BALTIMORE – William Cardinal Keeler and hundreds of Catholic young people, will “J-Walk” (meaning ‘walk with Jesus’) during a pilgrimage through Downtown Baltimore to mark the beginning of Holy Week on Saturday, April 12.
In the spirit of this year’s focus for the pilgrimage – termed “J-Walking”- the participants will carry the identity of someone who has walked or is walking with Jesus. They will do this by displaying a card around their necks with the person’s name and biography, as well as suggested intentions for prayers during the pilgrimage.
The journey will begin at 12:00 Noon with a rally at Rash Field located at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The pilgrims will begin with prayer. The procession will depart from Rash Field at 12:45 p.m. as the pilgrims carry a 10-foot wooden cross to several prayer sites.
The first stop will be BGE Plaza at Charles Center where they will gather for reflection and prayer in remembrance of the pilgrimage of Jesus. The next stop will be Mother Seton House located at 600 N. Paca Street where the Cardinal will join the pilgrims will hear testimonies of their faith and take part in the Blessing of the Palm. From there, the pilgrims will proceed to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary located on the corner of Cathedral and Mulberry Streets for Palm Sunday Liturgy celebrated by Cardinal Keeler.
“Who do you say that I am”, an Ohio based Christian band, will perform a concert at 7:00pm that night at Cardinal Gibbons High School. The Band will also perform at the Rash field rally and during the Mass at the Basilica.
Photo Opportunities:
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Rash Field – Rally & Carrying the Cross
1:30 p.m. – Charles Center (BGE Plaza) – Prayer
2:15 p.m. – Mother Seton House – Blessing of the Palm (Cardinal attending)
3:00 p.m. – Basilica of the Assumption – Mass (celebrated by Cardinal Keeler)