(Note Friar Nicholas processing just behind Archbishop Lori near the bottom of the picture. You can recognize him by the hood of his habit over his vestments.)

2016 Palm Sunday Vigil – St. Casimir sanctuary photo taken by a pilgrim from the youth program of our pastoral ministry of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (Baltimore)

Each year, at the start of Holy Week, our pastoral ministry of St. Casimir Church (Baltimore, MD) is home to the Closing Mass of the Archdiocesan Youth & Young Adult Pilgrimage, a tradition in the Archdiocese of Baltimore since its inception in 1993 by His Eminence Cardinal William H. Keeler (Retired). The pilgrims (which include members of several of our pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese of Baltimore) begin the day with the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (clergy from all over the Archdiocese participated, including Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Matt Foley, OFM Conv., who serves the students of our high school ministry, Archbishop Curley High School. Check out the link at the bottom of this article for a picture of Friar Matt and a young pilgrim at Confession.) and an encouraging rally led by the Archbishop, who then leads a Eucharistic Procession to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Adoration. The group moves onto Baltimore City’s War Memorial Plaza to eat an outdoor lunch and pray the Rosary together, then onto the Stations of the Cross and some spiritual music before joining their bishops (Archbishop William E. Lori and Bishop Denis J. Madden) for the last hour of the walk through the streets of Baltimore, as an act of prayer, with the hope of encountering God both along the way, as well as at the end of their journey. The bishops and pilgrims share in the burden of bearing a large cross on their shoulders as they process through the streets, going from place to place, learning a little more about your faith at each stop. The final destination is a Palm Sunday Vigil Mass Celebration with the parishioners of St. Casimir Church, concelebrated by the pastor, Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Dennis Grumsey.
This year, Friar Nicholas Rokitka, OFM Conv. served the Archbishop as Deacon during the Mass. Please keep him in your prayers during these final months of formation. His Ordination to the Priesthood is planned for June 25, 2016, to be held at St. Casimir Church.
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