The beautiful liturgies of Holy Week and Easter should strengthen the faith and families of every Catholic, young or old.

That’s why Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, is again extending an invitation to Catholics throughout the Diocese of Peoria — especially Catholic youth — to join him as he and the priests of the diocese renew their solemn priestly promises at the annual Chrism Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday, April 7, at 1 p.m.

It is also the reason he will lead a group of young people on a pilgrimage to churches in the city of Peoria after the April 9 Mass of Holy Thursday, which begins at the cathedral at 7:15 p.m.

When the Holy Thursday liturgy concludes and the Blessed Sacrament is placed on the altar of repose at St. Mary’s Cathedral on April 9, Bishop Jenky will take a busload of young Catholics to pray at Sacred Heart Church in downtown Peoria, according to Msgr. Stanley Deptula, director of the diocesan Office of Divine Worship.

Next, the pilgrims will go to St. Philomena’s Church to worship at the altar of repose there. They will then visit St. Vincent de Paul’s Church before returning to the cathedral for final prayers and dismissal.

The Holy Thursday pilgrimage is meant to revive an old tradition, said Msgr. Deptula.

The tradition is still alive in Poland, and Bishop Jenky and Msgr. Deptula were familiar with it since they are both of Polish descent. Last year they made Holy Thursday visits to Peoria churches together.

But it was one of Bishop Jenky’s fellow bishops in Illinois who inspired him to bring the tradition back in the Diocese of Peoria.

“We stole the idea from Bishop (J. Peter) Sartain in Joliet,” Msgr. Deptula said. Bishop Sartain had led youth on a Holy Thursday pilgrimage to several churches last year.

“I think a minute after he heard it, Bishop Jenky asked us to put together a similar pilgrimage,” said Msgr. Deptula.