The faithful of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey are now invited to register to participate in stops on June 14 and 15, almost entirely in Passaic and Paterson, during the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will travel up the Eastern Seaboard this summer.
Guided by the theme “One Nation Under God,” the pilgrimage includes 18 stops. It is a nationwide call to renewal, unity, and mission, all rooted in the Eucharist. The event honors the United States’ 250th birthday and runs from Pentecost through Independence Day weekend.
This is the first time Paterson will host stops on a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The event continues the National Eucharistic Revival and the landmark Congress in 2024.
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The local activities on June 14:
3:30 to 5 p.m.: Influenced by the Eucharist talk in English by Catholic influencer Father Rafael Capo, Holy Rosary Church, 6 Wall St., Passaic, N.J.
3:30 to 5 p.m.: Influenciados por la Eucaristia: Charla de Apertura en Español por Sacerdote Influencer P. Heriberto García, St. Nicholas, 217 President St. Passaic, N.J.
5 to 6:30 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession/Procesión Eucarística through the streets of Passaic. The procession will depart from Holy Rosary Church (6 Wall St, Passaic, N.J.) and end at Boverini Stadium, where the opening Mass will take place. The distance is about 1.5 miles.
6:30 to 8 p.m.: Opening Mass/Misa de Apertura with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Boverini Stadium, 262 River Dr., Passaic.
The following events will occur on June 15:
3 to 5 p.m.: Celebration of Divine Liturgy with the Byzantine Catholic community in New Jersey at St. Michael Chapel, 415 Lackawanna Ave., Woodland Park, N.J.
5:30 to 7 p.m.: Eucharistic Procession with First Communicants, children, and the local faithful of all ages. This loop procession will depart from the front steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 381 Grand St., Paterson, N.J., and end at the cathedral.
7 to 8:30 p.m.: Closing Mass/Misa de Clausura with Bishop Sweeney and homily by Catholic influencer Father Casey Cole, O.F.M., at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson (381 Grand St., Paterson, N.J.). Access to the Municipal Parking Lot will be available at 5 p.m., across from the Cathedral on Grand Street. This Mass will be livestreamed at https://rcdopcathedral.org/.
The pilgrimage will travel the Eastern Seaboard on the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route. This route is named for the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint, known for her missionary service to immigrants and the poor.
The journey will begin May 24 in St. Augustine, Fla., near the site of the first Catholic Mass in what is now the United States. From there, a group of nine young adult Perpetual Pilgrims, accompanied by chaplains, will carry the Blessed Sacrament north through many of the original 13 colonies, 18 dioceses, and two Eastern Rite eparchies.
Several moments along the route will highlight the rich history of Catholicism in the United States. These will include Mass at the Baltimore Basilica, the first cathedral built in the country; a blessing over our nation’s capital atop the Arlington Memorial Bridge; a Eucharistic procession through downtown Washington, D.C.; and a Eucharistic procession along the Freedom Trail in Boston, as well as an outdoor Mass on Lexington Battle Green.
The pilgrimage will conclude over Independence Day weekend in Philadelphia, including 24 hours of Eucharistic adoration in the Cathedral Basilica, multiple showings of the feature film Cabrini, and a solemn closing Mass and Eucharistic procession through the city streets.
In addition to in-person events, Catholics across the country are invited to participate spiritually by submitting prayer intentions and committing time to Eucharistic adoration. The pilgrimage aims to gather 250,000 Holy Hours of prayer for the renewal of the nation, which will be presented to national leaders.
All ages and walks of life are welcome to join in prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s travels. All events are free. Please register in advance, so pilgrimage organizers can plan accordingly for the expected number of people.
For questions about events in this diocese, please contact: MMoncaleano@patersondiocese.org. For registration assistance, please contact: registration@eucharisticcongress.org.
