“Were not our hearts burning within us…?”

Thousands join in launch of National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in San Francisco

By Mary Powers

As two of Jesus’ disciples sat down for supper after a daylong walk with a newfound friend, the stranger broke the bread and blessed it before them. Immediately their eyes were opened and they realized that their new friend was actually their Master, their Savior, Jesus Christ. He vanished before their eyes. Astounded, they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning (within us) while He spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32).

Surely the thousands of people who traveled to San Francisco for the launch of the St. Junipero Serra Route of the National Eucharistic Revival felt the same way the disciples felt in 34 A.D., coming away renewed, inspired, and saying to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us?”

Christ’s promise: “I will be with you always”

Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. celebrates Solemn Vespers and a Eucharistic Holy Hour at Mission Dolores on May 18. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco

The events in San Francisco began with Solemn Vespers and a Eucharistic Holy Hour for the Vigil of Pentecost celebrated by Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. on Saturday, May 18. Gathered at Mission Dolores Basilica, next to the Historic Mission Church established by St. Junipero Serra, the Perpetual Pilgrims joined men and women religious and lay faithful in prayer.

In his homily, Bishop Barber spoke on Jesus’ promise to His Apostles at the Ascension—“I will be with you always.” Christ keeps his promise in two ways. First, through the gift of the Eucharist. And second, through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“In the tabernacle He is here. He is with us,” said Bishop Barber. “Like the chapel . . . next door. Christ has been present there in the tabernacle since 1776 in the oldest intact building in the city of San Francisco. Christ is present in procession when He is carried through our cities and towns. He is here. He is with us.”

The liturgy included a special blessing of the Perpetual Pilgrims traveling 2,200 miles to Indianapolis, Indiana.

St. Junipero Serra Route Perpetual Pilgrims with San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J.
St. Junipero Serra Route Perpetual Pilgrims with San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J.

A display of faith with the power to change history and hearts

Thousands join Archbishop Cordileone for Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco

On Pentecost Sunday, May 19, more than 2,600 people joined San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco for a Mass infused with the beauty of a new musical Mass setting by Benedict XVI Institute’s composer-in-residence, Frank La Rocca, entitled Pange Lingua: A Mass for Eucharistic Renaissance.

Archbishop Cordileone spoke in his homily about the graces of the first Pentecost and the subsequent public displays of faith—including the procession that very day in San Francisco—with the caveat that Catholics must match these public works with interior change if we are to transform the world. It is only through changing our own lives, working towards living in the Spirit and living the Consecration made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that our lives will inspire others.

Archbishop Cordileone processes to St. Dominic’s during the launch of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Photo: Jeffrey Bruno, Catholic News Agency

“Christ breathes new life into us through His Church, which leads us in the way of all truth,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “Let us then give Him all our heart and follow him —not simply across the Golden Gate Bridge, nor even all the way to Indianapolis, but follow His way of love, the way that reaps the sweet fruit of the Spirit, the way that has the power to change history, to change hearts, to bring the life of heaven to earth and to bring us to the life of heaven when we pass from this world to the next.”

After the Concluding Prayer of the Mass, the Archbishop knelt before the Eucharist exposed in the monstrance before beginning the procession from the Cathedral across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Men and women religious joined Archbishop Cordileone on the procession to St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in San Francisco. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco

While most Mass-goers boarded shuttle buses to the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, the Archbishop processed with men and women religious and the Perpetual Pilgrims to St. Dominic’s Catholic Church where the procession transitioned to a car procession to the bridge. When the Archbishop and Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge, thousands were there to greet them and prepare for the historic walk.

At 2:00 p.m., the “walk with Jesus across the Golden Gate Bridge” began with Archbishop Cordileone in front with the monstrance followed by thousands behind. It took close to two hours for the entire procession to walk across the bridge with between 3,000-5,000 people present for the extraordinary moment. Like the first Pentecost, there were people from various geographic locations, of every age, speaking many languages, all drawn to our Lord present in the Eucharist.

Archbishop Cordileone leads the Eucharistic procession across the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco
Thousands join Archbishop Cordileone in praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
Photo: Kara Kacvinsky

While the procession continued across the bridge, Archbishop Cordileone led a rosary at H. Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point before doing a final benediction and blessing—blessing the cities of Oakland and San Francisco before blessing the thousands of people present. There was pure joy and devotion in the air as thousands united in prayer together. Wanting to get a glimpse of the altar, people were standing on rocks, ledges, and even the trailer of a car, reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount or Zacchaeus in the tree, hoping to get a better glimpse of Jesus.

The display of faith, not only of the sheer number of people who were drawn to walk with Jesus across the bridge, but even the joy and love that sprang forth from the event, transformed many that day, truly reviving people’s hearts to go and transform their parishes and their communities.

Approaching the Eucharist with Mary

Students from St. Patrick Catholic School in Larkspur join the Eucharistic Procession to St. Sebastian Catholic Church. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco

The second day of the St. Junipero Serra Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage took the pilgrims through Marin County. Monday, May 20, began with a private Mass with St. Patrick School in Larkspur, which was followed by a Eucharistic procession around campus. The second grade wore their First Communion outfits and sang a special song for the Perpetual Pilgrims present.

Middle school students from St. Patrick’s then walked with Jesus and the pilgrims to St. Sebastian Catholic Church with a brief stop to pray for and bless healthcare workers and patients outside MarinHealth Medical Center. A Eucharistic Holy Hour was held at St. Sebastian’s for the sick.

From St. Sebastian’s the pilgrimage continued to San Rafael where it met up with students from St. Raphael School and parishioners from St. Raphael Catholic Church at Albert Park in San Rafael. More than 1,000 people processed from Albert Park to St. Raphael’s for Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary. Later, Santa Rosa Bishop Robert F. Vasa presided at Solemn Vespers and a Eucharistic Holy Hour.

Santa Rosa Bishop Robert F. Vasa celebrates Solemn Vespers at St. Raphael Catholic Church in San Rafael on Monday, May 20. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco

In his homily, Bishop Vasa described the four altars on which the sacrifice of Calvary takes place: the original wood of the cross, the altar of wood or stone upon which the sacrifice of the Mass takes place, the golden, heavenly altar upon which the Lamb of God is enthroned, and the altar of our hearts where we offer ourselves and unite our hearts to the sacrifice of Christ.

On the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, Bishop Vasa reminded those present that our Lady kneels beside each of the four altars and every sacrifice as she did on Calvary.

“I pray, my friends, that this Eucharistic renewal time be not only one day, only one event, but that it permeate and penetrate your hearts so that the altar of your heart might be made a worthy sacrifice to Christ,” said Bishop Vasa.

Bishop Vasa speaks to parishioners at St. Raphael Catholic Church on May 20. Photo: Francisco Valdez, Archdiocese of San Francisco