National Eucharistic Pilgrimage makes its way to Mississippi Coast
By Toni Miles
Thousands joined a five-day faith journey during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which made its way to the Mississippi Gulf Coast earlier this summer.
Catholic faithful and other participants, including some local law enforcement officers, joined in the nationwide event, which launched in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage included coastal Catholic churches spanning from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs, who took part in the “Bridge to Bridge” Southern Route Biloxi Diocese leg of the two-month-long, cross-country journey. Small groups of young adults began at the north, south, east and west edges of the United States, and invited others, including those not of the Catholic faith, to join in their march and revival.
“They are journeying with Jesus in the Eucharist across the entire country, blessing more than 6,000 miles of the U.S. in the shape of a cross,” according to the National Eucharistic Revival group.
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach served as a main host for the South Mississippi leg of the nationwide journey, with nearly 1,000 gathering for a 6 a.m. mass at St. Paul’s Chapel in Pass Christian. The events included a coast-wide procession, followed by a six-mile pilgrim walk along the Mississippi Gulf Coast that led to St. Thomas Catholic Church around midday, where parishioners served up a hearty meal and fellowship as part of the local celebration.
Youth from St. Thomas Catholic Church’s recent first communion class helped lead the way on foot during the Long Beach leg of the pilgrimage.
Robed faith leaders from Brownsville, Texas, members of the local clergy and hundreds filled St. Thomas Church for a trademark Southern barbeque and potato salad meal. A local youth choir provided a concert for attendees as they refueled to prepare to journey on to other parts of the Mississippi Coast as part of the pilgrimage.
“It’s bringing all Catholics on the Coast together,” said Pam Fallow, a local parishioner who was among the dozens serving up food at St. Thomas Catholic Church. “It’s bringing us closer to the Eucharist, the Eucharistic Revival. People from Brownsville, Texas, walked all the way here, pilgrims walked here, and they have stopped along the way, and we are so thankful they are here at St. Thomas. We’re feeding them not only food, but also their souls, with the Eucharist.”
Other churches in the area also participated, holding mass and other activities as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, including Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Paul’s Chapel in Pass Christian, St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport, Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay St. Louis, Nativity BVM Cathedral in Biloxi and Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs ,where the weeklong “Bridge to Bridge” South Mississippi pilgrim walk and activities wrapped up with a mass and performance by the Vietnamese Choir. 
