1,300 Catholic Youths Expected to Walk in the 16th Annual Youth and Young Adult Pilgrimage

Approximately 1,300 Catholic young people will join Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden, in a pilgrimage through the streets of Baltimore on Saturday, April 4, carrying a 10-foot wooden cross. This would be the largest turnout for the annual youth pilgrimage—in its 16th year—which marks the start of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday, April 5 and ends on Easter Sunday, April 12.

Following a rally at St. Mary’s Spiritual Center on Paca Street, the group will divide into two groups for the 3-mile-long journey to Canton, alternately making stops at St. Jude Shrine for a gospel concert and the Baltimore Basilica, America’s First Cathedral, for Eucharistic adoration. After meeting at War Memorial Plaza, the group will proceed to St. Casimir Church in Canton, where the palms to be given out at Palm Sunday Masses will be blessed, and where Mass will celebrated by Archbishop O’Brien.

The idea for a youth pilgrimage originated from World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, which also featured a pilgrimage of youths carrying a large cross.

The full schedule for the day:

11:30

Registration opens (St. Mary’s Spiritual Center)

12:15

Opening Rally (St. Mary’s Spiritual Center)

12:45

Pilgrims travel to one of two sites:
Group A: Shrine of St. Jude (Paca Street) for Gospel Concert
Group B: Eucharistic Adoration at the Baltimore Basilica with Archbishop O’Brien

2:45

Pilgrims travel to alternate site:
Group A: Eucharistic Adoration at the Baltimore Basilica with Archbishop O’Brien
Group B: Shrine of St. Jude (Paca Street) for Gospel Concert

4:15

Arrive at War Memorial Plaza

5:30

Pilgrims depart War Memorial Plaza

7:00

Pilgrims arrive at O’Donnell Street Park (next to St. Casimir’s)

7:10

O’Donnell Street Park in Canton- Blessing of the Palms

7:25

Pilgrims enter St. Casimir’s for Liturgy

8:45

Liturgy ends/departure