes are: the Marian Route from Mississippi Headwaters Lake Itasca, Minn.; St. Junipero Serra from San Francisco, Calif.; and St. Juan Diego Route from Brownsville, Texas.
The Seton Route begins in New Haven, Conn. with stops along the way in the archdioceses of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., the diocese of Steubenville, and the archdiocese of Cincinnati. When the perpetual pilgrims reach the Seton Shrine on June 6, the public is invited to join them for worship and procession. Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate Mass in the Basilica. Then, the perpetual pilgrims and the public will join the Archbishop in a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the town of Emmitsburg, Md., stopping at the Mother Seton school for a blessing of the students.
After walking through downtown Emmitsburg, the perpetual pilgrims will return to the Shrine and then set out for the approximately three mile walk to Mount Saint Mary’s University with stops at the Immaculate Conception Chapel, Seminary Chapel, St. Anthony’s Church, and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
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June 6 Eucharistic Pilgrimage Activities at the Seton Shrine
The Shrine will host the following activities. The public is invited.
8:30 am Mass — Mass with Archbishop William E. Lori in the Basilica at the Seton Shrine
9:30 am Solemn Eucharistic Procession — This procession will process through Emmitsburg and will be led by Archbishop Lori.
12 pm Lunch — Lunch is available for purchase at the Seton Shrine (or pack a picnic). Take a free tour of the new Museum or Historic Homes and visit the Gift Shop and Basilica.
1:30 pm “In the steps of Mother Seton” Walking Pilgrimage — From the Seton Shrine procession participants will walk to Immaculate Conception Chapel at Mount St. Mary’s, Seminary Chapel, St. Anthony’s Church, and then up the hill to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes Cave.
4 pm Day Concludes
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Currently the six young people (joined by two priests and 3 religious brothers) who will walk the Seton Route are preparing for their journey by contemplating the life and work of Mother Seton. According to Natalie Garza, the team lead for the Seton perpetual pilgrims, Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life is so inspiring that it will provide stamina for her as she walks the route. “She will encourage me especially when things get hard and don’t go as I expect. Her life was about providence. She received everything, both good and bad, as gifts from God and I desire to do the same,” she said.
“Elizabeth Ann Seton shows the world what it means to be a strong woman. She reveals this through the compassion and motherhood she shows to children, even those not her own. She possesses a sense of resilience and trust, never straying from God in the face of difficulty. And she displays humility in laying down her life for the Truth as she joined the Catholic faith. She is an example to lay women and religious alike of what it means to be a woman of God.”
The Seton Route perpetual pilgrims will meet their peers from the other routes in Indianapolis to attend the Eucharistic Congress from July 17- 21. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will still be on their minds. The Seton Shrine produced a 3 -minute video that will be featured at the Congress so that tens of thousands of attendees can be reminded of her good words and good works. The video’s message is: The Eucharist transformed Mother Seton. Mother Seton transformed the World. Let the Eucharist transform You.
Find more details about the Seton Route and the Shrine’s participation in the Eucharistic Revival and Congress here: https://setonshrine.org/revival/.