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Pilgrimage Manual

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Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................... 1

Planning a Pilgrimage .............................................................................................. 2

Summary of Pilgrimage Opportunities ....................................................................... 8

Suggested Guidelines for Pilgrimage ....................................................................... 13

Pilgrimage Activity Ideas ........................................................................................ 16

Budget Planning Worksheet .................................................................................... 22

Fundraising Tips & Ideas ........................................................................................ 29

Pilgrimage Plan Countdown Calendar – Sample ........................................................ 34

Prayers for Pilgrims ................................................................................................ 36

Pilgrimage Reflection ............................................................................................. 40

Sample Release Form ............................................................................................ 44

Sample Information Form ....................................................................................... 45

Resources for Pilgrimage: Background Reading & Study ........................................... 46

Sample J2A Pilgrimage ........................................................................................... 49

Sample Schedule & Activities in NYC ....................................................................... 55

Sample Activities: Nightwatch in NYC ...................................................................... 66

The Pilgrimage Manual was originally developed by David Crean, with the assistance of Amanda Millay Hughes. Additional suggestions by Donna Hicks, St. Philip’s, Durham, NC and Tina Currin, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, TN

Updates and additions, April 2006 by Tracey E. Herzer

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Planning a Pilgrimage

Happy are they whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on the pilgrim’s way. (Psalm 84:5)

From the time of the very early Church until today, Christians have made pilgrimage to holy places as a part of their discipline and life of faith. Long before the notion of vacations, holidays, and mission trips, individuals within the Christian tradition set out to see the places where our Lord and his saints walked, slept, prayed and preached the Good News. Individuals confront the struggles of travel in unknown territory, as well as all the demands of living as a pilgrim community for the time of the journey. In the midst of all these tasks entail, there is the possibility of tremendous joy and laughter and growth… and the chance to meet our Lord in new and deeply personal ways that are sometimes surprising.

Pilgrimage has become a central feature of the Journey to Adulthood program. At the end of the fourth year, the J2A class travels to a “distant land” in search of God and their own destinies. Preparing for this trip takes tremendous amounts of time and energy. Planning, fundraising, filling out applications for passports and medical releases, as well as learning about the travel destination, all takes time, but it is time well spent. The task of raising money is especially meaningful and important, because it allows young people the opportunity to see firsthand how very difficult it can be to earn enough money for something they deeply desire. Whatever else they may feel about the religious or emotional significance of such a journey, for most of them this will be the first time in their lives that they have traveled across the ocean or across the country without parents or schoolteachers. Something about all of these dynamics rolled together creates an atmosphere in which God can move in new and exciting ways.

WHAT IS A PILGRIMAGE? 1. Pilgrimage is not a vacation or a sightseeing tour or a mission trip. Vacations create time

for relaxation and refreshment. Sightseeing tours are a time for taking in the wonders of a distant land and culture. Mission trips are principally a chance to share in spreading the Gospel. Pilgrimage is all of that and more – it is time we set aside to journey in the footsteps of the faithful Christians who have gone before us. By mindfully walking in their footsteps, we put ourselves in touch with our tradition, our roots, our God.

2. Pilgrimage is a time for seeking and finding God in new ways. Once normal activities,

relationships, and obligations which sustain our day-to-day lives are removed, individuals are free to look again at their understanding of God and their need for God’s grace and presence in their lives. It is important to note here that every moment of pilgrimage does not have to be meaningful, nor should it be. There must be time for play, laughter, quiet, and rest. But somehow, even in the lighthearted activities which enhance our relationships, there is something afoot. God is moving in the hearts of these pilgrims in ways which are undeniable.

3. The blessings of pilgrimage can take time. It is not always while we are on pilgrimage

that its true effects show. Certainly the very fact that we are away for two weeks (a good time frame for pilgrimage) helps. This is long enough for even a free spirit to begin to long for familiar food and the comfort of their own bed. But what happens on pilgrimage has to be processed in the life to which we all must return. Some pilgrims may say very little while traveling and even in the weeks and months that follow, but time will show that the long-term effects are profound. It is not only a trip that will never be forgotten: it is a journey which changes lives.

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TIPS FOR CHOOSING A LOCATION

• Choose your pilgrimage site wisely!!

• Use existing organizations such as St. George’s College in Jerusalem or Ceile De in Glendalough, Ireland. Both of these organizations have worked with young people on pilgrimage and have experience with the special concerns of teenagers. (See list of possible sites in “Summary of Pilgrimage Opportunities” which follows). If none of these options appeals to you, ask your clergy for help. It may be that they know of other organizations or have personal contacts in foreign countries which can help you find the place to which God is calling your J2A group.

• If you plan to do your own pilgrimage you will need to find a site. While overseas locations can be very exciting, they can also be cost-prohibitive for many congregations. It is not necessary to go overseas to find a good pilgrimage site. However, if at all possible, the site should be some distance from your community so there is a sense of adventure in going to it. You want to find a site that has significance as a place where people have encountered God. For example:

o Monasteries or Convents in the surrounding region or a couple of states over. These might be Episcopal, Roman Catholic or Orthodox. Contact them to see if they would be open to a group of youth pilgrims.

o Retreat Centers – Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or other

denominations. You want a place where they host spiritual retreats and can provide some outdoor space (perhaps for hiking), chapel space, etc

o Cathedrals, especially if they are in a city where there are other things you can

connect to it. Some cathedrals have a broader mission and would be interested in working with you; others are just churches and may not be open to this type of experience. Talk with their clergy and see.

o Churches that have a reputation for something significant regarding holiness:

not just doing good things, but being a place, a people where God is found.

o Other “Holy Places” – These might be places which Native Americans view as sacred, a series of churches that have sacred art worth exploring, a place where other Christians visit because there is something special there, even a place sacred to another faith group (allowing you to explore what is different about finding God and encountering Christ and what is different, for example, about being Jewish or Muslim and being Christian)

o Places in nature – One J2A group used the model of a Native American “Vision

Quest” for their pilgrimage. You can take the group on an outdoor camping experience, hiking the mountains, canoeing down a river, tenting in a meadow. Create a cathedral under the trees. Search for the sacredness in water. Explore praying the Jesus prayer or chanting to the rhythm of walking. Invite the young people to develop ways to honor the sacredness of God’s creation.

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If you do not go to a more traditional pilgrimage site, you will need to give more careful thought as to how you will create the pilgrimage experience so that it is not just a hiking trip or a visit to the city. Create experiences in which the young people can encounter the risen Lord and then reflect on that experience. Search for local people who help expose your group to interesting people and stories, to new and different places, to new and different experiences. The idea is to put young people into sacred places, into relationship with holy people: to give them enough time there to absorb it, then to invite them to reflect on their experience.

