"Remain here and keep watch with me."  Matt. 26:38

Holy Thursday

Midnight Pilgrimage

Holy Thursday Evening

April 1, 2010

7:00 p.m. to Midnight

with Bishop J. Peter Sartain

Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet

On Holy Thursday, the sacred evening commemorating

the night before Christ died, Bishop Sartain will lead

college students and young adults to several churches

in the Joliet area up through the midnight hour.

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The seven-church pilgrimage begins at the

Cathedral of St. Raymond

604 North Raynor Avenue, Joliet, Illinois

Free bus shuttle service will be available.

Cars can be parked in the parking lot at the

Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.

If there is a large crowd that night, young adults will be allowed on the

shuttle bus with those with special needs first, followed by a first-come,
first-serve basis. The remaining young adults, however, are free to carpool

or caravan behind the bus, and meet the rest of the group at each stop.

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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 REGISTRATION or 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 for Pilgrimage Walk

                   Visiting the following sites in Joliet: 

                   * Pope John Paul II Discernment House

                   * St. John the Baptist Parish

                   * Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish

                   * St. Joseph Parish

                   * St. Mary Nativity Parish

11:45 p.m.    Final Closing Prayer Service

                        at the Cathedral of St. Raymond

                   604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet  60435

12:00 a.m.     End of the Midnight Pilgrimage

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What's a Midnight Pilgrimage?

The multi-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 choice of seven churches 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. 

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For more information

This event is sponsored by the Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Ministry, and planned by a team of young adults and parish young adult ministry leaders, with the prayerful support of Bishop J. Peter Sartain. 

If you have additional questions, please contact Paul Jarzembowski at the Diocesan Young Adult Ministry Office at (815) 834-4047, or email him at pjarzembowski@dioceseofjoliet.org.