This year the Office for World Mission is sponsoring three "jubilee journeys" to some of the economically poorest countries of our hemisphere: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador and Bolivia. Pilgrims will listen to, experience, pray and discuss with the peoples of these cultures and histories, and hear testimony of their strong faith in each other and in God. While many more would like to go, few can afford the time, money or risks of these challenging pilgrimages. But we can go on pilgrimage right here in the archdiocese!

Recognizing every parish as a spiritually significant site for current, former and future members, Archbishop Weakland has designated every parish in the archdiocese as a pilgrimage site. He invites all our parishes to participate in a special district-by-district pilgrimage to honor Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament, in one another and in the world in which we live. The pilgrimage will begin on Pentecost (June 11) and conclude October 1, 2000. The pilgrimage will be an opportunity for our archdiocese to join together in prayerful preparation for the Eucharistic Congress (October 28 & 29).

What will the pilgrimage involve? Each district will receive a special pilgrimage cross to be carried from parish to parish within the district. The cross symbolizes the Church and our solidarity with other Christians throughout the world who are making pilgrimages during this Jubilee Year. The deacons of the archdiocese are mapping out the journey within their districts.

What happens when the cross arrives at the parish? The focus of our pilgrimage prayer is Eucharist. Each parish will determine how to honor the Blessed Sacrament while the cross is present to them: a holy hour with a neighborhood procession and benediction, a vespers service, a day of Eucharistic adoration concluded by a Mass or any other type of prayer service deemed appropriate during the sojourn.

Picture it! Where is Eucharist Without Walls experienced in your community? A visit to a nursing home, hospice, work place, bakery, farmer's field, neighborhood picnic, block party, family reunion, communion brought to a homebound person, a visit to a detention-center, where else? A camera will accompany each cross. Parish leaders and members are asked to photograph the pilgrim cross in various settings in their area to help illustrate where you experience Eucharist outside the church walls. To add to the character of the cross, each parish is encouraged to add to the adornment of their district cross in a manner that expresses their local identity. The district pilgrimage crosses and a photomontage illustrating Eucharist Without Walls will be displayed at the Eucharistic Congress.

The pilgrimage is sponsored by the Social Concerns Office with the assistance of the deacons. For more details, please call Celia Jackson, Social Concerns Office, 414-769-3389, 800-769-9373 x389 or e-mail socialconcerns@archmil.org.