The historic city of St. Augustine, known as the site of America’s first Catholic Mass, will be the starting point for the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. This significant event connects faith, history, and national identity as the United States marks its 250th anniversary.
The pilgrimage will commence with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at the outdoor altar of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, located at 101 San Marco Ave. in St. Augustine. This site holds historical importance as it hosted the first Catholic Mass in 1565 during the founding of St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest continuously occupied settlement.
The Rev. Erik Pohlmeier, bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, expressed his excitement for the shrine to host the beginning of the pilgrimage. The diocese represents over 165,000 registered Catholics across 17 North Florida counties. ‘As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we want to recognize the faith that developed along with this country,’ Pohlmeier stated in a news release. ‘The roots of Catholic faith had grown a lot in the years leading up to 1776, and this celebration is a call to embrace our legacy and carry the mission of the Gospel into the future.’
Connecting Faith and History
The 2026 pilgrimage, themed ‘One Nation Under God,’ is organized by the National Eucharistic Congress to highlight key locations in the nation’s Catholic and civic history. It invites Catholics to reflect on the role of faith in shaping the country’s past and future.
The pilgrimage will proceed through July 5, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the addition of the phrase ‘one nation under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance. After the initial Mass, services will continue at the historic chapel at the shrine for a benediction service, followed by a public procession through downtown St. Augustine to the Cathedral Basilica at 38 Cathedral Place.
On Monday, the event will move to Christ the King Catholic Church in Jacksonville, where the Rev. James Boddie Jr. will meet with the local Catholic community. Bishop Pohlmeier will celebrate a 9 a.m. Mass at the Arlington church, followed by a Eucharistic procession and lunch.
The pilgrimage will then travel to St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach for a discussion on the parish and community’s history, followed by a procession to the city dock on Centre Street. Participants will then cross into Georgia, heading to the Diocese of Savannah for further events running through Thursday.
A dedicated group of ‘pilgrims’ will journey the entire route, attending daily Mass and engaging with local Catholic communities at sites in the 13 original colonies along the East Coast. The pilgrimage will conclude with multiple events from July 2 to 5, many of which will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
