top of page
  • X
  • Spotify
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Apple Music

Dinner in Celebration of the National Eucharistic Pilgrims



INDIANAPOLIS, July 16 — After the completion of the physical part of their journey from the Atlantic, Pacific, Canadian and Mexican borders, the perpetual pilgrims were honored at a special celebratory dinner hosted by the Napa Institute at the Omni Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.


The co-Founder of the Napa Institute, Tim Busch welcomed Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Tim Glemkowski and Joel Stepanek from the National Eucharistic Congress, Will Peterson, Chenele Shaw, Maria Benes and Sam Vargas the staff of Modern Catholic Pilgrim, and most especially the 30 perpetual pilgrims, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal who accompanied the Routes, the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love who were on the Seton Route and a few other guests.


Father Roger Landry, Chaplain of the Seton Route, served as emcee and cohost.


At the beginning of the program, Father Landry introduced Tim Busch for introductory remarks.


Tim Busch spoke about the importance of what the Pilgrims had just accomplished and about the importance of placing Jesus in the center and not being afraid to take him out of our Churches in processions. The Napa Institute has done processions for several years in the Napa Valley and in downtown Manhattan. Busch was also a pilgrim on the Seton Route in New York City as well as in Metuchen.



After his remarks, Tim Busch introduced Tim Glemkowski, the CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress, for some remarks. Glemkowski spoke about his time as a Pilgrim on the Serra Route in Denver, thanked Will Peterson and the Modern Catholic Pilgrim team, and thanked Father Landry not just for helping to catalyze the Pilgrimage but for giving two months of his life to it.



Father Landry then introduced Father John Anthony Boughton, CFR, for the invocation and blessing before meals.


The keynote address of the dinner was given by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chairman of the Board of the National Eucharistic Congress and a chaplain for the Marian Route during its first week. Bishop Cozzens spoke about some of his experiences on the pilgrimage and praised and thanked the pilgrims for their sacrifices in participating for the last two months.



After Bishop Cozzen's remarks, the Pilgrims were given special plaques commemorating their participation. The plaques were gifts of the Napa Institute and were distributed by Will Peterson, Chenele Shaw and Maria Benes of Modern Catholic Pilgrim.


As they received them together with the members of their Routes, one pilgrim from each Route shared brief remarks. Jack Krebs spoke on behalf of the Serra Route, Danielle Schmitz for the Marian, Josh Velazquez for the Juan Diego Route and Natalie Garza for the Seton Route.






Plaques were also given to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal present, to the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love who were on the Seton Route, and to Jan Pierson who was on the Caravan of the Seton Route from its beginning.


After Father Landry gave some closing remarks and a benediction, all those present took a photo, received a quarter-zip from the Napa Institute and a photo from Modern Catholic Pilgrim signed by many other pilgrims.



The following photos should be credited to Grady Connolly.




bottom of page