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May 15, 2025Charlie McCullough carried great expectations last summer as a professional pilgrim on the journey that was the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
The experience exceeded the expectations.
"An incredible experience where I got to see the power of Jesus bring dioceses together, bring people together," he said. "And especially during the Eucharistic procession and periods of adoration, I saw the Lord encounter his people and show them mercy and bring them hope in a new way that I had never seen before.
"It was really an experience of seeing the Lord give his people hope for the future and hope for the Church and hope for their lives. One of the biggest blessings I've had in my life. I was privileged to be that close to the Lord for those nine weeks last summer."
So why not do it again?
Charlie McCulloughMcCullough is back, this time as team leader, guiding a group of seven first-time pilgrims on the Drexel Route of the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage due to pass through the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City May 31-June 3.
The Drexel Route is named for Saint Katharine Drexel, who made a significant impact in Oklahoma, particularly through her work with Native Americans and African Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to serve those communities, establishing numerous schools and missions.
The pilgrimage begins in Indianapolis May 18 before the team will travel with the Blessed Sacrament through parts of the Midwest, including Oklahoma, before heading to Texas and along the states of the Southwestern United States and on to California, concluding Corpus Chrisi weekend in Los Angeles.
Here in the archdiocese, there are a number of planned events, including a Eucharistic procession on the grounds of Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee, another procession from Oklahoma City parishes traveling from Christ the King to Saint Eugene and a visit to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.
“One of the young people I went to college with in Texas was a distant relative of (Blessed Stanley),” McCullough said. “So he was really happy to share the story of Blessed Stanley.
“And I’m really excited to visit the shrine because I know it’s a place of evangelization for the diocese with a lot of people who visit and encounter the Lord, and it’s just a beautiful story of one of his servants.”
Leslie Reyes-HernandezFor Leslie Reyes-Hernandez, a school teacher in Arizona and one of the first-time pilgrims, just preparing for the journey has already been an uplifting experience for her and the team.
“We had the opportunity to meet virtually in January and then in February, we had a retreat in St. Louis,” she said. “So we had the opportunity to grow closer together, whether that was in friendship or sharing our hearts. That was really fruitful.
“I’m really looking forward to the pilgrimage itself, so we can continue growing as a team and working together.”
Catholics throughout the archdiocese are welcome to encourage and join the pilgrims on several occasions.
“The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has participated in the National Eucharistic Revival and seen remarkable success in promoting Eucharistic reverence and devotion,” said Father Zak Boazman, pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche. “We now have another opportunity to celebrate this great gift of our faith as we join the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passing through Oklahoma City.
“I remember the beautiful procession we made three years ago from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School to the cathedral. And now we set our sights on a new chapter of Eucharistic devotion as a local church. What better way to honor this great mystery than by joining this pilgrimage.”
John Helsley is editor of the Sooner Catholic.
Visit archokc.org/nep.