PORT CHESTER, NY, May 22 — The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Seton Route today finished its five day trek through the Diocese of Bridgeport and entered the Archdiocese of New York, in which it will remain through Sunday, May 26.
The day began with Mass celebrated by Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano at Saint Cecilia's Church in Stamford. To a packed Church full of students from the Catholic Academy of Stamford, Cardinal Kung Academy and Mater Salvatoris College Prep School, Bishop Caggiano asked students, "What is your favorite food?" After receiving their various answers, he made a distinction between foods that taste good from foods that are really good for you, and led the students step by step to help them focus on their hunger for the food of eternal life that Jesus gives us, himself.
He said that after the summer break when he returns for another Mass at St. Cecilia's for all three groups, he hopes that when he asked them, "What is your favorite food?," all students will respond, "Jesus."
After Mass, there was a Eucharistic Procession from St. Cecilia's to Mater Salvatoris School and there from St. Gabriel's on the same complex. As the Blessed Sacrament was leaving St. Cecilia's, students from Catholic Academy of Stamford stood outside the Church waving white handkerchiefs for Jesus and applauding and thanking him for coming to their school. Students from Cardinal Kung Academy and Mater Salvatoris participated in the procession.
When the procession arrived at Mater Salvatoris, there was an outdoor altar set up where the Blessed Sacrament was placed. Students sang hymns, prayed petitions, and repeated certain prayers to Jesus. After several minutes of quiet adoration, the Blessed Sacrament was processed across the grounds of Mater Salvatoris Academy to St. Gabriel Church, connected to Cardinal Kung Academy, for an hour of adoration.
During this time, Fr. Roger Landry, chaplain for the 65 days of the Seton Route, and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage gave a presentation to parents of students at Cardinal Kung and Mater Salvatoris on various ways that they received the gift of faith in Jesus in the Eucharist.
Father Stephen Rooney, a pilgrim for the first week of the pilgrimage, then imparted Benediction in St. Gabriel Church and brought the monstrance containing the Sacred Host to the pilgrims' support van and pilgrims drove to St. Mary's Church in Greenwich while adoring the Lord Jesus.
At St. Mary's, pastor Fr. Michael Jones welcomed the Blessed Sacrament amid a full Church of adorers. Fr. Rooney placed the Blessed Sacrament on the altar and incensed as hymns were sung. Fr. Landry gave a meditation on St. Mary's celebrating this year its 150th anniversary and how for a century and a half Catholics in Greenwich have adored with Mary the blessed Fruit of her womb. He spoke about how Mary is an intercessor and example of the four pillars of the Eucharistic Revival: love for the Mass and for receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, loving adoration of Him inside and outside of Mass, passing on Eucharistic faith, love and amazement, and Eucharistic charity.
After a period of adoration, Fr. Jones and the packed Church went on a Eucharistic Procession around the block on which St. Mary's is situated, before returning to Church for Eucharistic Benediction, imparted by Fr. Jones.
This was the last event of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Father Jones, together with Father Luke Suarez, who was in charge of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage for the Diocese, bid pilgrims farewell as the pilgrimage crossed the border into the Archdiocese of New York, to St. John Bosco Parish in Port Chester, New York.
There were five hours of adoration before a Mass celebrated and preached by auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen, in Spanish and English, within a packed Church. After Mass, confessions were offered and adoration continued throughout the night.
