As the Emmaus Procession in the Quad Cities approaches this Saturday, Oct. 8, a few minor tweaks have been made so that pilgrims will have the best possible experience on their five-mile walk with Jesus.

The first is that while the eucharistic procession will start with Mass at 8 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., in Davenport, Iowa, people are asked to park in a lot one block north of St. Mary Church, 412 10th St., in Moline, where the procession will end. Buses will be available from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. to take people to the starting point.

“We can’t really park at Sacred Heart in Davenport. They have another event going on that day,” said organizer Taryn Watkins of Peoria. She added that this way, people will have their cars at the end when they need them.

Bishop Thomas Zinkula of the Diocese of Davenport and Bishop Louis Tylka of Diocese of Peoria will concelebrate the opening Mass, with Bishop Zinkula scheduled to preach. Watkins said Bishop Tylka will preach at Benediction, when the procession reaches St. Mary in Moline. Each will carry the monstrance for a portion of the procession.

The Emmaus Procession will travel from Sacred Heart Cathedral to St. Anthony in Davenport, before crossing the Mississippi River at Arsenal Bridge. In Illinois, the pilgrims will walk to St. Mary and then Sacred Heart in Rock Island, and finally to St. Mary, Moline.

Watkins said people are welcome to join the procession at any one of the parishes and only walk for part of the way, too. A shuttle will be following the group to pick up those who may need assistance.

It is estimated that Benediction will be at about 11:30 a.m.

As part of the celebration, members of St. Mary Parish are making food, which may be purchased. People are asked to bring cash.

The Emmaus Procession is meant to reenact Luke’s Gospel account of how two disciples encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus and only realized it was him “in the breaking of the bread.”

For more information and a map, visit emmausqc.com.