ANNUAL Good Friday Pilgrimage

Friday, April 18, 2025

The Good Friday Pilgrimage has become our annual gift to the faithful of Austin and beyond. What started 10+ years ago with a small energetic group of students from UT Austin has grown to be an Austin tradition for many. Good Friday is the day Christians all over the world spiritually join Jesus Christ in His Passion and Death for the forgiveness of sins. In Austin, TX we remember Jesus’ walk to Mount Calvary with a 9-mile pilgrimage through the streets of Austin.

In 2022, approximately 800 pilgrims made the pilgrimage - from the heart of our city and diocese, St. Mary’s Cathedral, to the heart of our Blessed Mother, The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt in West Austin. Pilgrims gathered at the steps of St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown Austin, for a send-off blessing from Bishop Joe Vásquez and departed for the Marian Shrine.

Fr. Cristobal Asenjo, emphasizes, “The Good Friday Pilgrimage has become a beautiful tradition for our city, where families and individuals can come together from all over to “live” Good Friday. Taking part in this gives us the opportunity to help Jesus carry the Cross and to be aware of the profound significance this act of love means for us. We offer our Pilgrimage for those who need our prayers, renewing all hearts, and to experience the Lord's resurrection also as our own resurrection.”

The group passes through the streets of downtown Austin and features stops along the way for re-enactments of the Way of the Cross by various university students in character, the rosary, and a moment of silence at 3:00 pm followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Several Schoenstatt Fathers will be available to hear confessions while walking with the group.  The pilgrimage concludes at the Shrine with the traditional Good Friday Liturgy at 7:00 pm. All are invited to attend.

2025 Pilgrimage Route

Coming soon.

Join us at any point along the route if you are not able to make the full pilgrimage. Transportation will take walkers to the Shrine, we do not offer rides back to the Cathedral, please make your own arrangements.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A 9 mile walk in solemn remembrance of our Lord's sacrifice for us. The group will pass through the streets of downtown Austin, and feature stops for meditation along the way for reenactments of the Way of the Cross by various University students in character. Confessions will be available with one of the Schoenstatt Fathers walking the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will begin downtown at 10:00am from St. Mary’s Cathedral, 203 E 10th St, Austin, TX 78701 to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, 225 Addie Roy Rd, Austin, TX 78746. The Good Friday Liturgy will follow the pilgrimage at 4:00pm at the Shrine. 

  • It takes approximately 5 - 6 hours to walk the complete pilgrimage. We will stop to pray as well as stop for water, snacks and rest. The group will reach the Shrine approximately at 3:30pm to allow for time to pray the final stations at the Shrine before the liturgy at 4pm. 

  • Will you have restrooms? Yes, we will have restroom trailers at several stops for the pilgrims to use.

  • We recommend you may park at the Shrine, or in the parking lot across the street and make arrangements to be dropped off at St. Mary's. If you choose to leave your car downtown, make arrangments to get back to your car after the pilgrimage. We DO NOT provide transportation back to St. Mary's after the pilgrimage.

  • An open and prayerful heart. Snacks and water will be provided at the rest stops. Sunscreen, hat, comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended. Please DO NOT bring animals on the pilgrimage.

  • Transportation will be available at the rest stops to take pilgrims to the Shrine. If you need to stop between rest stops contact someone on our FIRST AID TEAM. You may choose to join us somewhere along the route and just do a portion of the walk.

  • 1. Pray for the pilgrimage

    We ask for your prayers for all the pilgrims walking and their intentions. May all those walking or those who will see us be able to spiritually and physically enter into the suffering and death of Our Lord and deeply live Good Friday.

    2. Donate items

    We are requesting donations of 8 oz water bottles, Gatorade/Power Aid or cash donations to purchase fresh fruit for all the pilgrims. Donations may be dropped off at the Movement House at 225 Addie Roy Rd. Please only bring the items listed, we cannot accept other items. 

    3. Make a financial donation

    Donations are needed to support the pilgrimage and the Shrine. To make a donation online go to www.schoenstatt-austin.us or you may drop off your monetary donation at the Movement House. Checks made payable to Schoenstatt Movement of Austin.

    Questions? Contact us at info@schoenstatt.us or 512-330-0602.

Connect and watch us on social media and share! We will be transmitting portions of the pilgrimage on Facebook and Instagram.

Questions? Email us at info@schoenstatt.us.