WESTERVILLE, OHIO, June 29 — The Seton Route pilgrims of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle in Westerville, Ohio.
The day began with Eucharistic adoration for 90 minutes in the Church during which departing Seton Route chaplain Father Justin Alarcón, CFR, gave a homily on the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and our sacrificial participation in the Mass.
Seton pilgrim Marina Frattaroli also gave a witness testimony on how she came to be a Catholic on account of seeing an advertisement about the National Eucharistic Revival and how it led her to discover the truth about the Eucharist, enroll in an OCIA class at Columbia University where she was a law school student, become a daily Mass goer and then a National Eucharistic pilgrim while studying for her bar exam. She said that her conversion began when her love for Christmas began to wane in college as she started to grow cold in her faith, but she eventually discovered that, even if it sounds hokey, Catholics are able to celebrate Christmas every day as God with us comes to us on the altar. She gently encouraged those in the packed Church to ask themselves the question she pondered while she was in OCIA class: is there anything more important we could be doing on any day that receiving Jesus within?
Part of Marina Frattaroli's witness
Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus then celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul and preached on Christ's question to the apostles in the Gospel, "Who do you say that I am?" That question, he said, is relevant to the way we respond to him in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharistic Revival is about our response to that question.
After Mass, the Church, which, though fitting 1,000 people was packed to overflowing, all went on a procession throughout the Church grounds. Bishop Fernandes, St. Paul the Apostle pastor Father John Wilson and Seton Chaplain Father Roger Landry all took turns carrying the Blessed Sacrament.
At a stationary altar set up along the journey, Father Landry gave a brief fervorino about how the Christian life is ultimately meant to be a Eucharistic procession as Jesus in the Holy Eucharist seeks to guide us as our Good Shepherd, through the dark valleys and mountain summits to eternal verdant pastures, where he has prepared a banquet for us and hopes to make our cup overflow.
At the end of the procession, Bishop Fernandes imparted Eucharistic benediction within the Church.
Afterward the pilgrims were welcomed at the home of Matthew and Ginny Schlater and their ten children for a little rest and relaxation. The pilgrims and the family had a Eucharistic procession across their property.
During the night, the pilgrims were treated to a meal at a local restaurant, Scali.
The following photos were taken by Andy Long of St. Paul the Apostle parish. They can be used by media outlets with the proper permission.
