More than 1400 Catholic young people will join Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, Auxiliary Bishops Mitchell T. Rozanski and Denis J. Madden in an annual pilgrimage through Baltimore on Saturday, March 27th, marking the largest turnout in the event’s 17-year history. The annual pilgrimage marks the start of Holy Week.
The journey will begin at 11:15 a.m. 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 three-mile route concluding at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Canton. Due to outstanding numbers, again this year the pilgrimage will subdivide into two groups so pilgrims have the opportunity to pray in the Baltimore Basilica, 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:
| 11:15 | Registration opens and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available (St. Mary’s Spiritual Center). |
| 12:15 | Opening Rally where the Archbishop speaks (St. Mary’s Spiritual Center) |
| 12:45 | Pilgrims travel to one of two sites: Group A: Shrine of St. Jude (Paca Street) for 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 Concert |
| 4:15 | Arrive at War Memorial Plaza |
| 5:30 | Pilgrims depart War Memorial Plaza and walk through the Inner Harbor |
| 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 |