A pilgrimage is a gift that helps us recognise the tracks of God in the world and to practice wonder in all our encounters.

For as long as humans have walked, they have walked to get closer to their gods. The Greeks, the Israelites, the Mayans, the Chinese, even the Incas made these quests. The spiritual practice of pilgrimage is as ancient as they come. Jesus hailed these journeys, along with the Buddha, and the Prophet Mohammad. One such journey in the Christian Tradition was travelled by the three kings towards the East in search of the coming Messiah: “Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage’” (Matt 2:1-2). Within this context, representing the setting out of humanity towards Christ, our pilgrimage finds its purpose; a journey to a sacred place to usher us into the presence of God and a new way of being.

Our pilgrimage is not, therefore, a tour or a holiday. Instead, it is a journey of intentionality within a geography of faith. We are blessed by and recognize that which is sacred, whether in mind and thanksgiving or in action and engagement. We witness the lives and stories of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Peru who are inspired by the charism of Saint Mary Mackillop; her goodness and reverence for the dignity of others, especially those most neglected. The Sisters have worked in Peru for thirty-seven years. We celebrate their rich heritage among those they serve in this country and move along a path where traces of holiness are scattered, in places where God’s grace has been shown in amazing ways, and where the fruit of conversion and holiness grow. We keep our eyes and hearts open to listen and to feel the people who the Sisters live and work with, discovering their contribution to love and peace as well.

Added to this, our pilgrimage is a time to step away from the things we can control (and subsequently tend to control us) and spend time in the world not made by humankind, but by God. Nature has a way of turning us into pilgrims and there are many amazing masterpieces of nature to experience on this journey. Oftentimes nothing can reorient us more to the transcendent than a journey to the mountains (Machu Picchu) or an expansive lake (Lake Titicaca). They offer us an opportunity to slide through a thin membrane in the universe and be in concert with our creator. The challenge for us as pilgrims, is to see beneath the surface of our journey: to feel it, taste it, immerse ourselves in it fully. It is for this reason that spiritual practices are vital for remaining present to our interior journey along the way and why we travel in simplicity, with an importance placed on silence, critical reflection, and prayer.

By its very nature, pilgrimage undoes certainty. Sometimes our steps will not be easy. The good news is that we can make each step count as they lead us from the person we were, to the person growing with deeper sensitivity to God’s view point. Indeed, we can even welcome such grace-filled moments, for it is here that new insights are given, deeper understanding is attained, blessings are received, healing takes place, and life is seen with different eyes. Nothing is ever quite the same again after a pilgrimage. We can return home able to live our lives and vocations more generously and with deeper significance.

Pilgrim, there is nothing accidental about you and I being on this pilgrimage. In each of us was some vague yearning, desire, or a call to adventure. These are the opening clarions of any spiritual journey. If you see your invitation as serendipitous and divine, the journey on which you embark may be life-altering. One thing is for certain, it is the Sacred Guide who leads the journey each step of the way.

Caminen con Dios, Peregrinos. Walk with God, Pilgrims.

Sandra Stadhams