Carstens is one of the Perpetual Pilgrims accompanying Jesus in the Eucharist for the entire route. Collectively, the young pilgrims — whose ranks have recently swelled to 30 with the addition of several seminarians — will walk more than 6,500 miles over four routes as part of the ongoing National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
Since the start of the pilgrimages in mid-May, the pilgrims have invited thousands of people, young and old, to join along the way as a public witness to the Church’s teaching that the Eucharist is truly the body of Jesus Christ. The four pilgrimage groups will meet in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress July 17–21.
As of June 6, the western Serra Route is entering the Denver area; the northern Marian Route caravan will soon exit Minnesota and enter Wisconsin; the Seton Route is nearly to Baltimore; and the southern Juan Diego Route is approaching New Orleans.
Pilgrims who relayed their experiences so far during the June 5 press conference spoke about how they have seen Christ’s presence in the Eucharist affect those who see them pass by.
Carstens recounted how the Seton Route passed through Kensington, an area in Philadelphia known for high prevalence of drug use. During this section, local high school youth helped out the procession by carrying items like candles and canopies, he said, and this and other challenging sections of the route have had the participants “very much relying on God’s grace.” He also said it has been powerful for him to realize that Jesus is “chasing down” so many people who have encountered the pilgrimages directly in the places where they live.
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