By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
Leading up to the first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years in July 2024, the Diocese of Lake Charles will kick off a local pilgrimage — The Diocesan Camino of St. Peter Claver — on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the West Cal Events Center in Sulphur.
Eucharistic Revival preacher
The banquet-style evening will be the start of a journey together as a diocese to several events and churches over a period of several months to grow in faith of the Church and the Eucharist. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:15 p.m.
Camino pilgrims will seek the intercession of St. Peter Claver, the diocesan patron saint, to help them along their spiritual journey. Monsignor Daniel A. Torres, V.G., Chairman of the Diocesan Camino, reminds Catholics of St. Peter Claver’s example to trust in the Lord Jesus.
“As St. Peter Claver journeyed from a small village outside of Barcelona, Spain, at the age of 20, to the island of Majorca to study Philosophy at the Jesuit House, he listened, prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, and said, ‘Yes’ in doing the Lord’s will,” said Monsignor Torres.
“Therefore, let us all journey together and find strength as Roman Catholics on this Diocesan Camino of St. Peter Claver.”
The banquet will feature national speakers Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P, and Katie Prejean McGrady doing a sit-down dialogue with audience interaction.
The nationally recognized Saint Louis Catholic High School Concert Choir will provide entertainment during the evening. Guests will also be able to tour the works of Blessed Carlo Acutis who documented the Eucharistic miracles from around the world into an exhibit to inspire the faithful and non-believers.
Father Briscoe is a Dominican friar and editor of “Our Sunday Visitor.” Along with his Dominican brothers, he is host of the podcast “Godsplaining” and co-author of “Saint Dominic’s Way of Life: A Path to Knowing and Loving God.” He is also author of the OSV seasonal devotional, “My Daily Visitor.”
Host of “The Katie McGrady Show”
on The Catholic Channel
Katie, who makes her home in Lake Charles with her husband, Tommy, and daughters, Rose and Clare, is host of the “The Katie McGrady Show,” a daily radio program on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM 129. She is a contributing writer for “Blessed is She,” “Our Sunday Visitor,” “Aleteia,” and the “Grotto Network,” in addition to helping create digital and audio content for Ave Explores.
Diocesan Camino Passports will be available the night of the banquet and at all church parishes for their Christmas Masses. It is a unique opportunity to keep people energized during the Parish Phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, now in its second year of the three-year effort.
At the conclusion of The Diocesan Camino of St. Peter Claver on June 2, a drawing will take place for persons who have gone to all the events and filled their passports with stamps. One lucky pilgrim will have a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 17-21, 2024. The trip will include free airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration for the historic five-day event with an expected 80,000 Catholics from across the United States.
The local pilgrimage is also a way to build up anticipation for the arrival of the National Eucharistic Procession — an Emmaus Moment — when it travels through the Diocese of Lake Charles June 3-4, 2024.
Save the Dates
The schedule for the Diocesan Camino pilgrimage is:
- Saturday, November 25: Kickoff banquet at West Cal Events Center in Sulphur
- December 24-25: Christmas Masses throughout the Diocese of Lake Charles
- Saturday, January 13: International Day of Cultures and Prayer — 10:00 a.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2031 Opelousas Street, Lake Charles
- Thursday, February 8: East Deanery — Evening of Prayer, 6:30 p.m., Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, 710 North State Street, Jennings
- Thursday, March 7: North Central Deanery — Evening of Prayer, 6:30 p.m., with presentation by Dr. Cheryl White on the Mystery of the Shroud of Turin, Saint Louis Catholic High School, pavilion, corner of Kirkman and Ninth streets, Lake Charles
- Tuesday, April 16: West Deanery — 6:30 p.m., Evening of Prayer, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2700 Maplewood Drive, Sulphur
- Thursday, May 2: South Central Deanery — 6:30 p.m., Evening of Prayer, Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 5495 Elliott Road, Lake Charles
- Sunday, June 2: The Diocesan Camino of St. Peter Claver Afternoon of Prayer and Concert — 3:00 p.m., Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo Street, downtown Lake Charles. Drawing for Camino winner with fully stamped passport will follow the concert.
More details will be announced for pilgrimage sites as they become available. Information on registering for the diocesan trip for the National Eucharistic Congress will be announced in December.
As pilgrims make their way along the Diocesan Camino, they can step back from everyday life and journey with other Catholics to find inspiration or rediscover their faith in a whole new light.
Whether you continue to Indianapolis for the national gathering or just focus on the journey right here in the Diocese of Lake Charles, the Encounter with Christ will set you on a path with an outpouring of grace and love for the Holy Eucharist.
We hope you can join us!
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West Cal Events Center is located at 401 Arena Road in Sulphur. Diocesan Camino tickets may be purchased for $50 per person at the Chancery, 1201 Ryan Street, Lake Charles; Crossroads Catholic Books and Gifts, 3113 Ryan Street, Suite 2, Lake Charles, or at church offices throughout the Diocese. Deadline to purchase tickets is November 9. For more information, call the Chancery at 337-439-7400.