REMEMBER: Where you do it is not as important as how you do it. If you decide to design your own pilgrimage, prayerfully consider the following suggestions. The details of a trip like this are mind-boggling, so form a committee of 4-6 people who are willing to share in the task. Here are some details that must be considered: • Travel arrangements: airplane tickets, flights, costs, etc.

• Ground transportation: Van rentals, buses, trains, etc. Tourist agents can often find

vans and drivers for you. Some companies provide guided tours; others will simply go where you tell them to go, a third option is “silent guides.” They will provide the itinerary, but no lectures or comments along the way. Be very clear about what you want and need. If you’re not careful you could end up with a French-speaking tour guide in England!

• Accommodations: When considering what accommodations you wish to use,

remember that hotel/motel/B&Bs are the worst choice! Church basements, religious youth facilities, even monasteries and convents are better. Sleeping on mats on a basement floor is greatly preferable to double beds in hotel rooms. Sacrifice luxury for togetherness. Be a family – think of the time as an extended camping trip!

• Be sure to ask about the shower and bathroom facilities. It is best to have two

showers and two toilets available to use: one for males, one for females. (Three may be even better, depending on the size of your group – this would allow one shower and toilet for the use of the adults.)

• Avoid eating most of your meals in restaurants. First, the cost adds up very quickly!

Second, there is little community-building. As much as possible, the gathering and preparation of food should be the shared responsibility of all. Cooking, meals, cleanup, even grocery shopping and carrying food home can all be part of the learning process.

• Determine what you will need to bring along. Sheets, pillowcases, sleeping bags,

towels, flashlights, journals, etc.

• Local contact person: It can be an invaluable resource to have a willing and able individual waiting for you when you land, someone who can make contacts for you and set up meetings, lectures, visits to secret or lesser-known sites, etc. A local person may be able to find a dance for the young people to attend, or a play or a concert. If nothing else, a local person will know where the nearest bathrooms, drug stores, and police may be found in an emergency – not to mention an ice cream shop on a hot afternoon! ☺

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• Program itinerary: If you develop the program yourselves, you will need to set up a

reasonable (though demanding) itinerary.

� Program should begin early in the day. Allow time in the morning to make breakfast and bag lunches and then head out. Plan the days so that everyone is busy but not racing from place to place. Remember to be back at home base by 6:00 p.m. to begin preparing dinner. Dinner at 7:30 or 8:00 is acceptable and allows for a full day.

� Build in several night activities, including midnight Eucharists, night walks, candlelit prayer times, and other, more playful activities. Young people will stay up very late no matter what you do – you might as well use the time to be together and involved with each other rather than simply shouting, Lights out!

• Remember that chaperones will tire before the young people do! Each chaperone

should be encouraged to take one day off and one evening off. Sleep. Read. Go for a walk. Take a long shower. Go out for a nice lunch. Rejuvenate!

• Send for information packets from any and all sites, departments of tourism,

commerce, etc. This is a good activity for the youth themselves. Plan a research outing at a local public library. Magazines, textbooks, travelogs all hold clues on where to get more information. Also, ask the librarian or search the Internet.

• Ask a travel agent about little-known sites and wonders.

• Plan a good bit of activity for each day. Boredom can be a great enemy in this work

and poor planning of the itinerary is usually the key problem. Allow for two days off in a trip of 14 days. However, even on those days, some provision must be made for a place to be, to relax, and to play.

• Discourage tourist shopping. Limit spending money to approximately $50 per young

person. Remind youth that from this trip they will bring home things of the heart. A stone, a prayer, a postcard will mean more to them than a trinket from a tourist shop.

• Bring along decks of cards and other playful supplies. A “magic bag” can be a

great help. Pack the bag with cards, candy, gum, stationery, first aid kits, breath mints, extra toiletries, crayons, puzzles, extra batteries, Walkman, film, even an extra camera… and more! Oh, yes, and a magic trick or two if you know one. Leave home with it jammed full of emergency resources and magic. It will be virtually empty when you return. Remind young people that waiting around can be a real drag if the group isn’t prepared. Invite the young people to bring one trick or skill or game or song to entertain the whole group in the event of a long wait.

• Planning the program:

� Be Intentional – It is not enough to take youth from place to place, cameras in hand, doing a sort of “Look & See” at each site – you will need more than that.

� Offer some Teachable Moments – tell the pilgrims some of the history or spiritual significance of a place. Giving them some background will help them understand more about what they see and connect it to their spiritual lives.

� Build in activities which reinforce the site and the spirit of the

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pilgrimage. For example, in Ireland, we prayed Rounds – an ancient prayer form in which the group stands in a line and circles the holy site seven times while praying or singing. We hiked to remind ourselves that the pilgrim’s way requires endurance. We climbed a mountain in order to demonstrate that sometimes God will call us to persevere and find the path all at the same time! We threw stones (symbols of the cares of our hearts) into the Lower Lake at Glendalough as a way to visualize God’s all-consuming love and care for us.

� Every evening should include process time and prayers. This is the time to use songs, skits, icons, and prayers to reinforce and retell the day’s stories.

� Use repetition. We said Morning Prayer each day; toasted the chefs at every meal, sang the same grace every night over and over until all the plates were full and ready to be served. It hardly matters what the rituals are, but on a long trip, they become a source of comfort and familiarity in a strange land.

• Cost Control: We recommend setting a ceiling on an all-inclusive cost per person for the

entire trip. Setting a ceiling motivates you to negotiate for better airline costs and work at convincing people that the pilgrims will be all right on plain but solid foods. Do everything in your power to keep the costs down! Because this will be a repeated process, with a new group getting ready every two years, keeping the costs down will make the next pilgrimage easier to embrace. Prior to 1997, a J2A group at St. Philip’s (Durham, NC) traveled to Jerusalem for $2,300 for each pilgrim. It was a lot of money to raise. Our Ireland trip came in at $1,650, but we easily could have spent a lot more! But again, this is not a luxury vacation; this is a PILGRIMAGE.

• Inform parents early. Allow for about a year of discussion. Parents need a lot of time to

ask questions and raise concerns – remember that they are still working on their own separation issues as their child grows. They will also need time to raise their part of the cost. In addition, parental fears will surface over time. When presenting the plan to parents, try to have all the itinerary information in place and a ball park cost estimate – with about a 10% margin for error! Remind parents that their son or daughter will need a valid passport and a picture ID if the travel itinerary requires them.

