Bishop Raica welcomed Camille Anigbogu, Shayla Elm, Issy Martin-Dye, Charlie McCullough, seminarian Noah U’ren, Joseph Velasquez, and seminarian Dylan James Young, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage's perpetual pilgrims on the St. Juan Diego Route, as they stopped at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover on June 16.

To mark the occasion, the bishop offered a bilingual Mass for a congregation of over 800. In his homily, Bishop Raica mentioned an observation made amongst the nation’s bishops at the recent United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ spring meeting. He told of how the bishops joyfully discussed the interest in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage amongst the faithful, but in one conversation “it was noted that there is a difference between a parade and a procession.” In the context of the national pilgrimage with the Blessed Sacrament, Bishop Raica explained that the bishops highlighted that the procession equates to having an “honored guest” accompany and bless those along the way. “Our procession with the Blessed Sacrament, which is filled with praise, glory, honor and adoration,” the bishop instructed, “is a further reminder that God wishes to enter the thick and thin of our lives. Our Lord doesn’t want to be someone we visit whenever we have a need. He wants to accompany us not just once a week, or on special occasions, but every day. He wants to share our joys, our sorrows, our hopes, and our despairs.”

Following Mass many of the faithful stayed to enjoy a dinner, pilgrim testimonies, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At the end of the evening, the bishop remarked that the day was a “privileged moment” as people from “near and far” came to be a part of the national pilgrimage. “There was a certain excitement,” he said, “as people came with optimism and expectation. It was as though we were together ‘looking for the Lord!’ I heard from many in attendance that this event was a key moment in their lives.” Looking to the first National Eucharistic Congress in over 8 decades, Bishop Raica prayed, “May God bless the pilgrims and all those who want to participate in this beautiful gesture of our faith as we make our way to Indianapolis for our Eucharistic Congress in July. As Jesus walks with us, we beg Him, ‘Stay with us, Lord!’”

The next morning, Father Mark McCormick of the Diocese of Rapid City, who is accompanying the 7 perpetual pilgrims, celebrated Mass at the same Hoover parish. In his homily, the priest pointed out that we are all meant for Heaven, which is our inheritance in Christ. However, all too often the faithful forget about their inheritance. After all, Father McCormick asserted, “It takes a lot to follow Jesus!” But, he said, the Eucharistic Revival is all about enkindling a living relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. “The Lord wants you closer to Him. He wants to draw you to the fire of His heart. … The Eucharistic Revival is spreading this fire to rekindle in your heart, and even my heart, our truest inheritance, which is Jesus Himself.”

Following Mass, the pilgrims and hundreds of the faithful took part in a one-mile procession along the road adjacent to the church then through the church’s campus. One enthusiastic participant by the name of Vince Truitt, a rising senior at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, came to the Mass with a friend excited to take part in the procession. When asked why he wanted to take part, Truitt explained he felt the pilgrimage stop was going to be a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” Not knowing when an event like this would ever happen again, he said he knew there was going to be “a lot of grace here,” so he thought, “Why don't I go to where Jesus is?”

From Hoover, the pilgrims traveled to Hanceville's Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament for the shrine’s Adoration Sodality Day of Recollection on June 20 before making the next stop on their way to Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, July 17-21.