NCYC Pilgrimage Experience
How exciting and inspiring that you and the youth from your parish/school have been called to partake on this journey of faith together. It is so important to stress to your pilgrims the purpose of a pilgrimage and to give them the tools necessary to make NCYC 2011 a life changing experience. Below, you will find a very simple start-up guide to making the NCYC experience more than just a conference; this is by no means an extensive how-to guide for pilgrimages, but rather a starting point. You should reference the NCYC website, the NCYC group leader resource page for your parish or diocese, and local leadership as you develop a pilgrimage plan.
What Is a Pilgrimage Anyway?
"A pilgrimage differs from a tour in several important ways. It is a personal invitation from God, comprised of his offer and dependent upon the pilgrim's acceptance. God's call may vary but the purpose remains consistent: It is an individual summons to know God more fully. A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey to which the pilgrim joyfully responds 'yes' to God's invitation.
Although in previous centuries many trials were intrinsic to a pilgrimage, the modern pilgrim has an abundance of affordable travel options, yet the purpose remains unchanged. It is a journey to a holy, sacred place to usher the pilgrim into the presence of God.
The pilgrim must embark on this journey with joyful anticipation, being willing temporarily to separate himself or herself from the world and to offer himself or herself in humble service to another. A successful pilgrimage involves a commitment to leave behind one's problems and to focus instead on seeking to learn more about our heavenly Father, making one's heart full of desire for special graces, praises, petitions and thanksgiving, returning home transformed, renewed and restored by the abundant blessings received." *
Helpful Tips for Pilgrimage Planning
- Provide training and formation for the adult chaperones, rooted in prayer and faith sharing, so that you model for them what they are to do with their young people.
- When promoting NCYC use pilgrimage language such as: "we're making a pilgrimage to NCYC" instead of "we're taking a trip to Indy"
- Remember and reinforce through actions that "It's about the people, not the program."
- Be organized in the trip (but also be open to the Spirit when things don't go exactly as planned).
- Develop rules for the pilgrimage (NFCYM, leaders, youth) and invite the pilgrims and chaperones to sign a covenant to adhere by those expectations throughout the pilgrimage.
Goals of a Pilgrimage
The goals of a pilgrimage, especially for youth, should reflect the general goals for youth ministry found in Renewing the Vision. As a reminder, those goals are:
- To draw young people into responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community
- To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today
- To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person