• You will need church cheerleaders. Anyone who has been on a pilgrimage is your

best choice, of course. But others who understand the ideas of the program and can celebrate the notion of taking young people on this holy journey will need to raise their voices and help support all the effort necessary to make this possible. Bulletin boards, notes in the church newsletter, references to the site in sermons all help enormously.

• Choose chaperones wisely. Remember, chaperones will need to be easygoing, reliable

and willing to have next to no privacy for two weeks. They won’t get enough sleep, so resiliency and good health are key… and a hearty laugh goes a long way!

o An older person (over 65) has accompanied us on each pilgrimage. These folks bring a valuable wisdom and joy to this work. In bringing along an older member the community, we break down some of the stereotypes which fuel a “generation gap” and we open up lifelong dialogues between young and old. It also helps teach the group how to watch and care for the needs of all group members.

� Determine who is in charge. Someone has to have full responsibility. The demands and strain of this sort of travel are extremely stressful, and power struggles become even more difficult. Someone needs to be given the

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responsibility and right to draw hard-and-fast lines, and all chaperones need to agree to this in advance! Someone needs to be able to act quickly, make difficult decisions, assign tasks, and generally keep folks on track with the full support of all adult chaperones.

� One chaperone for every five or six pilgrims is a good guideline. • Fund Raising:

o Plan, Plan, Plan!!! o Design a fund-raising scheme. Estimate the amounts you can reasonably

expect from each event. Talk to someone in your parish or community who really knows about fundraising to find out realistic expectations.

o Ask for the support of clergy. This is both in spirit and in deed. Clergy can be an enormous help in holding up the vision of pilgrimage. They can also help to raise the last thousand dollars, if all else fails.

o Begin early and do it well. See the section on Fund-Raising. • Investigate your church’s insurance coverage. All participants and parents need to

understand in advance, the liability limitations of the sponsoring church. If you need to rent or drive a van, be certain you have adequate insurance and the proper documentation (an international driver’s license). Health insurance for every participant is strongly encouraged. Short-term policy riders can be found – investigate availability and cost. Remember that all of this takes time and may take many, many phone calls, so start early!

No matter where you go, how well you plan, how many young people travel together, no matter what, it is important to remember that God is at work in the hearts of pilgrims. Our hearts are set on the pilgrim’s way. We pray God’s grace and mercy as you choose, prepare and travel. Godspeed on your journey. May God bless your hearts.

Copyright © 1996 by Amanda Millay Hughes and David E. Crean. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Updated 2006 by Tracey E. Herzer

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Summary of Pilgrimage Opportunities While many holy places welcome adult pilgrims, teenage pilgrims are sometimes another matter. Pilgrimages must be carefully planned in order to include activities that nurture hearts and spirits, but also physical activities to channel excess energy. The following places either have existing programs for young people or are preparing programs suitable for young people who have been through the Journey to Adulthood experience. In many instances, they will waive the lower age limit (usually 17) for pilgrims. It is advisable to make reservations for these sites at least one year ahead. Go to http://www.leaderresources.org/ to post your own questions about Pilgrimage or read about sites other groups have visited. If you have a small group, or want to consider combining your trip with other J2A groups, you can post a message to contact other J2A groups in your area. If you need help finding nearby groups, call us and we can do a zip code search for you. In addition, there are some professional companies that may be able to help you: AGENCIES TO HELP YOU PLAN (OR PLAN FOR YOU!) Wonder Voyage 972-355-1712 www.wondervoyage.com Shawn Small and the rest of his team plan specialty trips such as “Expozure Weekend” which is somewhat based on themes from the “Survivor” reality TV show – including games, team building, etc. In addition to more traditional pilgrimages, he also offers spiritual trips with themes such as “The Purpose Journey” and “The Via Crucis (The Way of the Cross)”. Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries 800-260-5104 www.wwpilgrimages.org Donna Tuten is the manager for Worldwide Pilgrimages in Jacksonville, FL. This company has mission relationships with the Diocese of Jerusalem, The Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul and St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Capetown, South Africa. They have previously led J2A pilgrimages to Germany, Greece and England. Be sure to emphasize that you want a “pilgrimage” and not just a tourist experience – double check proposed itineraries to be sure there is enough quiet space. Spiritual Travels www.spiritualtravels.info Lori Erickson has been a travel writer for more than twenty years and is also ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. She has written several books, including The Joy of Pilgrimage and she writes a great blog called “The Holy Rover” at http://www.spiritualtravels.info/blog/. If you’re interested in contacting Lori for information about different pilgrimage sites and opportunities, email her at erickson.lori@gmail.com Casterbridge 800-522-2398 www.casterbridgetours.com Casterbridge has more than 30 years experience in all aspects of group travel and they have several options for all different denominational histories. They have specialized J2A pilgrimage itineraries and many J2A groups have used them. They offer both domestic and foreign destination plans and can help you with in-person or over-the-phone planning.

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PILGRIMAGE LOCATIONS TO CONSIDER United States Grace Cathedral, San Francisco – A vibrant parish with many innovative programs, including inner-city outreach programs. Grace is home to Labyrinth Project – a labyrinth built into the floor with guidance on how to walk and pray the labyrinth – a great spiritual experience for the pilgrims and a natural forum for spiritual reflection. No lodging is available at the cathedral, but the staff can provide you with some ideas of where to stay. 415-749-6328. www.gracecathedral.org The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City – The cathedral supports many ecological projects which could be included in your pilgrimage. There are several J2A congregations in the city, which you could visit; for example, Trinity Wall Street and Old St. Paul’s, where Washington came for a service immediately after being sworn in as the first US President. The Cloister Museum in upper Manhattan is a wonderful and spiritually peaceful place to visit, or you might contact one of the city’s monastic communities (see the Rite-13 lesson plan, “Prayer 10: Religious Orders and Communities” for names and addresses). The cathedral would provide a forum for spiritual reflection. One program specifically directed toward young people is Nightwatch, an all-night vigil conducted by the staff which provides an incredible spiritual experience. No accommodations are available at the cathedral, but the staff will provide the sponsoring congregation with ideas about where to stay. 212-316-7540. www.stjohndivine.org Washington National Cathedral, Washington, DC – The National Cathedral offers sacred space for worship, reflection, and learning; and the city offers many opportunities for mission and outreach, and for visiting spaces sacred to worshipers of other faiths. Washington is a city that focuses not only on past deeds of people of faith and dedication, as commemorated in monument and museum, but also on the future, as seen in legislative action on Capitol Hill. No accommodations are available at the cathedral, but the staff can help you with ideas about where to stay, like the nearby National 4-H Youth Conference Center. 202-537-5728 www.cathedral.org The Missions of Northern New Mexico – The pilgrims could fly to Albuquerque and would take a coach tour of these missions. In addition, the pilgrims would see some of the areas of outstanding natural beauty in this part of the country and visit some of the sites holy to the Navajo. The pilgrims could end up with time at Ghost Ranch, a Presbyterian Retreat Center, or just plan a trip there (Ghost Ranch is a pilgrimage destination for numerous J2A groups). Contact info: Ghost Ranch, HC77, Box 11, Abique, NM 87510, phone 505-685-4333, fax 505-685-4519. www.ghostranch.org Religious Orders – Look at the Rite 13 Lesson on Religious Order (Pray Without Ceasing) which lists Episcopal orders and contact information. Check for websites to get updated information. Many religious orders have retreat houses which provide inexpensive accommodations. Many orders are now quite used to J2A pilgrims and are glad to help you plan how you might interact with and learn about their life and ministry as well as find things to do in the neighborhood. Feel free to inquire whether a monk or nun might be available to serve as your spiritual guide (offer to pay a fee for this service as orders depend on these offerings in support of their ministry).

