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Pilgrims
“We are pilgrims on a journey. We are travlers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.”
Many of us have sung these lyrics from The Servant Song by Richard Gillard, but do we really think of ourselves as pilgrims? Do we craft our lives with our final destination in mind, or are we tempted to give undue weight to the temporarygoals and baggage of life? After all, what does it really mean to be a pilgrim?
What does it mean to be a pilgrim?
In a religious context, a pilgrim is simply a person who makes a journey to a sacred place. We, indeed, are a pilgrim people travelling through this life to our heavenly home. Yet most of us could benefit from smaller pilgrimages along the way to guide our spiritual growth and strengthen our faith. In fact, making a pilgrimage is a long-cherished tradition of the Catholic Church. A pilgrimage offers the opportunity to step away from the cares and stress of
daily life and live in the moment. The journey may be long, such as travelling to the Holy Land or walking the Camino de Santiago, or it may be as short as visiting a nearby shrine. The idea is that the physical journey accompanies and amplifies the interior journey of the spirit. These sacred journeys can bring clarity to our minds, hearts, and souls not merely by reaching the destination, but rather through the process of seeking our God along the path.
What should I expect?
Approach a pilgrimage as an adventure of the spirit. In many cases, the destination itself may provide benefits, such as insight into the historical Church, inspiration through the experience of awe and beauty, or moments when the inherent peace and relative silence of the place allow us to hear God’s voice. Yet, we can expect even more from the journey if we prepare with a specific goal in mind.
A pilgrim is not a tourist, who partakes of the joys and unique experiences of a place without giving much in return. A pilgrim has a spiritual purpose in mind which will require some sense of sacrifice. There is the worldly sacrifice of time and the normal burden of travel, but there is also, more importantly, a spiritual sacrifice that calls us to turn away from everything in our lives that is not of God and turn toward all that is of God. Bringing this intentional desire for conversion on the journey with us allows us to approach the destination ready to receive God’s blessings. Therefore, when preparing for a pilgrimage, let’s ask the Lord in prayer to reveal to us
what things in our lives are keeping us from holiness. Let’s bring with us a desire to let go of these things and ask for forgiveness. Let’s celebrate with joy God’s mercy and the hope that he longs to nurture in our hearts.
Pope Francis gave the Jubilee Year 2025 the theme Pilgrims of Hope. He encouraged all Christians to trust in God’s promises and be beacons of hope in the world through acts of mercy and faith. Let’s ask God to fill us with the desire to do so!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
Where should I go?
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has designated local sites as places of pilgrimage for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
We are invited in a very special way to encounter God’s love and mercy through a pilgrimage.Whether you have never made a pilgrimage before or you are a seasoned pilgrim who has
traveled to many holy sites, I invite you to embrace this tradition and journey to one of the sacred places in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Clear your calendar and prepare your heart.
Choose one or all of the options below and become a pilgrim for a day with other members of our parish community!- July 24 (Thursday) – The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee
- 4:00pm Tour led by a docent with option for Reconciliation
- 5:15pm Mass
- Personal prayer and reflection time
- 10:00am Mass
- 11:15am Tour led by a docent
- Personal prayer time, relics in lower chapel
- 6:00pm Brief history and information provided by a Schoenstatt Sister
- 6:30pm Explore outdoor Stations of the Cross, Marian Grotto, walking paths
- Reconciliation available
- 7:30pm Mass in the Shrine
- 9:30-11:00am Explore outdoor Way of the Cross, Lourdes Grotto, scenic tower
- Reconciliation available, chapels, gift shop, café
- 11:00am Mass in the Basilica
For more information or to sign up, email Director or Adult Formation Nancy Boerger.nboerger@stpaulgenesee.net - July 24 (Thursday) – The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee
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