Catholics gather in Tulsa for national Eucharistic pilgrimage stop, celebration downtown: 'It was a good time'

Catholics from Oklahoma and neighboring states are in Tulsa for a procession and celebration on Friday.

It's part of the a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that started in Indianapolis and will end in Los Angeles, and is making a stop in Tulsa. 

There was a celebration in downtown Tulsa that went from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

The point of the pilgrimage 

Pilgrims are going home to Los Angeles but making stops at dioceses across the country.

It's a way for the Catholic Church to come together and share the Gospel.

The schedule

People a part of the pilgrimage had a mass Friday in Miami before caravanning to Tulsa, then were joined by Tulsans, and they all walked from TU to Christ the King on Cherry Street, then to Holy Family Cathedral downtown.

One Tulsa priest who joined the walk says they are celebrating the joy of the gospel.

"The walking is for to pray for conversion of hearts, to pray for our families, to pray for our country, and to pray for all the intentions that sometimes people hold in their hearts, but sometimes they're afraid to say," said Pastor Leonardo Morales, St. Pius Tulsa.

The pilgrimage will make their way to Saint Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee Saturday morning.

Then end the night in Oklahoma City.

The celebration in downtown Tulsa

Pilgrims WHO stopped in Tulsa for the night and the community got together for a celebration after the day's walk.

There were Hispanic dancers who only dance for their faith, and there was pizza and cookies for people to enjoy. One man says these events hold communities together.

"When you're a Catholic, you have lots of opportunities to expand into a larger community. And this was one, so I was with, I don't know how it must have been at least 1000 people out there, I would say 1000 and it was a good time. And you felt like, well, this is cool," said Tulsan Chris Fitzmaurice.