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Native American Spirituality St. Stephen’s Church, Phoenix, Arizona – St. Stephen’s has a newly-constructed spiritual retreat facility on its property. From this place, pilgrims can travel by bus to the Navajo reservation to explore Native-American spirituality and the role of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland. Another enjoyable and deeply spiritual experience would be a side trip by bus to the Grand Canyon. Contact the Rev. David E. Bailey, Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 2310 North 56th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008, phone 602-840-0437, fax 602-840-4586. http://www.ststephens.org/retreat.html Black Hills, South Dakota – Borderlands Education & Spiritual Center – located in the heart of Lakota sacred land. Contact person is the Rev. Linda J. Kramer, 605-574-4746 who knows a lot about J2A and has hosted many J2A groups. Pilgrimage experiences here include labyrinth walks, Vision Quest activities, daily liturgies, etc. http://www.borderlandsranch.org/ The Holy Land St. George’s College, Jerusalem There is a well-organized program for young people run for 12 days each summer. The program includes lectures and visits to Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and Caesarea. Accommodations and meals are available at the College. Because of limited space and a short time frame, it is advisable to make reservations at least two years in advance. Contact Henry R. Carse, Director of Special Programs, St. George’s College, PO Box 1248, Jerusalem 91000, Israel, phone 011-972-2-626-4705, fax 011-972-2-626-4703. http://www.stgeorgescollegejerusalem.org/html/descriptions/youth.html (You may also wish to contact The Rev. Mason Wilson, North American Regional Committee, St. George’s College, , 105 Stuyvesant Road, Asheville, NC 28803-3115, phone 704-274-9665, fax 704-277-9461.) France The Taizé Community in Taizé, France – This famous ecumenical center in the Burgundy region has long been noted for its youth ministry. The pilgrims would engage in a regular program of work, exercise, worship, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Accommodations are in tents on the grounds of the community. Food is provided. The pilgrims would have the opportunity to meet with young people from all over the world. There is a regular schedule of buses to the site from London. Contact the Taizé Community, Taizé 71250 France, phone 011-33-85-503-030, fax 011-33-85-503-015 or http://www.taize.fr/. There is also a house of the Taizé Community at 413 W. 48th St., New York, NY 10036-1225, phone 212-246-0029.

*NOTE: You should be aware that Taizé has several disadvantages. First, there are literally thousands of young people at Taizé at any given time and your group will meld into the larger group. They will primarily have a Taizé experience rather than a J2A pilgrimage experience. Second, the European youth mostly arrive on their own and un-chaperoned. Since alcohol is available to youth as well as adults from 10:00 am to 2:00 am, there will be many youth drinking into all hours of the night. So you will need to be prepared to chaperone your youth and to make sure your youth are prepared to have boundaries enforced with them and their interactions with the other youth. (e.g., European boys can be very aggressive in approaching American girls and you may need to intervene). The counter balance to this is that your teens will meet people from all over the world and the experience of worshiping with thousands of people is profound. But it will be hard to have a cohesive pilgrimage experience

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unless maybe you add several days after Taizé to process the experience with your youth.

Ireland The Center for Celtic Spirituality (Céile Dé) Pilgrims will spend time at two sites: Glendalough, just south of Dublin, and on one of the Aran Islands off the west coast. Christianity in Ireland dates back to the fifth century, and the pilgrims would explore this rich heritage through trips to such holy places as St. Kevin’s Cell and the Monastic City. There are ample opportunities for physical exercise. Accommodations are simple and the pilgrims would be expected to do much of the food preparation. Contact the Rev. Marcus Losack, Center for Celtic Spirituality (Ceile De Teoranta), Castlekevin, Annamoe, County Wicklow, Ireland, phone 011-353-404-45-595. Or contact Irish Tourist Board via their website at http://www.ireland.ie/ Scotland Iona This lonely island off the Scottish coast offers a one-week spiritual experience for young people. The island has been a source of Christianity since the sixth century when St. Columba founded a monastery there. It was the base for the Christianization of northern England and Scotland. The pilgrims help with the building program on the island. Meals and Lodging are provided. Contact Ms. Sue Morrison, Booking Secretary, The Iona Community, Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona, Argyll PA76 6SN, Scotland, phone 011-44-1681-700-404. http://www.iona.org.uk/ For a pilgrimage tour guide to Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, please contact Sister Cintra Pemberton, a religious sister in the Episcopal Order of St. Helene. Sister Cintra is nationally recognized for conducting retreats and pilgrimages specializing in Celtic spirituality. Sister Cintra Pemberton, OSH, Exploration of Celtic Spirituality, 134 E. 28th Street, New York, NY 10016-8156; Phone: 212-725-6435; Fax: 212-779-4009 www.osh.org/pilgrimages England Canterbury Cathedral – The cradle of Anglicanism, Canterbury offers a well-developed program for young people tracing the historical roots of our faith. Many day trips are available to such places as the site where St. Augustine landed in 497. Contact Canterbury Cathedral, Lambeth Palace, London, England SE1 7JU, phone 0171-928-8282. http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/ Coventry Cathedral – The well-known programs of international reconciliation would form the focus for a pilgrimage at this site. The cathedral offers many outreach programs in and around this industrial city which are undertaken in the company of young people from other countries. Opportunities for spiritual reflection are provided at the cathedral. Accommodations are available nearby at the J.F. Kennedy International Center. Contact: Coventry Cathedral, 23 Davenport Rd., Coventry, West Midlands, England CV5 6PW. http://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/ Norwich Cathedral – The cathedral can provide a center for spiritual reflection and worship. Some of the sites that could be visited from here are the Shrine of the Lady Julian, Ely Cathedral, Walsingham, Little Gidding, and Cambridge. Accommodations may be arranged through the cathedral. Contact Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk, England, NR3 1SB. http://www.cathedral.org.uk/

