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March 21, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 6Oakland,
CA
Commentary
Tips for turning travel into pilgrimage
One of my fond memories of communal prayer is
the time my husband and I participated in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s
annual Pilgrimage for Peace. This event, held during Lent, involves taking
a sacred journey to a little historic church in Chimayó, a village
about 27 miles from Santa Fe in northern New Mexico.
The 19th-century, mission-style adobe church called “El Santuario”
has been a popular pilgrimage destination for many generations. Currently,
about 300,000 pilgrims each year trek to Chimayó, offering prayers
of thanksgiving and petition, collecting a pinch of “sacred dirt,”
and creating the type of spiritual atmosphere that has earned the place
the nickname the “Lourdes of America.”
For me, the memory that stands out from that day is the Christian camaraderie
that I felt with fellow pilgrims along the way, people of all ages, sizes
and shapes, assisting each other, following the life-size wooden cross
up and down the soft hills dotted with piñon pine, chamisa, and
juniper bushes—a Georgia O’Keeffe landscape come to life.
I sensed a special spiritual oneness as we prayed the rosary, sang hymns,
or sometimes just walked in prayerful silence.
People of all faith traditions have found meaning in traveling to holy
places, observes Edward Sellner, professor of pastoral theology and spirituality,
in his new book, “Pilgrimage” (Sorin Books, 2004).
Moslems travel to Mecca, the sacred city of Islam. Hindus and Buddhists
of India journey to the Ganges River in search of inner renewal. Ancient
Greek pilgrims traveled to the Acropolis, the Parthenon, or to Delphi.
Christians go to the Holy Land, Rome, Fatima, Lourdes, or Santiago de
Compostela, Spain.
Most of us don’t have the time or financial backing to go to some
faraway, exotic pilgrimage destination. It can be rather challenging just
to pack the kids and all the gear into the family car. But that doesn’t
have to keep us from our own prayer journey. Below are some tips for planning
your next family pilgrimage.
Develop a pilgrim heart. In their book “The Journey: A Guide for
the Modern Pilgrim” (Loyola Press, 2004), husband and wife authors
Michael and María Scaperlanda discuss the difference between being
a tourist and being a pilgrim. Tourists seek entertainment and adventure
as main goals, whereas pilgrims seek spiritual values that lead to long-term
happiness and communion with God.
Select a sacred destination. Families might include a pilgrimage site
in their annual vacation. For example, when my husband and I visited Disney
World, we attended Mass at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando
and visited the Shrine of Our Lady of la Leche in St. Augustine. When
vacationing in Chicago, we drove to Holy Hill, a shrine church in Hubertus,
Wisconsin, walking all 178 stairs of the scenic tower. Mission churches
in California or the Southwest are also good stopping points. (See www.catholicshrines.net
for more shrine locations.)
Involve children in the preparation. Before a pilgrimage to Europe, the
Scaperlandas bought each family member a book on a different country as
a Christmas present. Each person learned about that country and taught
the others in preparation for their trip.
Include places of natural beauty. In my experience, many sacred places
are ones God put together: Monument Valley, the Colorado Rockies, the
Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, or Acadia National Park in Maine. When
exploring these natural wonders, nurture awe and wonder in your children
and thank God together for the beauty of creation.
Pack a few prayer aids. Prayer materials such as rosaries, miniature New
Testaments, or copies of Night Prayer are some examples given by the Scaperlandas.
Tune in to spiritual music. Sellner suggests listening to meditative music
while traveling, to encourage reflection.
Set a reflective pace. The Scaperlandas remind us that pilgrimage is not
a rat-race. Allow extra time so that you can be alert to blessed surprises
from God. For instance, if you are visiting the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., allow plenty
of time to explore the many nooks and crannies containing images of Mary,
discuss religious symbols, light a candle, and pray together.
Record your experiences, thoughts, and feelings in a journal. Let each
child have their own journal for this. Sample journal-starters are given
in “The Journey.”
Share what you gained. Sellner recommends some sort of ritual to commemorate
your return home.
Reflect together on the experiences of your journey while organizing your
photos. Carry new insights into your everyday life.
(Julie McCarty, M.A.T., is a freelance writer from Eagan, Minnesota,
whose syndicated column on prayer, “The Prayerful Heart,”
appears in diocesan newspapers around the country. Contact her at soulwriting@yahoo.com.)
