A pilgrimage is a great way for young adults to deepen their friendshipsand grow in their spiritual lives. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a pilgrimage to a local shrine with your young adult group.
- Use Google or consult your local network to find a local shrine that might be of interest to your young adult group. Look for a burial place of a local saint or a particularly beautiful or historically significant church or grotto.
- As the leader of the group, consider going to the pilgrimage site on your own a few weeks ahead of time to test your travel plans. While you are there, look for a place that would be appropriate for your group to gather, pray, and talk together.
- If this is your first pilgrimage, consider choosing a site that is close enough to home that the pilgrimage would only take about half of a day. A shorter time commitment will be easier for young adults to make than an all-day event, especially on a weekend.
- Consider scheduling the pilgrimage in a way that coincides with a particular liturgical season (like Advent or Lent) or feast day of a local saint.
- Arrange for the group to travel to the site together, either via carpool, chartered bus, public transportation, or even walking. The journey is one of the best parts of a pilgrimage!
- Make a plan to eat together along the way. If your budget allows, consider bringing snacks, treating everyone to coffee/ice cream along the way, or offering pilgrims a small cash stipend for them to buy their own food as part of the pilgrimage.
- Schedule your time at the pilgrimage site in a way that balances the following elements:
- Time for a large group event, such attending Mass, taking a tour, or listening to a talk (either hosted by the pilgrimage site or offered by a member of your group)
- Time for silent reflection and/or individual exploration of the site
- Time for the group to gather and share their insights from the experience
- If families with young children join you, be sure that the location and schedule will also work for kids. Be especially mindful of travel and mealtimes, bathroom breaks, and age-appropriate activities for the children. This will help their parents enter into the pilgrimage as well!
