Diocesan plans for Eucharistic Revival events take shape

Plans are taking shape for how the Diocese of Duluth will be carrying out the remaining phases of the three-year Eucharistic Revival begun by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022. 

Father Seth Gogolin, the diocesan vicar general, who is helping to organize Eucharistic Revival efforts here, said this year’s parish phase of the effort is being kicked off on Corpus Christi. Bishop Daniel Felton has asked each mission field formed in light of his pastoral letter to have a Eucharistic Procession, big or small, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), which this year is celebrated June 11, or to join in such a procession in a nearby mission field. 

Father Gogolin said these processions could be as small as processing near the church grounds to, ideally, as large as a procession from one church to another. For instance, in Brainerd there will be a procession from St. Francis to St. Andrew, and in Duluth, there will be a procession from St. Benedict to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

Father Gogolin said these processions tie in to the bishop’s pastoral letter and our call to mission, bringing abundant healing, hope, and joy in Jesus to our communities, especially bringing “hope where we have darkness in the world.” 

“In doing things like Eucharistic Processions, we bring Jesus out to our mission fields, … we bring Jesus where there is trouble, where there is need of healing,” he said. 

Plans are also forming as the Eucharistic Revival moves into its final stage, leading up to a national Eucharistic Congress held July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis. 

Just prior to that, the Diocese of Duluth and the neighboring Diocese of Crookston will hold a joint Eucharistic Congress in Bemidji on May 18, 2024, which will include talks and catechesis, as well as Eucharistic Adoration. 

Father Gogolin said he wanted “to invite all the faithful of the Diocese of Duluth to this event” and added that it will be the beginning of a Eucharistic Procession that will go all the way to Indianapolis, making two stops in the Diocese of Duluth, at Grand Rapids on May 20 and in Duluth on May 21. 

While the procession is in Duluth, it will include Mass and a mile-long solemn procession the next day, May 22, which is a joint event with the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin. 

Father Gogolin said that there would also be a group going from the diocese to Indianapolis, and perhaps from individual parishes, as well. 

The diocese’s Eucharistic Revival efforts are supported in part by a $10,000 grant from Catholic Home Missions.