2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Details Announced
Organizers have released new details for the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. This year’s pilgrimage, named the Drexel Route, will cover 3,340 miles across 10 U.S. states.
The journey begins with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Indianapolis on May 18. From there, the route proceeds through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It then moves west through New Mexico and Arizona, concluding in Los Angeles with a Mass, Eucharistic procession, and festival on June 22.
Similar to last year’s event which led to the National Eucharistic Congress, a core group of young adult “Perpetual Pilgrims” will travel the entire route carrying the Eucharist. Members of the public are invited to join for sections of the walk and participate in special events along the way, with free sign-ups available.
Indulgence and Pilgrimage Theme
Bishop Andrew Cozzens announced that Catholics participating in any part of the pilgrimage can obtain an indulgence, a special grace granted by Pope Francis. The official decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary regarding the indulgence is expected soon, similar to the one issued for last year’s pilgrimages.
The pilgrimage aims to publicly witness the belief in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. The theme for the 36-day Drexel Route, named after St. Katharine Drexel, is “hope and healing.”
Route Highlights and Activities
The pilgrimage will pass through 20 Catholic dioceses and four Eastern Catholic eparchies. Planned stops include various shrines and cathedrals. Reflecting the diversity of the Church, Masses will be offered in different languages (including Vietnamese and Spanish) and liturgical styles (such as Traditional Latin Mass, Gospel choir, and praise and worship), representing five different rites.
Aligning with the theme of hope and healing and the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope, the pilgrimage plans visits to prisons, nursing homes, and other locations where hope is needed. Service projects and encounters with the poor are scheduled, including opportunities to serve the homeless, visit hospice facilities, and work with Catholic Charities.
Specific prayers and Masses are planned at significant locations, including sites related to the Wichita plane crash victims, the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, the southern border, and wildfire-impacted areas in Los Angeles. The route also includes stops connected to holy figures, such as the tomb of Venerable Fulton Sheen in Illinois and the Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother in Oklahoma City. A visit to St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, known for its historical ties to St. Katharine Drexel and its vibrant Black Catholic community, is also highlighted.
The detailed schedule of public events for the Drexel Route is now available on the National Eucharistic Congress website. The public can also submit prayer intentions online for the Perpetual Pilgrims to carry during their journey.
