Meet the pilgrims who will journey throughout the nation with the Eucharist this summer time

Nine younger grownup Catholic perpetual pilgrims will stroll with the Eucharist this summer time in the course of the National Catholic Eucharistic Pilgrimage spanning greater than 2,000 miles.

In celebration of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s theme is “One Nation Under God.” Pilgrims will journey on the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route to honor the primary American citizen to be canonized.

“The real beauty in ‘One Nation Under God’ is the great humility that it takes to truly believe that … there’s nothing more healing than God’s divine mercy and love, which is open and available to all people,” stated Zachary Dotson, one of many perpetual pilgrims, throughout a press convention concerning the pilgrimage.

“‘One Nation under God’ shows that, like St. Augustine said, ‘We are a people on pilgrimage.’ We are constantly striving for that end goal, which is, of course, full communion with Christ and with the saints,” Dotson stated.

The 2026 pilgrimage is about to kick off on May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, and conclude on July 5 in Philadelphia. The pilgrims will go by a lot of the authentic 13 colonies and 18 dioceses, which is able to host quite a lot of occasions additionally open to the general public.

Meet the younger pilgrims who will likely be bringing Christ throughout the nation this summer time:

Zachary Dotson

Dotson lives in Hammond, Indiana, the place he’s the town’s “Citizen of the Year” as a result of his dedication to his neighborhood. Dotson pivoted from a profession in finance to offer himself utterly to his parish at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

At the parish, Dotson helps his brothers and sisters in want by working on the parish’s soup kitchen. In his free time, Dotson enjoys studying, biking, and spending time together with his youthful brother.

“I’m excited to be a part of the pilgrimage, and I feel so honored and blessed,” Dotson stated. “I’ve really seen the transformation that Christ’s Eucharistic heart has had on my life … So to be able to open one single heart to Christ, and to his divine mercy, and for the love and salvation that he offers us through his bride, the Church, is the greatest honor of a life.”

“Also to reach our brothers and sisters in the peripheral societies, in the prisons, in the jails, the hospices, and the food pantries, in the soup kitchen. I think Christ was really clear in Matthew’s Gospel when he said: ‘Did you visit me?’ Did you give drink to me? Did you clothe me?’ So the opportunity to do that on a national level is again, one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Marcel Ferrer

Marcel Ferrer is from Akron, Ohio, and is a sophomore at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, the place he’s pursuing a level in advertising and marketing with a double minor in theology and music ministry.

Ferrer grew up Catholic however fell away from the religion when he was younger. When he was a junior in highschool, Ferrer had a robust expertise with the Lord throughout Eucharistic adoration, which introduced him again to the religion.

Ferrer has a ardour for working with youth ministry and helps lead affirmation retreats throughout the Midwest. He additionally enjoys taking part in guitar, going to live shows, and watching films.

“I’ve come to know that true happiness and joy cannot be attained in this life without Jesus. I want everyone to experience that joy in the Eucharist,” Ferrer stated in an announcement shared with EWTN News.

“During this mission, I hope to love well and value the person in front of me as a tabernacle. I want to tell stories of God’s mercy and love in order to turn hearts to his loving care,” he stated.

John Paul Flynn

John Paul Flynn is from Maryland and is a sophomore at The Catholic University of America, the place he’s learning enterprise. He is certainly one of 15 siblings and grew up Catholic however has particularly grown in his religion lately by mission actions.

Flynn will likely be serving because the media missionary for the pilgrimage and is wanting ahead to with the ability to seize the fantastic thing about the Eucharist in his function because the photographer and videographer of the staff.

“I decided to become a pilgrim because of the unique mission that is given to us to share the Eucharist with all those around us,” Flynn stated. “Being the media missionary is especially important to me, as I get to reach a broad audience in a new way through media. The beauty that I have found in the Eucharist drives me to share it with anyone I can.”

Eduardo Gutierrez

Eduardo Gutierrez was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Phoenix to attend Grand Canyon University (GCU), the place he majored in accounting. Gutierrez works at an area tax agency and serves in youth and faculty ministry.

“I am serving as a Perpetual Pilgrim to be able to share the most beautiful thing on earth: the love, joy, and peace that can only come from the Eucharist,” Gutierrez stated.

As a cradle Catholic, Gutierrez would often go to church rising up, however at GCU he skilled a renewal of religion, resulting in his affirmation throughout Easter 2022.

“Through the witness of the pilgrimage, I hope that people come to the Lord in all that they do. I hope they see that they are beloved sons and daughters, and that their eternal Father knows them personally by name,” he stated.

Cheyenne Johnson

Cheyenne Johnson, who serves as a missionary, is initially from Florida and calls Indiana house. She graduated from Butler University, the place she studied music, elementary schooling, and Chinese.

