1,200 Miles With Jesus

Natalie Garza ’22 participated in the National Eucharistic Congress’s historic, 60-day, 1,200-mile pilgrimage on the Seton Route from Hartford to Indianapolis. She graduated from Franciscan University with a BA and MA in theology, and she currently teaches theology at St. James Academy High School in Kansas City, Kansas. Franciscan Magazine caught up with her in Indianapolis.

Natalie Garza ’22

When did you first encounter Jesus in the Eucharist?

After I received confirmation, I thought I was done with the Church. But my sister had a conversion at a Steubenville Youth Conference and invited me to her parish youth group. When a priest brought out Jesus for adoration, the Holy Spirit showed me Jesus was present, body, blood, soul, and divinity. I knew beyond a doubt this was God, and I had a lot to change in my life.

What role did the Eucharist play in your formation at Franciscan?

At Franciscan, the Eucharist is at the center. It’s the heart- beat of the campus. We had Jesus in every single dorm, in Christ the King Chapel, exposed for perpetual adoration in the Portiuncula. The way Mass was celebrated was meant to bring us to a deeper encounter with Jesus. Franciscan knows Jesus is the one who transforms people, places, and nations. It’s all about discipleship.

A 60-day walking pilgrimage is an enormous challenge. Why did you sign up to be a pilgrim?

The first reason I signed up was to intercede for America and for deeper unity within the Church. The second was to live out the adventure of life with Christ, and a 60-day road trip with Jesus sounded like an adventure. The last and deepest reason was to have a lived experience of disciple- ship. No one has walked this far this long with Jesus since the Apostles.

What was the most significant grace of the pilgrimage for you?

It was getting to know in a deeper way God’s desire for communion with me. The Eucharist is very simple. It is just God staring back at us as we gaze at him. We know he’s there because Jesus promised he would be with us until the end of the age, and he promised this was his body.

I also remember going through small towns where people would get out of their cars as they saw Jesus passing by and kneel and bless themselves. It was so beautiful! It stopped all traffic!

What was it like to finally arrive in Indianapolis for the Congress?

I experienced both joy and accomplishment. I prayed, “Jesus, I’m so grateful you caught me up in this great mission of grace for the Church, for myself, for the world. But I’m so sad I won’t always be with you physically in this way.” I felt the Lord say to me what he said to Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold on to me but go to my brethren and tell them what you have seen.” As we go through this congress, the Lord is commissioning us to go and tell everyone what we’ve experienced.

How would you describe the experience of gathering for prayer and adoration with 60,000 fellow Catholics?

This congress has brought a great sense of hope and joy. There are a lot of people we’ve seen along our journey who are finally here! It’s been really exciting to see that the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve poured out trying to bring revival to small towns and big cities was actually part of Jesus himself taking care of it. He is bringing so many people here to ask them to grow a little bit deeper in their faith. It’s been really encouraging!

What does it mean for you personally to be present at this historic congress?

To be present here means Jesus isn’t done working on my heart. Being here in this privileged place and getting to participate is reminding me God is so much bigger. He has way more to do in my life, in my discipleship and obedience to him. I still need repentance and conversion!

What are your hopes for the impact of this congress?

I hope people encounter Jesus here and are so transformed by receiving his love they cannot help but go tell other people about it.