7:00 p.m. to Midnight
Cathedral of St. Raymond
Free bus shuttle service will be available.
Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.
or caravan behind the bus, and meet the rest of the group at each stop.
Who can attend?
This Midnight Pilgrimage is aimed at college students and young adults age 18 to 39, married and single, Catholic or otherwise.
People of all ages are welcome to follow the young adults and Bishop Sartain on their pilgrimage from church to church that evening. However, we ask that those outside the young adult age range be respectful to the fact that this event is specifically geared to those in college and young adults age 18 to 39.
NO REGISTRATIONor RSVP REQUIRED TO ATTEND.
ALL YOUNG ADULTS ARE WELCOME.
ALSO: THERE IS NO COST FOR THE SHUTTLE BUS.
Thanks to the Diocesan Annual Ministries Appeal, there is no cost for the college students and young adults on the pilgrimage that evening.
Schedule for the Evening
Times are approximate, based on weather, driving conditions, and other factors. We anticipate spending about ten to fifteen minutes at each church listed below for a brief prayer service with Bishop Sartain and time for prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord's Supper
Bishop Sartain, presiding
Cathedral of St. Raymond
604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet 60435
8:30 p.m. Depart Cathedral of St. Raymond
8:45 p.m. Church Visit #1
Holy Cross Parish
901 Elizabeth St., Joliet 60435
9:10 p.m. Church Visit #2
St. Mary Nativity Parish
706 N. Broadway St., Joliet 60435
9:35 p.m. Church Visit #3
St. Joseph Parish
416 N. Chicago St., Joliet 60432
10:00 p.m. Church Visit #4
St. Patrick Parish
710 W. Marion St., Joliet 60436
10:25 p.m. Church Visit #5
St. Paul the Apostle Parish
18 Woodlawn Ave., Joliet 60435
11:05 p.m. Church Visit #6
Holy Family Parish
600 N. Brookforest Ave., Shorewood 60431
11:45 p.m. Church Visit #7
Cathedral of St. Raymond
604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet 60435
12:00 a.m. End of the Midnight Pilgrimage
What's a Midnight Pilgrimage?
The seven-church pilgrimage in Joliet is modeled after the seven-church visitation that pilgrims take in the city of Rome, Italy, each year.
The travelers visit the seven major Catholic churches in Rome (these are, traditionally: St. John Lateran, St. Peter's Basillica, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, St. Lawrenece Outside-the-Walls, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and St. Sebastian Outside-the-Walls).
This pilgrimage has been a Catholic custom for centuries and in many countries and languages.
After the Mass of the Lord's Supper, many churches remain open for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament so that worshippers can pray until the midnight hour, reenacting the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane, whom Jesus told, "Remain here and keep watch with me." (Matt. 26:38). This time of prayer and adoration allows us to keep watch with Jesus on the night before Good Friday.
The number seven is significant for many reasons. One idea behind the choice of seven churches in Rome (and Joliet) is that there were seven deacons in Rome in the early Church, whose responsibility it was to minister to the poor in their region of the city. With this in mind, it is appropriate for pilgrims to pray for the poor, the sick, and the unloved who live near or around each church on the pilgrimage.
For more information
If you have additional questions, please contact Paul Jarzembowski at the Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Mnistry at (815) 727-6411, ext. 261, or email him at pjarzembowski@dioceseofjoliet.org.
SPONSORED BY
Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Ministry
in cooperation with Spirit & Truth
