One of the greatest privileges of serving as editor of St. Augustine Catholic is witnessing the Church at work—not from behind a desk, but in the lives of the people who make up the Diocese of St. Augustine.

This spring, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage gave me one of those moments I won’t soon forget.

Over Pentecost weekend, thousands of Catholics gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, in parishes and along the streets of St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach as they accompanied the Blessed Sacrament on its journey north. By the time the pilgrimage crossed the St. Marys River into Georgia, an estimated 16,019 people had participated in kickoff events across our diocese.

Attendance figures tell only part of the story.

What I remember most are the people. Families pushing strollers beneath the live oaks. Young adults singing as they walked. Religious sisters praying the rosary. Volunteers working quietly behind the scenes. Visitors stepping from restaurants to watch the Eucharistic procession pass by. Some knelt. Others simply stood in respectful silence. For a few moments, the busy streets of our nation’s oldest city became a place of prayer.

Those moments reminded me that the Church is not simply an institution or a collection of buildings. It is a community of people responding to Christ’s invitation to follow him.

That same invitation is woven throughout this issue of St. Augustine Catholic. Our cover story shares the remarkable beginning of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage from the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche. We also invite you to make your own pilgrimage this summer by visiting seven sacred sites designated for the Jubilee of St. Francis. Bishop Erik Pohlmeier leads a new diocesan workshop exploring the sacred mystery of the Mass. You’ll also meet parents embracing their role as the first teachers of the faith, parish communities ensuring every person knows they belong and Sister Dianne Rumschlag as she begins a new chapter of service to her religious community.

Although each story is unique, they share a common thread: faith is not a destination. It is a lifelong journey of encountering Christ, growing as his disciples and inviting others to walk with us.

That is why we publish St. Augustine Catholic. We strive to tell the stories of faith unfolding across our diocese, celebrate the people who make our local Church vibrant and encourage readers to take the next step in their own journey with Christ.

I’m especially pleased to share that St. Augustine Catholic recently received three national honors from the Catholic Media Association: Second Place for Best Cover for our Fall 2025 issue, Walking with Francis; Third Place for Best Cover for our Spring 2025 issue featuring Pope Leo XIV; and Second Place for Best Photo Story for our Year in Review: A Year Captured in Photos.

These awards recognize the outstanding work of our writers, photographers, designers and contributors. More importantly, they affirm our commitment to telling the story of the Diocese of St. Augustine with excellence. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes and allowing us to share the many ways Christ is at work throughout North Florida.

I hope that somewhere in these pages you’ll find another invitation to encounter Christ and continue your own journey of faith.