By Cassandra Taylor, Publications Assistant

Seniors leaving college have all sorts of plans for after graduation—from employment, to marriage, to gap-year mission work, and more. But for Patrick Nagle ’25, graduating from TMC meant reporting directly to his next commitment: spending thirty-three days as a Perpetual Pilgrim on the New Hampshire Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NHEP). Mr. Nagle, Jacinta Swope ’28, and a small team of other young adult missionaries—along with the Franciscan friars who serve as chaplains, diocesan seminarians, and the sisters of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love—have dedicated part of their summer to bringing Jesus to every corner of what the National Catholic Register called “one of the least religious states in America.”

“Our main job is to follow Jesus for all thirty-three days of the pilgrimage,” Miss Swope explained. “We adore Jesus in the bus when we are driving from place to place and adore Him walking in procession, but other than that, our roles change every day.” The most important task is to bring Jesus to the people. “We will end up going to every parish and Catholic school, a prison, and a nursing home,” said Mr. Nagle. “God loves the Diocese of Manchester very much, and it is beautiful to see the Diocese love Him back.”

The NHEP occurs amidst a larger conversation on belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the National Eucharistic Revival, which, according to the Diocese, provided the inspiration for the pilgrimage. “We all need to be reminded of the Real Presence, and the pilgrimage throughout the Diocese has been a much-needed wake up call,” Mr. Nagle commented. “It is touching to see Catholics falling in love with our Eucharistic Lord. We saw beautiful people in the streets of Manchester drop to their knees in adoration of Jesus.”

“So far it has been a schooling in the Heart of Jesus,” reflected Miss Swope. “Jesus asks so little of us, only to follow Him for these days, to bring Him to as many people as we can. He just wants so badly to reach people and every tiny opportunity to do that is precious to Him. My favorite part is visiting the schools,” she continued. “One of our priests, Fr. Francis Godkin, FPC likes to get down on the ground with the children so they can touch the humeral veil and ask Jesus for whatever they want. I just love to see the seeds of faith planted in these kids from a priest who is gentle and who truly loves Jesus.”

About two weeks into the pilgrimage, Mr. Nagle and Miss Swope were able to accompany the Eucharistic Lord home to their alma mater. In the stillness of the evening, the ringing of altar bells could be heard throughout TMC’s campus. The group gathered into the College’s chapel for evening prayer before the Eucharistic procession. Fr. Peter Giroux, FPC then blessed each quiet building—soon to be filled with summer program participants and later, the College’s students—with the monstrance.

“I am truly grateful for being able to lead the Eucharistic procession on the grounds of Thomas More College,” expressed Mr. Nagle, who had carried the processional cross on the occasion. Miss Swope agreed, “Going to TMC was like coming home. I love that place, and especially the chapel, where I have many memories of conversations with Jesus and others.”

While not without the challenges appropriate to a pilgrimage, TMC’s participants hope that the experience will be a blessing to themselves and their home state of New Hampshire. “I look forward to Jesus’s transforming power in my own life,” concluded Miss Swope. “Jesus is so good, and He wants to do great things in our souls. I am just happy to be with Him and learn more about Him.”

For further reading:

Only Meaningful in the Service of God: Class of 2023 Gives Adoration Vestments as Class Gift

“Called to be Missionaries”: TMC Students and Alumni Undertake Mission Trip to Jamaica