National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events in Terre Haute ‘bring people to Jesus’

Jeff and Nora Grasser, members of St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Fishers, Ind. (Lafayette Diocese), pose by one of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage vans outside of St. Joseph University Church in Terre Haute on July 12. By taking part in adoration and a eucharistic procession in Terre Haute, Nora fulfilled her desire to participate in each of the four national pilgrimage routes. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)

By Natalie Hoefer

TERRE HAUTE—It began in San Francisco on May 18. On July 12—55 days, 10 states and 154 stops in 17 dioceses later—the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s western St. Junipero Serra Route entered the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Terre Haute.

“How I admire these pilgrims who have traveled all this way,” said Father Todd Reibe. “What love for the Eucharist.”

The retired archdiocesan priest who resides in the western Indiana city was one of six priests who carried the true presence of Christ on a 1.5-mile eucharistic procession between St. Patrick and St. Joseph University parishes in Terre Haute on July 12. Joining in prayer and song were about 130 souls from the Terre Haute Deanery and beyond.

The events began in St. Patrick Church with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament traveling with the perpetual pilgrims on the 2,200-mile Serra Route. (See our news coverage and photos of the National Eucharistic Congress at www.archindy.org/congress.)

After the procession, Vespers and Mass were held in St. Joseph University Church, followed by a potluck dinner in the parish center.

St. Patrick and St. Joseph University were the first two of seven scheduled stops at archdiocesan parishes along the Serra path before the four routes unite in Indianapolis on July 16.

‘A desire to witness the Real Presence’

Indiana served its typical July weather fare that day—sunny and hot, with a heavy helping of humidity.

“You just do whatever you can do to serve Christ, even when it’s hot and uncomfortable,” said Rabecca Olinske. She and her husband Eric, members of St. Patrick, were two of several people in the church who volunteered to help with the procession after a request was made during adoration. “Getting to volunteer was a surprise. And getting to volunteer together as a married couple was just really beautiful.”

The couple, who prepared the altar before adoration, had already planned to participate in the procession.

“We were drawn by the love of Christ and a desire to witness the Real Presence, to be a part of that,” said Rabecca. “And I think that’s also a form of witness when other people see you being a part of it, to show other people that this is Christ.”

Chelsea Wagner, 16, joined her parents in the procession.

“It’s amazing to witness such a historic show of faith,” said Chelsea, who worships with her parents at Annunciation Parish in Brazil.

When asked if the procession included singing, prayer or reflection, she answered, “All of the above.”

“It was nice to be a part of that, even though the speakers quit working,” Chelsea added. “We carried on from what we could hear all the way in the back. All the way up and down the line we were singing together.”

‘Called to bring people to Jesus’

Folks from beyond the Terre Haute Deanery participated in the procession as well, including Emma Kramer, 15, along with two siblings and her mother Erin Kramer. They traveled from Fort Myers, Fla., to visit Emma’s grandparents in Terre Haute before she and her mom attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-21.

“I was really excited [to participate in the procession] because I just got back from a summer camp that helped me grow my relationship a lot with God,” said Emma. “So, just being able to kind of continue that while I’m here with my grandparents was really nice.”

Erin commented on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s presence in Terre Haute coinciding with her family’s visit.

“We’re from Florida, the pilgrimage began in California—how amazing that it just happened to be in Terre Haute when we are,” said Erin. “It was just providential timing.”

For Nora Grasser, taking part in the procession in Terre Haute completed her desire to participate in each of the four National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes.

“Three times I got on the eastern route, and then twice on the southern route, once on the northern, and now once on the western,” said the member of St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Fishers, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese, who worships there with her husband Jeff Grasser. “I just go and try to get to adoration and Benediction, and then do some of the procession, if I can.”

Nora said she felt called to participate in each of the routes “out of a lifetime of blessings and a supportive husband who understands my desire to be closer to Christ. This is just kind of the fruition of a lot of years of following him.”

She has invited people to join her, including two of the couple’s children “who got to join us for a little piece.”

Nora has also enjoyed meeting pilgrims along the way. Some have even gifted her with religious items. One man from Xenia, Ohio, gave her a bracelet with saint images, while in Louisville, Ky., a Houston man explained that those in his group had each been given rosaries to hand out, one per day, “And he said, ‘I’d like to give you one.’ ”

She and Jeff planned to help stuff swag bags at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on July 14 for the National Eucharistic Congress. They will attend the five-day gathering—the first in 83 years—and they’re hosting 14 people who are attending as well.

“That’s what we’re called to do,” said Nora. “Bring people to Jesus.”

‘Rediscovering the treasure we have’

Father Reibe witnessed one woman who was brought to Jesus through the July 12 procession.

“One of the beautiful things today was that a woman was coming out of work and recognized that it was a eucharistic procession,” he shared. “She bowed to the Blessed Sacrament, and then she asked if she could join us, and so she joined the group.

“It was just beautiful, coming through the streets and picking up people like that.”

Father Reibe hopes the many processions along the four national pilgrimage routes lead to more such events in the future.

“I think having the eucharistic processions is rediscovering a tradition that has been lost for a while,” he said. “It’s just rediscovering the treasure we have in the Church and the love of the Eucharist.

“It’s beautiful to take Jesus on a field trip,” he added. “And I would think for him it’s beautiful, because

he makes himself a prisoner to us in the tabernacle, and we don’t come to him enough. So, in a eucharistic procession, he has this chance to come to us.”

The processions along the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes are doing more than bringing Christ to his people, Father Reibe noted.

“It’s even bringing the country together,” he said. “And when you kind of watch how this is all happening—from north, south, east, west—you realize that we’re all one in Christ.

“We’re so privileged to host [the National Eucharistic Congress] in Indianapolis. It’s amazing. Certainly, the Holy Spirit is going to be over Indiana this coming week.” †

 

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