"It's a good visible witness as we walk through the city," co-organizer Chris Horan said.
"To people who aren't Catholic, people who are Catholic, to just plant seeds and show them that Catholicism is not dead, it's growing and growing, and maybe is more alive than ever."
The homilist at Mass on Saturday pointed to St. Joseph as a model of silent masculinity.
"Given that [St. Joseph] said absolutely nothing in scripture...when he would have spoken, he was obedient, he was prayerful, and he's just the perfect model of silence, I think," Horan said.
"And especially for men who are flooded with junk in the culture, it can be hard for us to keep St. Joseph in mind. But if we do that then it's only going to bring us grace...that's the main model for us as husbands, fathers, brothers, and even those called to the priesthood."
Fr. Gustavo Serpa, a member of the Miles Christi religious order based in Detroit, was the official chaplain for the pilgrimage, giving several talks over the course of the weekend.

Horan said he appreciated Father Gustavo's presence on the pilgrimage.
"I think his youth, his love of the Church, his love of St. Joseph have helped get us through and been a good example and model for us," Horan commented.
Many of the participants pointed to the silence aspect as one of the most helpful parts of the pilgrimage, and one that helped them to bond with their fellow men.
"You can hear the cars going by, the footsteps on the pavement, and sometimes even voices. But it gives you an opportunity when you're not required to be speaking or doing things - it lets your mind and your soul kind of settle down and be quiet with Christ for a little while," Bill Hennessy, 55, reflected.
Cory Ross, a 30-year-old stay at home dad, was similarly inspired by the call to silence in his everyday life.
"Silence is one of those things that we can hold as an important practice in our daily lives," he said. "And Father kind of talked about how it helps us grow in virtue and reflect upon our lives and purpose and things of that nature. It has been really profitable."
For Yount, a weightlifter, the pilgrimage was an opportunity to take on a physical challenge while also developing the virtues he has come to value as a convert to the Catholic faith. He said he got to tell his conversion story at his home parish soon after last year's Joseph Challenge.
"I think of things in terms of the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, and then the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity," Yount explained.
So, he says, he always approaches anything he does with the question: "How does each thing that I'm doing here help to build one of those virtues?" In terms of the St. Joseph Challenge, he said, he'll be pondering what virtues are in play; certainly fortitude and prudence.
Rome of the Midwest
Apart from being a physical challenge and an opportunity for silent retreat, the pilgrimage offered a unique opportunity for the men to experience the Catholic culture of the city.
"It's a city that I had always just kind of driven through before, but I have a totally different understanding of St. Louis now, having walked through it," Yount said.
Much of the city's robust Catholic culture originates in the mid-19th century, when a massive influx of foreign immigrants - many from Germany, Ireland, and Italy- arrived in the area, complementing the dominant French heritage in the city at that time.
Today, there are around 180 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and so many beautiful Catholic churches that the city has been unofficially dubbed the "Rome of the Midwest."
"Having walked all the way from Manchester to downtown, and realizing just how Catholic the city is. How strong the Catholic heritage of St. Louis is – I had no idea," Yount said. "But now I know, and I tell people all the time: if you're ever in St. Louis, there are these places that you don't want to miss that are of importance to us as Catholics."
Push to the finish
Bright and early Sunday morning, the men packed their belongings, and set off on the final day of the pilgrimage. Today would involve about 10 more miles before they reached their destination: The Shrine of St. Joseph, downtown.
Eventually, to the pilgrims' delight, the shining curves of the St. Louis Arch, located on the riverfront in the heart of downtown, came into view. Soon the shrine itself was in view, and the group was all smiles as they finally approached the impressive edifice – just in time for the regularly scheduled 11 a.m. Sunday Mass.
Many of the men's wives and families were there to meet them at the end of their pilgrimage. They knelt in front of the shrine and prayed a litany to St. Joseph as they concluded their journey.

"If you want something more physical – physical suffering, physical sacrifice, as opposed to just spiritual sacrifice – come out and join us next year. You're only going to get grace from it, meeting like-minded Catholic men, and you're going to grow, God willing, in greater devotion to St. Joseph," Horan said.
"You'll experience beautiful liturgies, and you'll take what you experience from this back home to your wives, your kids."
The spiritual experience isn't all the men will bring back with them.
"Of course, I'll be taking the blisters and the aches and pains back, too," Swackhammer added.
All in all, it was a fitting introduction to the concept of pilgrimage, something many of the men had not encountered before.
"You may have to start small, but I think we make everything too stress-free and too easy, which also leads to distraction, and comfort, and not a lot of difference from our day to day lives," Hennessy reflected.
"And being on foot, with being disconnected from our creature comforts for a few hours, a few days, it makes it much much easier to focus on what you're supposed to be focused on, which is basically getting to heaven."
All photos credit: Jonah McKeown / CNA.
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.