Over 800 Catholic young people will join Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Bishop W. Francis Malooly, Auxiliary Bishop, in an annual pilgrimage through Baltimore on Saturday, March 19, to mark the start of Holy Week.
The journey will begin at 11 a.m. with a rally at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, 5500 York Road in Govans, where the St. Veronica Church Steel Drum Band will welcome the pilgrims. The procession will depart at 12:50 p.m. with the pilgrims carrying a 10-foot wooden cross to several prayer sites, including Loyola College (where pilgrims will pray the rosary for the intention of those affected by the tsunami) and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (where they will take in lunch and a concert with special musical guest, Catholic recording artist Sarah Hart). The pilgrimage will proceed to the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, where the traditional blessing of the palm will take place in the plaza, concluding with Mass inside the Cathedral.
The full schedule for the day:
| 11:00 | Gathering Music and Welcome, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish Hall |
| 12:00 | Eucharistic Adoration, St. Mary of the Assumption Church |
| 12:50 | Pilgrimage begins, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish |
| 2:00 | Prayer, Loyola College Quad |
| 3:00 | Witnesses and Rally, College of Notre Dame, MBK Sports Center |
| 4:00 | Sarah Hart in Concert at LeClerc Hall |
| 5:15 | Dinner, MBK Sports Center |
| 6:00 | Candlelight Prayer Service, Steps of LeClerc Hall |
| 6:15 | Begin Candlelight Procession to the Cathedral |
| 7:00 | Opening Rite, Blessing of Palm, Cathedral Plaza |
| 7:30 | Mass, Cathedral of Mary Our Queen |
| 9:00 | Departure from the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen |
Media contact during Saturday’s pilgrimage: Mark Pacione, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Mark’s cell phone number is 443.994.9915.