National Eucharistic Revival will have a New Orleans stop

March 20, 2024

Dear Priests, Deacons, Religious and Laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans:

As you are aware, the bishops of the United States have called for a National Eucharistic Revival across the nation.

The purpose of the revival is “to renew the Church by enkindling in God's people a living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” The revival officially began in dioceses across the country on Corpus Christi Sunday 2022.

We in the Archdiocese of New Orleans felt the same call to eucharistic renewal, and anticipated the USCCB's announcement of the National Eucharistic Revival by celebrating our own Year of the Eucharist in 2021.

We now have the opportunity to unite our experience of renewal during the Year of the Eucharist with that of the rest of the country.

The National Eucharistic Revival will culminate this year in two major national events: Four cross-country eucharistic pilgrimages beginning from the North, South, East and West and converging at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis to be held July 17-21 of this year. All of the available details about these events can be found at https://www.eucharisticrevival.org.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is on the Southern, “Juan Diego,” pilgrimage route.

We will welcome the pilgrims from June 7-9, 2024.

There are three public events we are planning in the archdiocese while the pilgrims are here:

• On Friday June 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m., we will hold a public eucharistic procession from the steps of Notre Dame Seminary and proceeding to St. Rita Church on Lowerline Street. The procession will be followed by a time of eucharistic adoration with music provided by The Vigil Project and a reflection by one of the perpetual pilgrims.

Our intention is to make the sacrament of reconciliation available at this event. Priests are asked to contact Chris O’Neill in the Office of Marriage and Family Life ([email protected], (504) 861-6247) if you will be willing and available to hear confessions. I thank you for your assistance.

• The CYO Young Adult Ministry is planning to host a “Theology on Tap” for young adults with the Perpetual Pilgrims on Saturday evening June 8. This event will give the pilgrims a chance to meet our young adults and encourage them in their walk of faith. The time and place of this event are forthcoming and will be announced in the archdiocesan e-Bulletin and on Young Adult Ministry social media channels.

Contact James Behan, associate director for Young Adult Ministry, with questions [email protected].

• I will offer the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 9, at St. Louis Cathedral followed by a eucharistic procession around Jackson Square. All are invited.

Please help us spread the word about these events and encourage people to participate.

Wishing you God's blessings, I am

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans