Several join national eucharistic pilgrimage in Abilene

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A cross-country Catholic movement made its way to Abilene.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a large turnout of the faithful, stopped to hold mass.

This procession began on May 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It made 11 stops before arriving in Abilene from Fort Worth.

According to organizers, this event continued from last year as a national outpouring of joy and community for the nation’s religious. Deacon Eduardo Castillo of the Diocese of San Angelo told KTAB/KRBC that he is overjoyed to see such participation in what officials have described as a ‘grassroots’ movement.

“I’m very happy with it. It’s the first one in Abilene. They’re doing it tomorrow in San Angelo. So as far as the turnout, there’s a lot of people from what I see. So hopefully in the future, you have some more,” Castillo said.

This event has drawn protests at a few previous stops along the trail. Today’s Organizers told KTAB/KRBC that they had made preparations, such as having the Abilene Police Department (APD) on hand.

But no such protest took place in Abilene. The pilgrimage will make its way to San Angelo next with six more stops planned in Texas, New Mexico, and California, before arriving at the Diocese of Los Angeles on June 20.