By Deacon Matthew Hecker, Ph.D.
Translation and editing assistance from Ricardo Izquidero
In 2006, Laura Becerra immigrated to America from her home country of Mexico. In her former parish in Jalisco, she was the head of a watch for perpetual adoration.
“Every 27th day of the month, it was my job to ensure adorers were present for each hour of the day,” she explained.
It was there that she developed a great devotion to Eucharistic adoration. When the family immigrated to America, they settled in Lincoln and joined Christo Rey Parish.
In the course of re-establishing their lives in a new country, Becerra admitted, she fell away from time spent in adoration. So, when she noticed the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage book, it sparked a renewed interest.
“Initially, I thought all the churches were within the City of Lincoln,” she said. “We started by going to those, but then we realized it was much bigger than that.”
The pilgrimage, launched in August, invites people across the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln to visit specific churches during Eucharistic exposition and adoration. Free “passports” were distributed to all parishes in the diocese, available in English and Spanish, listing the locations and hours, and each designated location included in the passport has a stamp, so pilgrims may stamp their passports when they visit.
There are 17 churches or chapels on the list, and people are encouraged to visit any or all of the sites, as they are able. The pilgrimage will be ongoing up to the national Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis next July.
Becerra said her husband, Cruz Solano, is not a U.S. citizen, “but is in the process of immigrating. We have been together for 23 years. He’s Catholic, but he’s not that close to the Church.”
When Christo Rey pastor Father Rafael Rodriquez was asked to provide a letter of support for Solano’s immigration, he suggested the family might participate in the Eucharistic pilgrimage as a sacrificial offering for Solano. That’s when the Becerras made the decision that they wanted to participate in the entire pilgrimage, and do it together as a family.
The Becerra/Solano family includes four children – two older daughters and two younger daughters.
“Our oldest is married, our second is a student at the University of Notre Dame, Emily is in the eighth grade at Scott Middle School and Stephanie is in the third grade at Zeman Elementary. Also, my aunt, Maria Guadalupe Becerra, was visiting from Mexico and she agreed to participate.”
On Aug. 24, Becerra, Emily, Stephanie and Becerra’s aunt set out to complete the passport pilgrimage as an offering to God for the success of Solano’s immigration application and more importantly, his return to the Church. Because, as Becerra reasoned, “It needs to cost something to bring my husband closer to God.”
Perhaps not many children would be excited about the passport pilgrimage, and spending a lot of time in adoration at different churches. At first, Emily and Stephanie admitted they struggled. The family would pray the rosary together, but after that, the girls were “bored.”
However, little by little, the time in adoration began to change the girls’ perspectives.
Emily said, “I liked being able to be with my family, and I liked seeing the churches. I started to feel hopeful again.”
“I liked the family time,” Stephanie said, “being able to talk to each other in the car and praying together. I liked being able to put the stamp on the passport! And our dog, Manchitas (Spots) came, too.”
Stephanie also said she “really liked the times when Dad was able to come with us.”
No pilgrimage, it seems, can be entirely problem free. On their way to Hastings, the Becerras got a flat tire. They called Solano for help, but “he was in Lincoln and we were close to Hastings with not much time left to make it to St. Cecilia Church.”
By the grace of God, “A kind man stopped and helped us put on the spare tire. He told us we could not drive very fast on that tire. We got to the church just in time. But driving so slowly back to Lincoln, we were very late getting back home that day.”
Becerra went on to say, “It turned out to be a really beautiful trip. I was really worried at first. Then this man helped us. The scenery was beautiful. We got to spend more time with the Lord, and I told him, ‘All of this is in your hands,’” referring especially to her husband.
When asked what the best part of the pilgrimage was, Beccera answered, “Seeing all the beautiful churches, finding their Adoration chapels, spending time together as a family and getting back into Adoration.”
When questioned about the hardest part of the pilgrimage, Emily and Stephanie quickly replied, “Having to get up at 5 a.m. to go to McCook.”
The family completed the passport pilgrimage Oct. 22. Becerra’s aunt returned to Mexico. Solano’s immigration court date was Aug. 31. While they are still waiting on news from the court, they remain very hopeful.
After completing the pilgrimage, Becerra said she has returned to doing a weekly holy hour.
“The pilgrimage gave me the peace I needed,” she explained. “I need to be alone with God, to feel His hug and to tell Him how I am feeling.”
Emily said, “I realize I can talk to God anytime. I can tell him how I am feeling, what I am thinking and ask for his help.”
“It helps me go to church,” Stephanie said. “I get to see God every day because I know he is present.”
For more information, see the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage page.
