COEUR d'ALENE — About 300 Catholics began their annual pilgrimage Friday from Post Falls to Cataldo Mission.

"It's a sign of our faith as public profession," said one of the people walking on Mullan Avenue. "But also in reparation for sins, for the salvation of souls."

The group of men, women and children from around Kootenai County started the Pilgrimage of Reparation and Prayer for the Sanctity of Life about 5:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church. They walked about 20 miles on a cool, cloudy Friday, following the North Idaho Centennial Trail toward Higgens Point, finally stopping just north of Wolf Lodge.

As they went, they carried banners that declared their faith, with the statements, "Our Mother of Perpetual Help Pray for Us," and "St. Anthony Pray for Us."

Some held rosaries and prayed as they walked. A few drivers honked to show support, eliciting waves in response.

Today, they'll walk another 15 miles or so before taking an overnight break near Rose Lake.

On Sunday, their pilgrimage comes to an end. All told, they'll cover about 50 miles.

The Mission of the Sacred Heart in Cataldo was built between 1850 and 1853 by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.