Walking with Jesus on Newbridge Road
A cohort of executives, managers and staff members of Catholic Charities of Long Island, many wearing branded blue sweatshirts, processed three miles with dozens of other Catholics during Monday morning’s Eucharistic pilgrimage through East Meadow, Levittown and Hicksville.
The route began at St. Raphael’s Church in East Meadow and ended at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville. The administrative offices of Catholic Charities are located on the Holy Trinity campus.
“As Catholic Charities of Long Island participates in the Eucharistic pilgrimage, it gives our staff, management and board members an opportunity to walk with the Present Jesus and proclaim His Gospel to our Long Island neighbors,” said Catholic Charities CEO Michael E. Smith.
Father Leo Song, pastor of St. Raphael’s, celebrated 7:30 a.m. Mass for pilgrims before leading the sidewalk journey north along busy Newbridge Road, assisted by officers from the Nassau County Police Department. Father Song carried the monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament as pilgrims followed.
At the end of Mass, Father Song explained that the tabernacle at St. Raphael’s was recently moved behind the altar directly underneath a large figure of Christ Crucified. The parish’s Lenten theme was to make Christ “the center of our lives,” the pastor said.
“We’re praying for the Eucharistic revival, for our country, for our diocese and for our parishes that we will all be centered on Christ,” Father Song said.
Four diocesan priests serving as chaplains to the diocesan Eucharistic pilgrimage and revival nights were concelebrants at the morning liturgy in the beautifully appointed church.
At Holy Trinity, students and faculty met the Eucharistic procession at the outdoor grotto where hymns were sung by the school choir and Father Francis Sarpong, school chaplain, accepted the monstrance with the Eucharist.
Three Knights of Columbus from Pope Pius XII Council at St. Raphael’s participated in the public witness for their Catholic faith during Monday’s pilgrimage. They were Ron Sorrentino, Al Swiderski and Grand Knight Tony Spinelli, who said, “We want to be part of this historic opportunity to be part of the pilgrimage for Our Lord.”
“Three miles for God is insignificant in what God has given all of us.”
On Saturday, May 31, nine days of Eucharistic pilgrimage and revival nights began with a morning march from St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Montauk. Following 5 p.m. Mass the same day celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Andrzej Zgleiszewski at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, the bishop led a two-mile procession with more than 500 pilgrims following on Merrick Road to St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin. An evening prayer service took place on the church steps.
A full schedule of Eucharistic pilgrimage and revival nights are taking place throughout the week at parish churches on both the Western route (through Nassau County) and the Eastern route (through Suffolk County).
The journeys culminate at BEHOLD, the diocesan Eucharistic Congress, which 5,000 pilgrims are expected to attend at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington, on Pentecost Sunday, June 8. The day features prayer, catechesis, Eucharistic adoration and a Mass celebrated by Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre.
See the full schedule at drvc.org/congress