Hundreds of Catholic youths joined Bishop Francis Malooly and carried a 10 by 6 foot wooden cross over three miles through the streets of Wilmington on the day before Palm Sunday, Saturday, March 27, 2010, as part of the first Diocese of Wilmington’s Take Up Your Cross/Toma Tu Cruz Pilgrimage. Sponsored by the Office of Catholic Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Wilmington, the event also featured prayer, a luncheon rally and concert, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), Eucharistic Adoration and Mass during stops at four Wilmington Catholic churches.
“The pilgrimage is a chance for young people, specifically those in grades 6 through 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,” said Mr. Patrick Donovan, Director of the Office for Catholic Youth Ministry for the diocese. “During the pilgrimage, young people from across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore will take turns carrying the cross alongside Bishop Malooly.”
Pilgrimage participants parked at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium at the Wilmington Riverfront and was shuttled to St. Ann Church on Union Street for registration and opening prayer beginning at 9:30 a.m. At 10:50 a.m. the group departed for St. Anthony of Padua Church located at Ninth and Dupont Streets. Activities at St. Anthony begin at 11:50 a.m. and included a brown bag lunch brought by pilgrims, a concert featuring local bands and dynamic Catholic speaker Steve Angrisano as emcee. At 1:15 p.m., the pilgrimage departed for St. Paul Church located at Fourth and Jackson Streets with arrival there scheduled for 2:15 p.m. when Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and other prayers were held. At 3:30 p.m., the pilgrimage continued to St. Elizabeth Church at Cedar and Clayton Streets for Mass at 5:00 p.m. Optional evening activities at St. Elizabeth included dinner in Grant Hall and a concert in the Benedictine Performing Arts Center on the campus of St. Elizabeth High School for those who have purchased advanced tickets.
