Archbishop José H. Gomez is set to lead hundreds of faithful on a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Hollywood Wednesday evening, walking roughly 50 minutes as part of a national day of prayer for peace observed by Catholic dioceses across the country. The event kicks off at Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Boulevard, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the program beginning at 7 p.m. ahead of the 7:30 p.m. procession.
According to mynewsla.com, Gomez will hold a media availability at 6:30 p.m. that will include parish leaders and filmmakers connected to the documentary “Adore Him: He Is Here.” Per the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the event schedule calls for participants to walk through Hollywood before returning to Blessed Sacrament Church, where those unable to complete the walk will have seating provided. Organizers will also provide water along the route, and they have urged participants to hydrate beforehand because of high temperatures.
A Day Rooted in a 17th-Century Missionary's Legacy
The national day of prayer for peace was introduced by U.S. Catholic bishops in 2016, and it falls each year on September 9 to coincide with the feast day of Saint Peter Claver, a 17th-century Spanish Jesuit priest who baptized more than 300,000 enslaved Africans in Cartagena, Colombia, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Claver is regarded as the patron saint of African Americans and enslaved peoples. The bishops created the observance, along with an accompanying task force, in response to a surge in civil and racial tensions nationwide, with the goal of fostering community dialogue, conflict resolution and racial reconciliation.
Per the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the day is meant to encourage dialogue and reconciliation in communities facing heightened tensions. Wednesday's Hollywood procession is one local expression of that broader initiative, with participants engaging in silent Eucharistic adoration after returning to the church.
A Hollywood Landmark With a Storied Past
Blessed Sacrament Church, located at 6657 W. Sunset Blvd., has served as the procession's host site and starting point. Designed by architect Thomas Franklin Power in the Italian Renaissance style and dedicated in June 1928, the church became a Hollywood landmark associated with film figures including Bing Crosby, John Ford and Loretta Young, according to historical accounts compiled by SoCal Landmarks. The building's 223-foot bell tower and 1,400-seat sanctuary remain fixtures of the neighborhood.
National Leadership and a Film Tied to the Eucharistic Revival
Gomez brings considerable national standing to Wednesday's walk. He served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from November 2019 to November 2022, becoming the first Latino prelate to head the national assembly in its century-long history, according to Texas Public Radio. Gomez, who was born in Mexico and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, leads the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, per Catholic Culture.
Deacon Steve Greco, who is expected to participate in the procession, is a producer of “Adore Him: He Is Here,” an upcoming film about Eucharistic adoration. Greco, who also serves as director of evangelization for the Diocese of Orange, previously produced “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” in 2024, which became the third most popular film in the documentary category that year, according to Catholic World Report. “Adore Him: He Is Here” is scheduled to run in theaters nationwide from October 4 through October 8. Greco also launched “The Adore Movement” earlier this year, building a national website and online tool for finding Eucharistic adoration chapels across the United States, the outlet reports.
Part of a Larger National Push
Wednesday's procession also fits within a wider effort by U.S. Catholic bishops focused on the Eucharist. The broader effort has a national focus. Locally, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is part of a broader discussion about Catholic membership.
