This time of year is marked by wonderful growth and new life. We see these signs in God’s creation that surrounds us. In the Church, we move toward the celebration of Easter with prayer for those who will become Catholic. We pray for them at the Rites of Election and join in the call to continuing conversion for every baptized person. We also celebrate our young people as they come forward for confirmation, and God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is poured into their lives.

Of course, we still live in a fallen world, and the challenges of this life dominate the headlines and occupy our prayerful petitions. On the global and national stage, as well as among family and friends, we seek the grace of God for situations that challenge our faith.

The back and forth of joy and sorrow in this world reflects the reality of the cross and resurrection as we make our way on the journey. God is present with us, but he has not yet fully brought about the new heavens and new earth promised in the Book of Revelation (Rv 21:1).

At the heart of our pilgrim journey is the central celebration of our faith, the Eucharist. At every Mass, we walk with Jesus to the cross and taste the new life of the resurrection. The sacrifice of the Mass and the gift of heavenly bread provide strength and hope for those who approach the altar with faith.

In the last several years, the bishops of the United States have embarked on an extended Eucharistic Revival. One expression of this effort has become the annual National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (https://eucharisticpilgrimage.org). Over the past two years, many faithful people have traveled with Jesus in the Eucharist across many states. In 2026, this pilgrimage will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of our national Declaration of Independence. Because our country will celebrate the birth of the nation, the pilgrimage will begin in St. Augustine on Memorial Day weekend. It will conclude on July 4 in Philadelphia.

This pilgrimage is an incredible opportunity for the Diocese of St. Augustine. We will welcome pilgrims from far and wide to the place where God established the Church in what would become the United States. We will celebrate our beginnings in 1565 and the ways this faith has spread and nourished so many generations of God’s people.

This gathering will be a chance to focus our attention in prayer on Jesus in the Eucharist. We will celebrate the mysteries of faith as a constant reminder of the cross and resurrection. We will walk in procession as a reminder of Jesus coming to walk with us on the narrow path. I invite everyone to come and share this expression of faith and seek renewal in the belief that we never face our challenges alone.

Full details of this experience can be found at: https://dosafl.com/pilgrimage-250. The basic outline of the weekend is to begin at the Mission grounds and Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine on Sunday, May 24. We will pray, learn and celebrate our faith. At the end of the day, we will walk in procession to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the oldest parish in the United States. We will spend the night in adoration before Our Lord in the Eucharist.

On Memorial Day, May 25, we will move to Christ the King Parish for continued prayer and celebration. We will highlight various cultures and expressions of our faith and be reminded of our call to serve others in love for Christ. Finally, we will move to Fernandina Beach for prayer and the passing of the pilgrimage to the Diocese of Savannah. This transfer will take place on the water as we cross from St. Michael Parish to St. Mary Parish in Georgia.

In this season of faith, we commit again to “seek first the Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33).” Let the Eucharist be the food that nourishes your life and the mystery that speaks to your soul.