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Salisbury Cathedral – This, arguably the most beautiful of all the English cathedrals, likewise provides a center for spiritual reflection and worship. Pilgrims might be invited to read the lessons at Evensong. There are several options for accommodations which can be arranged through the cathedral. Other sites to be visited include Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bemerton (where George Herbert was the vicar), and Winchester Cathedral. The diocese has a seaside camp at Poole for recreation. Contact Salisbury Cathedral, 71 The Close, Salisbury Wilts, England SP1 2ER. http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/ It is possible, of course, to link pilgrimage sites. For example, a week in Canterbury and another week at Taizé would provide a rich experience. A week at Coventry and another at Salisbury would show two cathedrals with totally different ministries. A pilgrimage to Iona which would follow the missionary trail to Durham and Lindisfarne and then on to York would be yet another alternative. We have not mentioned the riches of London; a pilgrimage to England should include, at the very least, one day in London visiting Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is possible to recreate the old pilgrimage path made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer and travel from London to Canterbury, staying in churches or schools along the way.

Copyright © 1996 by David E. Crean and J2A Youth Pilgrimages. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Updated: April 2006

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Suggested Guidelines for Pilgrimage The following guidelines have been adapted from St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Durham, NC – the church that originally developed J2A. We recommend that the basic form of these guidelines be followed and that the Vestry or other governing body of the congregation formally adopt and endorse any guidelines you use. Choice of Site • Shortly after the program begins in the first year, the leaders of the J2A class will, in

consultation with the class members, parents and clergy, identify a potential site and itinerary for pilgrimage. Final decisions on the site and itinerary will be made no later than nine months prior to the departure date. At most sites it is advisable to make reservations at least one year ahead.

• The selected site and itinerary should conform largely to the following definitions:

1 a journey, esp. a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious

devotion; 2 any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or act of devotion (Webster’s Dictionary) 3 the practice, common to most world religions, of journeying to a holy place or sacred shrine to obtain special blessings from God or as an act of devotion, penance, or thanksgiving (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church).

• Once the site is selected, the leaders will work with appropriate people to develop a

budget. This preliminary budget will be presented to the governing body of the church for its endorsement.

• The J2A leaders and clergy should have parent/teen meeting to offer a detailed itinerary

(including facilities, other leaders, rationale, budget, etc.) that has been approved by the Vestry

A Word about the Cost of Pilgrimage As you plan, please keep in mind that this is not the time to planning the dream “once-in-a-lifetime” kind of trip. We have heard of many churches whose budgets for pilgrimage often reach $2000-$3000 per person, which seems to us a bit inappropriate for pilgrimage. Remember that early pilgrims simply walked away from their daily lives for a while and went only as far as they could walk. They walked the hill in Lourdes on their knees, and did not retire for the night at the local Holiday Inn. In as much as is possible and practical for your group, try to keep the accommodations and activities simple, maybe even occasionally austere. You are carving out some empty space in their lives to encounter God… don’t rush to fill up that empty space with sensory overload. How to Fund your Pilgrimage Once you have an idea of the cost, you need to immediately start thinking about fundraising. Some churches even begin fundraising before plans are completed because they know money will be needed eventually. Our suggestion is that you split the fees for pilgrimage in the

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following way:

• One-third by the parents of the pilgrims • One-third by the congregation as a whole (primarily through in-house fund raising

outside of the congregation’s operating budget) • One-third by the pilgrims themselves – working individually or as a group

These divisions may be modified as needed, but our idea was that by dividing the responsibility in this manner, everyone has a vested interest in the success of pilgrimage. • No young person should be denied participation in the pilgrimage because of difficult

financial circumstances. But likewise, no young person should be given the total amount needed. When they contribute to the funds, they are more invested in the trip. If a family has trouble with either the parent’s or pilgrim’s portion, J2A leaders (with the help of clergy) can look for creative ways to raise the funds. Perhaps the teen can work in the church office, clean, do yard work, etc.

• Any monies raised for a given pilgrimage and left over at the conclusion of that

pilgrimage will be deposited in a J2A Pilgrimage Fund for use in the next pilgrimage. • The J2A leaders are responsible for keeping a full account of all pilgrimage monies

raised and spent (including receipts). A full accounting will be presented to the church’s governing board within three months after their return.

• The J2A leaders are responsible for ensuring that all funds are collected in advance. In

no case will the church advance funds for these purposes. Adult Supervision The number of adult chaperones should conform to the guidelines laid down by the local diocese or regional office. These guidelines generally require one adult of the same gender for every four to five young people, and a minimum of two adults of each gender. Additional chaperones may be taken at the discretion of the J2A leaders in order to conform to these guidelines. The costs for adult chaperones can be discussed and decided by the church’s governing board and J2A leaders – chaperones can pay their own way, but some churches try to cover at least part of the chaperone’s expenses as a show of support for these adults who represent the larger congregation. Chaperones must have taken the sexual misconduct training of the diocese, synod, presbytery or conference in which the congregation is located. If there are no denominational requirements or training programs, we strongly urge you to conduct a training session anyway. LeaderResources has consultants available to provide training, or can suggest ways for you to find trainers. Please call us at 1-800-941-2218. Also, we recommend reading Better Safe Than Sued by Jack Crabtree and then discussing it with all chaperones. The book is available from LeaderResources ($16.95 + s/h). Persons eligible to be chaperones include:

• the leaders of the current J2A class • the leaders who taught these young people during their Rite 13 years

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• people who have previously taught Rite 13, J2A or YAC • other church members, provided that no parent of a pilgrim will accompany the young

people on their pilgrimage. The spouse of a chaperone may be eligible to accompany the pilgrimage with the understanding that no special housing accommodations will be made.

Eligibility Only those young persons who are active members of the J2A group are eligible for the pilgrimage. Younger or older siblings of pilgrims are not eligible to accompany the pilgrimage, unless they themselves are active members of the J2A group. The children of a chaperone may accompany the pilgrimage provided that:

• leaving them behind would constitute family hardship • the matter is discussed with the whole J2A group and receives the support of the group • the chaperone assumes full responsibility for raising the cost of the trip for that child or

children with the understanding that no special housing accommodations will be made. Discipline The rules and norms governing discipline on the pilgrimage will conform to those governing youth events in the local Episcopal diocese or other denominational governing body. All participants must, in addition, comply with the guidelines and/or the community covenants provided by the host or other sponsoring organization. Other rules and norms consistent with paragraphs above may be set by the leaders in consultation with the group. Any young person on the pilgrimage who flagrantly violates the above provisions may, at the discretion of the leaders, be sent home at their own expense. Other

• Each pilgrim must have a release signed by his or her parents or legal guardian.

