Church pilgrimage takes place April 13

A total of 35 churches in Ulster and Dutchess counties will participate on April 13 in the Holy Thursday tradition whereby people make pilgrimages to seven churches.

The tradition was begun by St. Philip Neri in the 16th century. It spread to the United States and was popular in the 1950s

and 1960s. The custom was revived in Ulster County in 2011. Tis year, 18 Dutchess County churches will take part for the first time.

The self-directed pilgrimage begins after the evening Mass of The Lord’s Supper, usually at one’s home parish, and continues on to six additional churches. The pilgrimage to seven churches usually takes about three hours. Fewer churches may be visited.

The Mass commemorates Jesus’ institution of The Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. Afterward, Jesus went out with his apostles to the Garden of Gethsemane and asked them to watch with him while he prayed before his arrest and crucifixion. The Garden of Gethsemane is replicated by each church’s altar of repose, which will be decorated with flowers and other flora.

Participants may gain a plenary of indulgence on Holy Thursday evening should they be in a church where the ancient Latin hymn “Tantum Ergo” is sung at the end of the Mass of The Lord’s Supper.

Holy Thursday Pilgrim Bread will be available at St. Mary’s Roman Cath-

olic Church, 166 Broadway, Kingston. According to custom, sweet rolls were decorated colorfully with wheat and grapes in honor of The Lord’s Supper.

Parishes will be provided with pamphlets

listing the Holy Thursday Mass time of The Lord’s Supper, place of altar of repose and closing time of the churches in their county. The pamphlets will be made available on the fifth Sunday of Lent on April 2 and Palm Sunday on April 9.

To request a pamphlet or more information, call coordinator Gloria Ausubel at (845) 338-3150.