Sunday, July 5th saw the culmination of a very significant national Catholic event, celebrating the semiquincentennial of our Nation!

During Holy Mass on that Sunday morning, Archbishop Nelson Pérez welcomed pilgrims who had made a remarkable months-long Eucharistic pilgrimage, which started in Saint Augustine, Florida, many months ago.

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul welcomed these pilgrims into its loving arms for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the nave well beyond standing-room, and even the overflow chapel barely held the congregation. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini route, reached its ultimate destination here in Philadelphia over the Independence Day weekend.  Archbishop Pérez was the principal celebrant at Holy Mass on Sunday, and Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, Florida, as well as Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden concelebrated, while the auxiliary bishops and many priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were also in attendance.

Following Holy Communion, Archbishop invited the congregation and all the faithful present to join in another powerful Eucharistic pilgrimage, which started at the Shrine of Saint Katherine Drexel which is inside the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, and proceeded two miles North to the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, at Saint Peter The Apostle Church, in Northern Philadelphia. Archbishop reminded all of us that we are not only the City of Brotherly Love; more importantly, we are also the “City of Two Saints” for these United States!

Several Knights and Dames were grateful to attend Holy Mass and also to join in the pilgrimage!  It was a wondrous sign of fidelity, and the sight of hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of Catholics filling the streets with prayer served as a meaningful capstone, to and homage to, our Catholic history as we proudly celebrate our nation’s independence in this overt public display of our faith.