Fifth annual 'Rise from the Ashes' Pilgrimage includes Eucharistic procession from Monroe to Detroit from July 19-21
MONROE — The date was Sunday, June 13, 1816. As was the tradition on the feast of Corpus Christi, Fr. Gabriel Richard led his Catholic congregation in a Eucharistic procession throughout the dust-filled streets of Detroit. What was out of the norm was who else was involved in the procession.
After a summertime visit, the bishop of Quebec reported that Fr. Richard’s parishioners were complaining about the fact that Protestants played prominent roles in the Corpus Christi festivities. In fact, both Lewis Cass, Michigan’s territorial governor, and Alexander Macomb, a decorated War of 1812 general, held the ribbons of the canopy under which the Blessed Sacrament traveled. Both were Protestants, as were many of the military regiment that accompanied the procession.
Fr. Richard justified his decision due to a principle by which he lived: “Do towards the Protestants all that might draw them to the Catholic Church.”
Fast forward more than 200 years, and local Catholic pilgrims hope to do something similar with the “source and summit” of their faith. The fifth annual "Rise from the Ashes" Pilgrimage takes place the weekend of July 19-21, traversing the 38-mile journey from downtown Monroe to the Basilica of Ste. Anne in Detroit. New this year — coinciding with the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis and the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival — will be daily Eucharistic processions as part of the pilgrimage.
George Strimpel, a parishioner at St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Rockwood and co-founder of the "Rise from the Ashes" Pilgrimage, appreciates how these processions with Jesus, fully present in the Blessed Sacrament, can attract individuals to the annual journey.
“We recognize that not everyone will be able to attend the Eucharistic Congress and wanted to provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in some way. Adding Eucharistic processions during this year’s pilgrimage was the obvious way for us to do so,” Strimpel said. “Local priests in the Archdiocese of Detroit quickly stepped forward, providing these processions each day, not only for the pilgrims walking the long journey, but also for local parishioners and anyone wanting to join us in these shorter processions.”
To start "Rise from the Ashes" on the morning of July 19, Fr. David Burgard will be leading the first Eucharistic procession from St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Monroe. As with all Eucharistic processions as part of the route, individuals can decide to just partake in a procession, join for one day of the journey, or walk the entire route to Detroit.
After leaving the downtown section of Monroe, pilgrims will continue traversing through rural northern Monroe County on the first day, enjoy lunch at the Mitten Cafe and Bakeshop in Newport and partake in "Set Afire," a night of adoration and worship at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church in Rockwood. Walkers can decide whether they want to stay overnight on St. Mary’s campus or head home to sleep.
The second day of the pilgrimage, Saturday, July 20, will begin with morning Mass at St. Mary in Rockwood. From there, participants will walk through Gibraltar to Elizabeth Park for a lunch break. The journey will then continue through downtown Trenton, and upon reaching Wyandotte in the evening, pilgrims can join another Eucharistic procession led by Fr. Brendan McCarrick, SAC, of St. Vincent Pallotti Parish. The night will conclude at Knights of Columbus Council 1802 in Wyandotte, where the local Knights will provide pizza and a place to sleep for pilgrims resting up for the final stretch.
The final leg begins early on Sunday, July 21, heading out from Wyandotte at 6 a.m. "Rise from the Ashes" follows Jefferson Avenue through Ecorse, River Rouge, along the industrial complex on Zug Island, and past historic Fort Wayne. The journey concludes passing under the Ambassador Bridge, with a Eucharistic procession led by Fr. Craig Giera around the Basilica of Ste. Anne in southwest Detroit. Participants can then partake in the noon Sunday Mass at Ste. Anne, which is dedicated to the Native and French people who played such an important role in the parish’s founding years in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Strimpel noted that participation in "Rise from the Ashes" has doubled almost every year since its start in 2020. Nonetheless, beyond the numbers, the pilgrimage’s co-founder knows that the Holy Spirit is bearing spiritual fruit through the annual walk.
“So many hidden benefits have surfaced over these past years, including the new relationships created, the opportunities to share our faith in conversations with people we encounter during the walk, and the support from so many people to make this walk possible are just a few worth mentioning,” Strimpel said. “What a great opportunity this year presents for all of us to step into our local streets, walk proudly with our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, and to let His love pour out through us to all those we encounter along the way.”
Prospective walkers can join the pilgrimage for just a part of a day, a full day, or the entire journey to Detroit. Volunteers can also help with providing food and transportation to the pilgrims, as needed.
“At the very least, please keep these efforts and all those participating in your prayers,” Strimpel said.
'Rise from the Ashes' Pilgrimage
Those interested in joining this year’s "Rise from the Ashes" Pilgrimage, which takes place July 19-21, can register at this link.
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