• We suggest that you prepare an itinerary as soon as possible. It can always be updated, but providing a clear outline of the pilgrimage to the parents and group members can alleviate some fear and uncertainty. Make sure each parent has the final itinerary and emergency numbers before you leave. Also make sure the chaperones have several emergency numbers for each young person (parents’ home and work numbers, plus a relative or friend). See the Sample Information Form at the back of this manual.

Adapted from the Guidelines for J2A Pilgrimages adopted by the Vestry of St. Philip’s Church, Durham, NC. These guidelines may be reproduced for use in the local congregation and adapted as necessary. Revised: April 2006

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Pilgrimage Activity Ideas Can You Really Have Fun Finding God?

To be on pilgrimage is to move into a world where the dividing line between past and present, between this world and the next, between what we call sacred and what we call secular, dissolves. The outward journey is also a journey inwards. We have to be prepared to let go of the accustomed patterns and controls that we impose on our daily lives, and instead to be ready to be open to what lies beyond and what is most often expressed in symbol, image, poetry.1

Introduction When the day arrives, and we finally embark on the Journey to Adulthood pilgrimage, everyone is filled to the brim with that mix of anticipation and dread, excitement, and fear, hope, and trepidation that make us so wonderfully human. Chances are, parents, clergy, and all members of the congregation have said prayers for us, given us suggestions about things to see, and handed us a few extra dollars for a cup of coffee, or an ice cream cone from a remembered shop on some forgotten road in the territory we are headed for. Pilgrimage is a time of great anticipation and longing. It is a time to seek the holy in one another and in the landscape of the saints who have gone before us. It is also a time of great fun, laughter, and general enjoyment of God and God’s people! The following activities are merely a few suggestions for ways that you and your group might enhance the experience and enliven your dialogue as you wander through the holy land chosen for your pilgrimage. Some of these activities will come naturally to your group. Some will be a stretch of imagination and willingness. Most of all, remember that these are merely suggestions designed to help you begin to imagine ways to make your pilgrimage not merely holy and meaningful, but also filled with laughter – a time to go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of God’s spirit! Morning Prayers and Evening Songs For many youth groups, prayers are a regular part of the group’s life. If you have always included prayer rituals in your group, continue to do so on pilgrimage – even if it means getting up earlier or staying up later! Choose prayer forms that are short and in some way represent the traditional prayers of the land you are visiting. A quick visit to the library or your local bookseller should help you find prayers that resonate with the spirit of the place you are visiting. The Jesus Prayer, St. Patrick’s Breastplate, litanies with a simple call and response, all can help set the tone for the pilgrimage as you repeat them every morning and evening. Make copies ahead of time so that every member of the group has their own “Pilgrimage Prayer Book”, or ask the congregation to invest in a small travel-size Book of Common Prayer (or other denominational worship book) for each member of the group. Be creative! Remember to adjust the language as needed so that the prayers are meaningful for young people. You might even ask them to help you write prayers along the way. Encourage the members of your group to take a turn leading the prayers. Remember to pray, every day, for the people we have left behind in order to come away on this pilgrimage.

1 Esther de Waal, in Michael Rodgers and Marcus Losack, Glendalough: A Celtic Pilgrimage, Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania: Morehouse Publishing, 1996, page 9.

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Use the power of repetition! Choose a particular prayer or song or combination to become your very own pilgrim grace before meals. Think of Taize chants or other simple, elegant, and sing-able melodies to help your group feel more confident on the journey. On pilgrimage, every day is filled with new ideas and sites and insights, and it can be a real comfort to repeat a simple prayer or sing a familiar song day after day. You might even write your own – or change lyrics to be more appropriate to your journey. Again, think of the cultural flavor of your holy landscape and choose accordingly. Remember to pray every day for eyes and hearts to understand what you are seeing! One of the challenges of pilgrimage lies in finding ways to incorporate all the new-found information about God and God’s people. As the pilgrimage progresses, don’t forget to ask for grace to understand and the opportunity to incorporate everything you are learning. On a pilgrimage to Ireland, one group began with loosely structured morning prayers and song time on the banks of the river. By the third day, a small section of St. Patrick’s breastplate became a sort of benediction for the prayers:

Christ before me - Christ behind me - Christ beside me Now and always - Now and always - Amen.

Pray that God will give you hearts and minds and bodies that understand all that is happening around you and all that has happened in the past. Try new ways of worshiping (e.g. by joining the community you are visiting) and then reflect on that experience. Do not try to do too much or get too fancy. Trying to do an elaborate service in an unfamiliar setting is a setup for disaster. Simplicity is the hallmark of pilgrims. Some of the most powerful worship experiences are simply sitting in silence in a Cathedral for fifteen minutes after the Compline service. Or celebrating a Eucharist on the top of the mountain you just climbed, using the bread and wine you bought in the village below. Or singing as you walk from one village to the next. What did you see? What did you learn? What does any of it mean? One task of adult pilgrimage leaders is to help make sense of it all. This can be difficult since often the sights, sounds and lessons are new to you, as well as to the youth. Here are some suggestions to help: Set aside an hour each day, preferably the same time every day, when pilgrims can reflect on the experiences they have during the day, share these with the group, and join in prayer. New brain research tells us that quiet reflection is a key factor for moving experiences into long-term memory. • Every pilgrim should bring along a journal – perhaps one given to them in the

Commissioning service. Not all young people will write in it, but provide time each day to at least record the day’s events. Perhaps after dinner, sitting around the table, leaders walk through the sites, scenes, and stories from the day by asking the group what they saw that day. “Where did we go? What did we see?” Remind young people that it is hard to keep track of everything they have seen, so at least write down the place, names and the key saints and stories.

• Bring along glue sticks, crayons, scissors and tape. Encourage the youth group to keep all the tiny mementos they pick up though the day in their journal books, and to express their feelings through drawings or small collages.

• Teach them how to write a haiku or cinquain – a cinquain is a five-line poetic form

invented by Adelaide Crapsey, consisting of two, four, six, eight, and two syllables,

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respectively. The original form functions as an American equivalent to the Japanese Haiku. We will be using a modified form, in which the lines are prescribed by parts of speech rather than syllable counts. For more information and examples of other poetic forms, see: Poetry Handbook: A Dictionary of Terms, 4th edition. Babette Deutsch. Barnes & Noble, New York, 1974.