“I have witnessed the fruits of the pilgrimage with my own eyes and look forward to the ways Our Lord will continue to work this summer,” she stated.

Johnson was a pilgrim on the 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and will likely be returning because the staff lead for this 12 months. As a convert to the Catholic religion, she stated she understands the facility of encountering Jesus within the Eucharist and its potential to carry individuals to the religion.

“Being a pilgrim on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in 2025 was one of the greatest gifts of my life,” Johnson stated. “I was blessed to witness the faith and conversion of so many people throughout our country, as well as the transformation of my own heart.”

“This summer, returning as the team lead, I desire to continue bringing Christ to others, while traveling with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and leading my brothers and sisters into deeper relationship with Christ,” she stated.

Angelina Marconi

Angelina Marconi is from Marion, Arkansas, and lives in Louisville, Kentucky, the place she works as a school athletic coach.

“When I was in high school, I had a personal encounter with the Lord during adoration at a diocesan retreat. From that moment on, I’ve held the truth that I can rely on Jesus in the Eucharist,” Marconi stated.

Marconi’s religion led her to take part with FIERCE Athlete and the FIERCE Coach ministry, a corporation empowering feminine athletes to thrive of their God-given id. When she’s not working, Marconi likes to cook dinner, spend time with family and friends, and take part in her native Catholic younger grownup neighborhood.

As a pilgrim, Marconi stated she desires “to share that no matter the circumstance, Jesus will meet us in the Eucharist and transform our hearts through the struggles and joys in our lives.”

Raymond Martinez II

Raymond Martinez II grew up in Midland, Texas, and is a seminarian for the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas. He attends Conception Seminary College in Missouri.

“I am serving as a Perpetual Pilgrim because I want every person to recognize that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist: body, blood, soul, and divinity,” Martinez stated. “As I journey with our Eucharistic Lord across the country, I hope to help others grow in their love for the Eucharist through a transformative encounter with him.”

In his spare time, Martinez enjoys studying, swimming, and making pilgrimages to numerous shrines and church buildings. Since he was younger, Martinez has had a deep love for Christ within the Eucharist and has at all times desired to share his love of Christ with others.

Martinez shared that he has a whole lot of intentions which were entrusted to his pals, household, and neighborhood.

“I regard all of them as special,” he stated. “Each and every one of the intentions that I’ll be carrying with me, that I’ll be bringing with me to the pilgrimage, is each unique and is coming from a place of desire for growth with the Lord…every prayer intention that I’m going to bring with me is going to be special in its own way.”

Sharon Phillips

Sharon Phillips, from northern California, has a love for locating God in all issues, typically spending her time exploring new eating places, studying extra about her religion and the human expertise, and having fun with day by day exercise outdoor.

After attending Franciscan University, Phillips moved to Washington to function a highschool youth minister within the Archdiocese of Seattle. There, she constructed a program based on Eucharistic discipleship.

“Jesus shows us his heart in that he gives entirely of himself, not just on the cross, but every time we meet him in the Eucharist,” Phillips stated. “I’ve found this pilgrimage to be an invitation to root myself in his presence and, as a perpetual pilgrim, to be a part of bringing him to encounter every person and intention that joins in this pilgrimage.”

Phillips, who enjoys songwriting and worship main, will present music for various processions and occasions alongside the route.

“Especially with this pilgrimage … serving the universal Church, I think it’s so beautiful that we can take the same approach with our music and really our prayer as well,” she stated. “So we will have … opportunities for contemporary praise music, as well as traditional hymns.”

Mary Carmen Zakrajsek

Mary Carmen Zakrajsek, from Carmel, Indiana, is a graduate of Marian University. She labored within the pro-life motion for Students for Life of America after which for a girls’s care heart. She additionally has hung out volunteering as a mentor for Catholic excessive schoolers.

Last 12 months she moved to South Bend, Indiana, to function a director of youth religion formation. She additionally likes to play guitar, rap about God, and bake sourdough bread.

“With so much hurt, suffering, and confusion in our culture, God can be seen as distant from our daily lives. But we know that our God is not distant,” Zakrajsek stated. “In the Eucharist, he is so close that we can touch him. By serving as a Perpetual Pilgrim, I hope that my witness will help others come into contact with this life-giving touch of the healer,” she stated.

Zakrajsek stated she is wanting ahead to strolling alongside Jesus and following him just like the early apostles.

“I think that it’s really a chance to remind us of our identity, and it’s an invitation to realign ourselves under him, under his sovereignty. And so individually, and as part of a community, and as a country … I know he wants to bring about renewal and healing, and that’s going to come when we recognize our deepest identity comes from him.”