Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

On the weekend of Pentecost, May 17-19, four groups of Catholic pilgrims will embark on a journey from different points in the United States to converge at Indianapolis on July 16. The young adults participating in the U.S. bishops’ National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will traverse hundreds of miles carrying the Blessed Sacrament along their routes — the Marian Route (North), the Seton Route (East), the Serra Route (West) and the Juan Diego Route (South).

The Juan Diego Route will commence in Brownsville, Texas, and is scheduled to pass through the Archdiocese of Louisville, including Kentucky's Holy Land, from July 4-9. Dr. Karen Shadle, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Worship who is assisting with pilgrimage planning, noted that they would be nearing the end of their journey by then and would have numerous stories to share.

Six perpetual pilgrims passing through Kentucky will begin their journey without knowing where they will sleep each night. "They’re relying on, putting their trust in the people of the south," Shadle said. As these pilgrims traverse from site to site within the archdiocese, Catholics are encouraged to join them for short segments each day and extend a warm welcome.

Shadle emphasized that it's crucial for local communities to support these pilgrims by providing simple meals and accommodations. She called upon Catholic families and individuals, religious communities and parishes within the archdiocese to consider hosting these pilgrims.

The route within the archdiocese begins on July 4 at St. Catherine Church in New Haven, Ky., followed by a procession with the Eucharist to Abbey of Gethsemani after attending Mass. Over six days, these pilgrims are expected to visit 13 parishes, four religious communities and Catholic Charities Center in downtown Louisville before departing via Big Four Bridge on July 9.

On the Indiana side, a prayer service is planned with Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre and Indianapolis Archbishop Charles Thompson. This service will send the pilgrims off to their final destination, Indianapolis, where tens of thousands of Catholics will gather for the National Eucharistic Congress.

Tim Tomes, the archivist for the archdiocese who helped plan the route, noted that Kentucky's Holy Land holds significant importance in the spread of Catholicism westward in the U.S. He added that it was crucial for this group to experience this history and tried to include as many sites as possible on their route.

For more information or to volunteer as a host, individuals can contact Dr. Karen Shadle at 636-0296 or email her at kshadle@archlou.org. More details about the pilgrims and their route are available at www.eucharisticpilgrimage.org/st-juan-diego-route.