By Shawna Hanson
Eucharistic Revival Point Person

“I believe this is what the Eucharistic Revival is all about — bringing people to the Lord, so that the Lord can speak to their hearts.” — Fr. Mark McCormick, EWTN Live! June 19.

Many people in the Diocese of Rapid City are experiencing the National Eucharistic Revival by participating in the National Pilgrimages which launched on Pentecost. Fr. Mark McCormick spent a week traveling as a chaplain on the southern route. He said, “I saw the Lord do incredible things, amazing things and when we were traveling in the bus, I felt an incredible peace. I said to Charlie, our driver, “I just feel this incredible peace.” He replied, “Of course, Father, we have Jesus right here with us.”

Blase Gebes, a seminarian for the diocese, is traveling with the northern Marian Route for the entire 60 days. When asked how he was doing, he replied, “I am joyfully tired! I have been inspired by people’s expressions of faith.”

In mid-June, I had the privilege to meet up with the National Pilgrimage in Ogallala, Nebraska, with eight other women. Kelley Schipke put into words what so many others also shared. “I was truly moved by the events of the pilgrimage in Ogallala. I thought the adoration/healing service on Thursday night was beautiful. The music and message were inspiring. Plus, I had never experienced adoration where the priest held the monstrance directly in front of each person in attendance. It was amazing to have that brief personal moment with Jesus.”

Connie Forstner said, “It was amazing! Taking a ‘retreat’ away from my regular routine makes the same prayers/adoration a different experience because I am truly away from all other distractions and wholly there in mind and spirit. It was a moving experience to have the friar share the Gospel story of the woman with the hemorrhage touching Jesus’ cloak and then be given the opportunity to ‘grab his cloak’ as well.”

“Witnessing Fr. Mark Horn’s (Hill City) devotion to the Eucharist as he carried the monstrance at the head of the pilgrimage was another highlight,” shared Kelley. “We are blessed to have faith-filled priests.”

Sharen LaGrande was touched by the evening adoration as well. She shares, “The priest slowly walked in front of me and paused to give me a few minutes with Jesus, one-to-one. The thought that came to mind was Jesus saying to me, ‘I made a covenant with you Sharen, with YOU.’ I felt such a deep sense that I mattered to Jesus. My heart swelled and I responded with enthusiasm, ‘I’m all in!’”

Sharen continued, “The next day as we walked seven miles with the procession, I found myself reflecting on those few moments with Jesus. I asked myself, ‘Am I really, all in for Jesus?’ I knew that I wanted to be and that was why I exclaimed it in my heart so quickly. As I thought further, though, I had to admit to myself I wasn’t all in. I saw how life had wounded my heart, and how I had coped with those wounds by becoming self-sufficient and not trusting. I had closed off part of my heart and let fear creep in. And I saw that this had affected my personal relationship with Jesus. I asked myself, ‘What have I been afraid of?’ I was afraid that Jesus would not meet me in the core of my brokenness. Healing is a lot like an onion, you must keep peeling off the layers till you get to the core.

The love and acceptance I experienced invites me to peel off some more layers, to dig out some of the lies that Satan planted a long time ago and replace them with the light, love and promises of Jesus. These thoughts led me to a favorite quote from Pope St. John Paul II, ‘We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of our Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.’ What a blessing it is to have the hope that we can become more and more the image of Jesus as we journey with him every day! On this pilgrimage I learned to walk with my heart wide open.”

During the seven-mile walk, the Franciscan Friars who were serving as chaplains for the pilgrimage, took turns walking at the end of the procession and offered confession. This moved the hearts of each woman who took advantage of this opportunity. One woman shared, “The most amazing experience of the pilgrimage for me was having a ‘walking confession’ with one of the Franciscan Friars. At this point, I was tired and he could sense that and so he offered me his arm. As I walked by his side, holding his arm, and confessing my sins, I looked down at his feet walking in sandals, his gray robe and his rope belt, and it felt like I was truly walking and talking with Jesus. It gave me so much peace. I will never forget it.”

As Fr. Mark said, “Bringing people to the Lord, so that the Lord can speak to their hearts.” For those that came, the Lord spoke. He spoke healing, love, light and peace. Praise God!”