Approximately 1,000 Catholic youth are expected to join Bishop Malooly on March 19 for the seventh annual diocesan youth pilgrimage. Participants will process three miles through the streets of Wilmington while carrying a 10 by 6 foot wooden cross on the day before Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
“I look forward to the youth pilgrimage every year,” said Bishop Malooly. “It is very inspiring for me to join with youth from across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore in this prayerful witness to God’s mercy and love for us.”
In keeping with the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, this year’s pilgrimage theme is “Mercy in Motion.” Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catholic Youth Ministry, the event features prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic adoration, and Mass during stops at four Wilmington Catholic churches.
Pilgrimage participants will gather at the St. E’s Center on Cedar Street, at St. Elizabeth Parish for registration, opening prayer, and a concert by Catholic musician and speaker, Noelle Garcia.
From St. E’s, the cross will be carried to Saint Francis Hospital on North Clayton Street where a litany will be prayed for the patients in the hospital, and the bishop will offer a blessing for the sick and their caregivers.
The next stop is St. Anthony of Padua Church on North DuPont Street where pilgrims will have the opportunity to go to confession and also have a brown-bag lunch.
Wilmington’s Tilton Park is the next stop where participants will pray the Stations of the Cross. The cross will then be carried to St. Paul Church, at West 4th and North Jackson Streets for Eucharistic adoration and Benediction. From St. Paul’s, the pilgrims will walk to St. Hedwig Church on Linden Street where the Palm Sunday liturgy will begin with the commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.
Finally, pilgrims will process back to St. Elizabeth Church for Mass with Bishop Malooly. The pilgrimage route map is online at http://www.cdowcym.org/documents/events/PPG_Walking_Route.pdf
More information about Mercy in Motion Youth Pilgrimage is online at www.cdowcym.org or available by calling the Office of Catholic Youth Ministry at 302-658-3800.
