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Conceived originally when he was serving as Bishop of Harrisburg, PA, the idea of carrying a cross through the streets of town on the Saturday before Palm Sunday was the brainchild of William Cardinal Keeler, retired Archbishop of Baltimore. Bishop W. Francis Malooly, the Bishop of Wilmington, served as Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore under Cardinal Keeler and participated for years in the diocesan pilgrimage in Baltimore. When he arrived in Wilmington, Bishop Malooly “carried” the idea up the road and invited the young people of the Diocese of Wilmington to consider beginning their own tradition of pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage is a chance for young people, specifically those in grades 6-12, their families, and young adults in the diocese to commemorate Jesus‘ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and his own pilgrimage to Calvary on Good Friday. During the pilgrimage, young people from parishes and schools take turns carrying the cross alongside Bishop Malooly.
The Pilgrimage Cross, a replica of the World Youth Day Cross (which was given to the young people of the world by Pope John Paul II in 1984), was constructed by members of the Youth Leadership Team and carried by the team at the opening liturgy of the One Spirit, One Church conference on March 1, 2009, where Bishop Malooly blessed the cross for its use in our communities.
On March 27, 2010, more than 400 youth and adult leaders carried the cross through the city streets of Wilmington in our diocese’s first Youth Pilgrimage. In 2011, more than 700 youth and young adults attended. The third Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage is set for Saturday, March 31, 2012.
Related pages that might interest you.
Categories: Pilgrimage
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