Line One ONE WORD: a noun – person, place or thing Line Two TWO WORDS: two adjectives – modifies or describes the noun Line Three THREE WORDS: three adverbs – modifies verb or adjective Line Four ONE VERB: verb – an action word Line Five ONE WORD: a synonym of the noun in Line One or the noun again

Sample: Bird Lost, alone Quietly, reverently Seeking Pilgrims

After everyone has written a poem, have participants read them aloud. Or have the group members submit their poems, have a leader read them aloud, and then guess who created each poem. It might also be fun to have the group work together to write a poem for Jesus. One pilgrim group to Costa Rica taught the cinquain form as a one-time exercise. It was so successful that the group did it every single night of their pilgrimage and then read several of the cinquians to the congregation at home. • Play “The Best Part of the Day” game – Ask each member of the group to share the best

moment of the day, best site, best story, best sounds. And if there are no BEST stories...go ahead and tell the WORST! Just remember that in the telling, we learn. Something about wrapping words around our experience helps to make sense of it and to make it last.

• Leaders should be willing both to listen and to offer statements of meaning. It can be

very difficult to understand the practices of viewing, venerating, and kissing icons, if a leader doesn’t suggest that these images are just like family photographs to some. Kissing a picture of your grandmother doesn’t seem nearly as odd an idea as kissing a gold-leafed picture of St. Peter. But it really is the same thing. In addition, if you have built trust along the way, chances are good your group will have its own insights into the meaning of icons. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a weary young pilgrim said that when they saw people kissing the lips on the icons (sometimes even through glass), they were reminded of how much God loves all of us – all these people calling out, kissing God. It must be pretty wild to be God! ☺ Leaders can help to facilitate discussions, but should also be mindful that the young people themselves are seeing things they may have never imagined before. Our willingness to try may encourage them and help to break down the feeling that everything we don’t understand is merely strange or stupid.

• In addition, religious practices vary so greatly from place to place that leaders may

literally have to open the door for young people or they will think themselves locked out. Bow through a humility door, take off shoes to pray in an oratory, make the sign of the cross at a doorway and then on your own body – all as signals to young people that it is not bad to try out new ideas and new practices while you are on pilgrimage. Who knows? Both you and the

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young people in your care may come home with a new set of devotional practices that enrich you for the rest of your lives.

Above all else, keep talking and declare silent time to reflect Talk and talk and talk some more. Just because you’re on pilgrimage doesn’t mean that all conversations have to be on “holy” topics! All topics can be holy if you intentionally bring the mind that was in Christ Jesus into the conversation! Jesus loved to gather with his friends and eat a meal and tell stories. Keep talking – talk about everything, anything, memories, hopes, dreams, feelings. But don’t forget that sometimes silence changes the world. Try having a midnight Eucharist. Walk to the site you have chosen, with the help of your guides, and maintain holy silence on the way. Agree to spend ten minutes in the morning, every single day, silently listening for the morning greetings of God. If you are able to get away from city lights, gather the group and a couple of blankets. Choose a clear night to go outside, lie down on the ground, and watch the stars. You have to see a shooting star before you can speak. Silent time can be healing, helpful, and magical. It allows pilgrims to reflect on their experience and to listen for the voice of God. Act it out!

• Make a three-dimensional map of the city of Jerusalem with sleeping bags and a blanket, with cups and saucers.

• Break the group into threes or fours to retell the stories of the saints in pantomime skits. • St. Kevin stood in the water to pray – ask if you can stand in the water and pray.

Sometimes, of course, local authorities won’t allow such things, but you won’t know if you don’t ask.

• Build a shrine for your pilgrimage out of found objects, soda containers, and candles. Sometimes being silly is good spirituality.

• Reenact your baptism. • Play Bible trivia with leading questions, offering chocolate as a reward. • Try this game: “Best Pilgrim in the World”. Break the group into teams of five or six. Ask

a question. The team must answer in complete sentences, but each member can only say one word, and they must speak in turn. So if the question were something like “Who founded the monastic city of Glendalough, Ireland?” -- the answer will go something like:

The... city... of... Glendalough... was... founded... by. . …………(uh-oh, we’re to someone who doesn’t know the answer! So, he blushes and changes the sentence structure, hoping that another team member will know) a... man... named... Saint... (another hesitation, but it’s okay!) KEVIN!

The idea is that the best pilgrim in the world isn’t just one lonely overachiever, but all of us working together, listening to one another.

Find the Pearl of Great Price Encourage young people to find something. Not buy it or make it, but find it. . . a stone, a leaf, a coin on the street. Send them in search of something that will remind them of this trip forever and ever. Can You Do This?

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Pilgrimage can entail a lot of waiting – waiting for the bus, for lunch, for the guide. Before the trip, ask each pilgrim to bring a trick: something amazing that they know how to do. One pilgrim brought the ability to pop his mouth to the tune of “Green Acres”. Others have brought card tricks. Another could do ten cartwheels in a row. Who needs TV or CDs when you have entertainment like this? Physical Challenges Do your best to build in some physical challenge for the group: climb a mountain; rent and ride bikes as your mode of transportation; rent canoes to travel one part of the distance you have to cover one day; or walk two miles to the cathedral instead of riding the bus. Be imaginative. Remember, spirituality is all about all that we are. Don’t assume that young people will want to see and do the same things that an adult group would be interested in. Let them run. Race up the hills, roll down them, play “Duck-Duck-Goose”. Play hide-and-seek with flashlights. All the games you know will come in handy on a pilgrimage. If you don’t know any, consult New Games for the Whole Family2 – a wonderful resource for silly, safe, serious, and physical games. Free Time Particularly important to the success of the pilgrimage is time spent just having fun. Don’t try to do too much in one day, or fill every day with lots of activities, or present long lectures on whatever the adults think the young people need to know! If all activities on the pilgrimage are deadly serious, the pilgrimage itself will quickly become deadly. Make sure you build free time into your pilgrimage schedule – time for naps, shopping3, searching, and playing. But having said that, remember that young people have a lot more stamina than adults (not all adults, and not all teens, of course, but you get the idea!). This means that when the leaders are ready for sleep at midnight, the young people will be wide awake. Plan at least a handful of late-night activities: a twilight tour of the city, a midnight Eucharist in the ruins of a church. Ask your guides in advance and along the way for suggestions. Are there any youth groups in the area you’re visiting? Invite them to come to dinner if your accommodations will allow for it. If not, ask if you can join them for an evening, or go out for an inexpensive meal together. You don’t have to have a completely “night-owl” schedule, but since young people really do enjoy the night, why not join them and structure activities for them that can only take place in the dark? As much as possible, allow for free time to be safe and only minimally structured. Late-night gatherings will require that leaders rotate late-night duty, but it will be worth it. Some of the best conversations happen in the wee hours of the morning. Plan a Closing Liturgy Whenever you leave a place, think about the way you will leave it. For leaders who have done a lot of work in the church or in camps, the rule of thumb is to leave it better than you found it. That’s a good place to begin, but there’s more. Leave a blessing – notes for the next group who will use the space, or prayers in every doorway, asking God to meet the next pilgrims who pass

2Dale N. Lefevre, New Games for the Whole Family, Perigree, 1988.

