As we enter July all eyes in the chancery are on the upcoming Eucharistic Pilgrimage passing through the diocese. We are so blessed that this procession is journeying through our area. It will be such a visible sign of the Church in our midst. As I reflect on this, I thought I would share a few of the thoughts I have had.

First, I liken this pilgrimage to how I carry the joy of the Eucharist through my life. Just like the Eucharist traveling across the country, sometimes my awareness is full of adoration or full of the praise and glory of a solemn procession. I celebrate it in community and proudly walk in unison with our church. Other times it is quietly being carried through the rough terrain of life and maybe even being carried for me in times and places that I cannot seem to make the journey myself.

Second, this pilgrimage makes me think of how each of us has a part to play in making sure a love of the Eucharist is carried to those around us and carried on to future generations. It's as if the pilgrims that pass it  off from diocese to diocese represent the church of today and the pilgrims making the whole journey represent the church as it journeys through all of time! who was it that carried that love to you and how many people before them made that possible? Who will not hear this message as they should if you do not do your part? These thoughts fill me with such a sense of gratitude while at the same time and awesome and somewhat frightening sense of responsibility. But we do not have to make this journey alone, and while I am sure we will not do it perfectly, we all have the grace in it to make it.

So, the takeaways I hope I will carry with me after this week is over are:

• That I will continue to find opportunities to bring increased awareness to my faith and joy in the Eucharist. There are so many opportunities to do this I just need to say yes. And if I am not finding the opportunities I need, I need to be the person that makes them!
• I need to surround myself with a strong faith community so when the road is tough, and the journey seems too burdensome others are walking beside me.
• I need to have more gratitude for the generations of people that have traveled before me and made sure that this beautiful church I am blessed to be a part of has been carried over 2000 years to this time and place.
• I need to cat on this gratitude by making it my mission to continue this earthly pilgrimage and to hold my hand out to those journeying with me so that we too will pass on a faith that is strong and vibrant and leaves its mark on the world.

Don't miss being a part of this visible symbol of our earthly journey to heaven being led by the Eucharist that sustains us on that journey! If you are able join, the women's ministry team of Jefferson City for an adoration hour at St Peters in Jefferson City on July 4th at 10:00 am or look for it on our Facebook page if you can't attend in person.

Hope to see you on our journey Walking Together,

Barb