A Thousand Catholic Youths Expected to Walk in the 16th Annual Youth and Young Adult Pilgrimage

Approximately 1000 Catholic young people will join Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden, in an annual pilgrimage through Baltimore on Saturday, April 4th, to mark the start of Holy Week. 

The journey will begin at 12:15 with a rally at St. Mary’s Spiritual Center on Paca Street. The procession will depart at 12:45 p.m. with the pilgrims carrying a 10-foot wooden cross along a 3 mile route concluding at St. Casimir Church in Canton. Due to outstanding numbers, this year the pilgrimage will subdivide into two groups so pilgrims have the opportunity to pray in America’s First Cathedral.     

The idea for a youth pilgrimage originated from World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, which also featured a pilgrimage with 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