Father Hoeberechts serves as the vocations director for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for the East Coast. When interviewed, he and the eight members of his group had already accomplished a 78 mile-long trek. He explained that the walking is done in shifts, with morning and evening walkers — with someone always walking.
Praying for a long time about this opportunity, Father Hoeberechts felt that the combination of his pro-life devotion and love for walking would make Crossroads a perfect fit for him.
"I took it to prayer," said Father Hoeberechts. "I felt this would be a great way for my passion to promote life. I understood there was going to be a lot of walking, but they are not joking around when they say you are going to walk across the country."
Father Hoeberech emphasized that prayer is an essential component of the Crossroads journey. Walkers participate in morning and evening prayer and daily Mass.
"One of the members of our walking group's responsibility is to know where the camp is and to search out a church," Father Hoeberech said. "We need the Eucharist to nourish us and strengthen us to take each step."
Having to always travel light, Father Hoeberech carries one medium-sized duffel bag, a small backpack, and two pairs of sneakers.
"When I was talking with one of our Oblates at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, I asked the director if I could speak after Communion on vocations and about the walk," Father Hoeberechts explained. "I gave a three minute explanation and was greeting people after Mass when a gentleman who is the corporate manager for New Balance sneakers came up to me and said, 'I want to support you with prayers and support you by giving you a brand new pair of walking shoes. We want your feet to be comfortable.'"
Father Hoeberechts explained that their group has already received much positive feedback from people who see them walking, all sporting their pro-life T-shirts.
"We were in a CVS one night and I was talking with one of the workers," Father Hoeberech recalled. "She asked me what I was doing there so late and I said 'I'm walking across America.' She said, 'You are doing what?'
"We have received a lot of favorable impressions from people and a lot of positive feedback. When people see what we are doing, it stirs up the feelings and emotions in different ways. It's a peaceful organization and they see that."
In the future, Father Hoeberechts hopes to visit Rhode Island for vocation awareness days to speak about religious vocations and his Crossroads experience.
"Crossroads is another way of getting out into the community to share the pro-life message," said Father Hoeberechts. "It has been a wonderful experience and pilgrimage."
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