More than 500 Catholic young people will join Archbishop William Lori in the annual Palm Sunday weekend pilgrimage through Baltimore on Saturday, March 19th to mark the start of Holy Week. The theme of this year’s pilgrimage is “Walk in Mercy,” in honor of the Catholic Church’s Year of Mercy.
Following a 10:15 a.m. rally at St. Mary’s Spiritual Center (Paca St.), the procession of young people will depart at 10:45 a.m. with the pilgrims carrying a 10-foot wooden cross through the streets of Baltimore with stops at the Baltimore Basilica, War Memorial Plaza, Cristo Rey High School and Holy Rosary Parish. The day will conclude with the blessing of palms and Mass at St. Casmir Church in Canton.
The idea for a youth pilgrimage originated from World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, which also featured a pilgrimage with young Catholics carrying a large wooden cross.
The pilgrimage will take place RAIN or SHINE and will adhere to the following schedule:
9:00 Registration opens – St. Mary’s Park, Paca Street
10:15 Rally begins at St. Mary’s Park (walk to Basilica)
11:00 Adoration at the Baltimore Basilica (walk to War Memorial Plaza)
12:30 Rosary and lunch at War Memorial Plaza (Walk to Cristo Rey HS)
1:45 Concert at Cristo Rey High School/ Stations of the Cross at Holy Rosary Church (Walk to St. Casimir Church)
4:50 Blessing of palms, followed by Mass at St. Casimir