LEWISTON – A morning-long pilgrimage to the city’s five Catholic churches will be held Dec. 29 beginning at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Bartlett Street.

The walking tour is designed as an opportunity for people, especially youths and young adults, to learn the history of the city’s churches and to celebrate what each will bring as the five consolidate into one parish on Jan. 1.

The five, to be known as the Prince of Peace Parish, are Holy Cross on Croix Street, Holy Family on Sabattus Street, the basilica, St. Joseph’s on Main Street and St. Patrick’s on Bates Street.

The churches will be administered by three priests: the Right Rev. Marc Caron, the Rev. Nathan March and the Rev. Joseph Daniels.

The pilgrimage will begin with the 7 a.m. daily Mass at the basilica, followed by a brunch, a talk and a tour. At each church, participants will receive a tour detailing the church’s interesting features and history, will pray for the parishioners and will receive religious medals of the patron saints of the churches.

The walk ends at Holy Family Church with lunch.

Although a new parish is forming, church-goers won’t see many changes at their individual churches, the Rev. March said. The churches will be administered much the way schools are administered. “The parish allows us to centralize our offices, our books, finances,” he said.

Monsignor Caron will be in charge of the churches and there will be one parish council composed of members from all five.

For more information, call the Prince of Peace Parish office at 777-1200.