Maria Wiering

As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage enters its fourth week with a continuous string of large-scale events on each of its four routes, its perpetual pilgrims continue to notice God at work in simple, unexpected encounters.

Ten days into their journeys, the 23 perpetual pilgrims were in the Diocese of Victoria; the Diocese of Boise, Idaho; the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis; and the Diocese of Trenton, N.J.

There are hundreds of opportunities for Catholics to join the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for Mass, adoration, processions and other events. However, casually meeting up with perpetual pilgrims along the four routes may be trickier, and is even prohibited along certain sections of the journey, according to pilgrimage leaders.

The routes’ 24 “perpetual pilgrims,” along with their priest chaplains and seven seminarians will accompany the Eucharist, exposed in a monstrance, as they travel — often on foot — across the United States.