The Archdiocesan Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring a Catholic Youth Pilgrimage Walk on Saturday, April 17. The goal of the event is for the youth of the Archdiocese to journey spiritually and physically to the sacred space of the Archdiocesan Cathedral. Along the way the participants will experience a fun and faith-filled day with the greater Church.
The 6.2-mile walk will begin with song and prayer at The Grotto – the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (NE Sandy Blvd at 85th Ave).
The pilgrimage will start at 9:00 am. The participants will then walk along Sandy Boulevard to Our Lady of Lavang Church (5404 NE Alameda Dr.) for a Keynote address and music. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at both The Grotto and Our Lady of Lavang. Finally, the pilgrimage will move along Sandy Blvd. to Burnside and cross the Burnside Bridge. As a service project, the participants have been asked to bring a new pair of socks. The pilgrims will drop off the socks at the Downtown Chapel – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, which will distribute the socks to those in need. Then the pilgrims will continue to St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (NW 18th and Couch). Archbishop John G. Vlazny will celebrate a closing liturgy with the youth at the 5:30 pm Mass.
The Keynote address will be given by Deacon Steve Herrera from the Diocese of San Jose. He will speak on behalf on Catholic Relief Services. Music will be presented
by spiritandsong.com, a division of OCP, artists Curtis Stephan and Jackie Francois. Catholic Relief Services and spiritandsong.com are co-sponsoring the speaker and musicians.
Steve Herrera graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor’s degree in theology in 1976. He continued his studies at the University of San Francisco earning a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology in 1981. He has taught theology in Catholic high schools for the past 33 years. He currently teaches at Archbishop Mitty High School in the Diocese of San Jose. Steve was ordained a Deacon in 2006 for the Diocese of San Jose. He coordinates several teen and adult immersion programs in his diocese, and also serves as a Catholic Relief Services Global Fellow. He assists in educating Catholic adults and youth about CRS international development and relief work.
Curtis Stephan received a Bachelor’s degree in music and then a Master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of Northern Texas. Curtis then accepted a call from St. Ann’s Church in Coppell, Texas to be the Youth Music Minister. The parish has 18,000 members. At St. Ann’s Curtis found his life’s mission: “to spread the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that is starving for it.” His current CD Sacred Revolution was released on the label spiritandsong.com, a division of OCP.
Jackie Francois is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, speaker and youth minister in Placentia, CA. She attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia for 22 years.
While in college she served as the president of the Newman Catholic Club at Cal State Fullerton, and served as a volunteer youth minister and musician. In 2006 she served as youth minister at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Ventura, before returning to Placentia for full-time music ministry. Jackie is currently a host for the spiritandsong.com’s webcast, “The Commons,” and for spiritandsong.com’s Perfect Playlist Podcasts. She released an album Your Kingdom is Glorious through spiritandsong.com in 2008.
Teens and their chaperones must register through their parish or school. Parish and school registration and preparation material for group leaders is available at https://ym.archdpdx.org. The cost is $15 per person, and advanced registration is required. A promotional streaming video is also available at the web site. Questions should be directed to the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry [email protected].
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