National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Passing Through Dyersville, New Vienna and Petersburg

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage of the Catholic Church is passing through Iowa on its way back to the west coast – and it will be making its way through Dyersville, New Vienna and Petersburg this weekend. 

Davenport Diocese Deacon Ryan Burchett says the Pilgrimage came through Iowa a couple of years ago on the way from Los Angeles to Indianapolis.

Burchett says the Pilgrimage will leave Burlington on Friday and make a loop east.

The next leg takes the Eucharistic Pilgrimage to Dubuque on Friday. The rural parishes of the archdiocese will be highlighted as the pilgrimage heads to Dyersville’s St. Francis Xavier Basilica (events begin there at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday), before continuing north to New Vienna. A nearly six-mile eucharistic procession will take place between St. Boniface in New Vienna and SS. Peter and Paul in Petersburg at 2 pm on Saturday. Everyone is welcome to participate.

The pilgrimage will then move into Des Moines on Tuesday of next week. Burchett says there has been a tremendous focus on the Catholic Church with the election of the first American Pope and he expects this pilgrimage to be well received.

Burchett says it is something that everyone is invited to take part in, regardless of your religious affiliation.

The Eucharistic Pilgrimage will move into Missouri after leaving Iowa next week. You can see the full schedule of events at eucharisticpilgrimage.org.

story contribution courtesy of Radio Iowa; image courtesy of Archdiocese of Dubuque/FB