3Do not let the pilgrimage become simply a shopping trip with spiritual overtones. The pilgrims should

each have $50 in pocket money – no more. Remember that the pilgrimage is a spiritual journey – not just another trip. Try to avoid touristy things to do. If you have to do touristy visits, use your imagination to make them meaningful.

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through the space. And if possible, hold a Eucharist celebration that the young people design and lead with the help of clergy. However, don’t disrespect the local customs: in some parts of the world, it would be considered offensive for a group like this to celebrate communion outside the local sanctuaries. At the same time, a small group gathered in a hotel room to say the final prayers of the journey can be truly memorable and a teachable moment about the nature of faith and faithfulness in a foreign land. Other Ideas These suggestions will open up even more ideas for you and your young people. Here are a few guidelines to consider as you plan activities for your pilgrims. Ask yourself some of these questions as you ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The ideas are virtually limitless!

How can we have fun today? What would happen if we.... How can we bring all these experiences together into our day-to-day lives? What are we hoping for?

The answer is always the same: we are all hoping that God will meet you on this journey and change your life. Relax with your young people. Be young yourself and have fun! May God bless you on your joyous journey! © 1998 Amanda Millay Hughes and David E. Crean. Used with permission. Updated April 2006

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Budget Planning Worksheet Expenses It’s always traumatic trying to develop a budget for a pilgrimage for young people, especially if it’s the first time you’re planning one.

• The first secret for a successful budget process is to plan ahead. Try to get the initial planning underway as soon as possible. We suggest that this take place at or near the beginning of the first year of J2A.

• The second secret is to get everyone on board right from the start – this includes the church leadership, the parents, and the young people themselves. There should be no secrets and no surprises. Remember, too, that you are planning a trip which will change the young people’s lives. Leave as little as possible to chance.

With this in mind, the following scheme is suggested to help you plan. The whole process has been broken down into what is hoped are comprehensible steps. You may not wish to follow this procedure in its entirety; some of the steps can undoubtedly be skipped. After all, these are simply guidelines, not something handed down on Mount Sinai. But these suggestions have been assembled as a guide by people who have experience in this area, and it is with this in mind that they are offered. Budget about $60-75 per person per day for food, lodging, and incidental expenses like subway fares, snacks, etc. To this, add the cost of round trip airfare, train fare, bus fare or automobile expenses. And don’t forget to add 10% to help offset price increases and unexpected expenses. If the pilgrims don’t spend all of the money, it can be saved in a designated interest bearing account to help pay for future pilgrimages. To give an idea of some actual costs: a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1993 broke down as follows: airfare was $1,400; per diem costs (food, lodging, incidentals) were $61 at St. George’s College; there were also $1,100 in unexpected costs, due mainly to an extra day in Jerusalem. A pilgrimage to Ireland in 1995 had airfare at $700; per diem expenses of $65; unexpected costs were about $500. For Russia in 1997, per diem costs ran about $144 per day; total cost per pilgrim was $2,100. Airfare Arrange this through a travel agent. Sometimes the agency sponsoring the pilgrimage (e.g. Teleios Foundation) will also book the flights, but you may wish to contact your local travel agent or an agency that specializes in arranging pilgrimages, such as Sacred Places Travel or World Wide Pilgrimage Ministries. This is probably the most expensive single item. The more pilgrims in the party, of course, the better the price, but you can’t get much of a price break for groups of less than fifteen. Remember that some people may have frequent flier miles – you might want to check on this. The young people may certainly be able to earn them, and probably should, especially for overseas trips. However, for the sake of community, don’t let only a few kids use these to get tickets and definitely not to upgrade their seats, which would separate them from the rest of the community.

Number of pilgrims _____ Airfare $ _____

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Accommodations Go for the least expensive accommodations you can find. Church basements, religious youth facilities, youth hostels (in Europe), and even monasteries and convents are good choices. Camping is sometimes an option. Regarding youth hostels, be warned that these might present some problems: there are many unsupervised teenagers from many different cultures and the other kids in the hostel may make it hard to build community among the pilgrims.

Number of nights _____ Approximate cost(s) per night $ _____

Meals Here again is a chance to build community. Eating out is expensive (even the cheapest lunch is $3-5 per person), and the costs soon mount up. As much as possible, the quality of life in a pilgrim family should be established and maintained by the shared responsibility of all members. This means cooking meals (including shopping for the ingredients) and cleaning up afterward. Depending on your accommodations, if you’re not providing your own meals, you may be able to participate in the preparation of and clean-up after meals. However, a few meals eaten out can be a special treat, and leaders need to take some extra money along for this purpose. In terms of preparing meals, consider preparing meals with local foods interspersed with occasional American snacks (e.g. popcorn, Coke, chocolate, etc.). “Comfort” foods really do help when everything else is unfamiliar, and the leaders should equip themselves with plenty of snacks. Bear in mind, too, the difficulties of shopping abroad, especially in a non-English culture. You’ll need help, and this is where the host organization comes in. Number of days _____ Approximate per diem cost(s) for meals $ _____ Local Transportation This includes rail travel to the principal pilgrimage site, bus travel between sites or on sightseeing excursions, etc. Here again, your travel agent should be able to assist you. Remember to check on transportation to and from the airport, even with a strong host organization.

Train travel $ _____ Taxi hire $ _____

Per Person

Total

Per Person

Total

Per Person

Total

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Program Costs at Host Site Very often, an organization that caters to pilgrims (e.g. St. George’s College, Jerusalem, or the Taizé Community) will charge a registration fee for programs. This lump sum will, in these instances, probably include accommodations, meals, and local transportation. Check with the organization to see what is covered.

Program Costs $ _____

Contribution to Mission and Ministry of Host Site Where the local organization does not charge a registration fee, it may be a courtesy to make a contribution to support their mission and ministry. We recommend a minimum of $1,000, based on a group of 15-20 pilgrims. One has to be very sensitive in this area, and finances should be discussed with the host organization. In Costa Rica, for example, $1,000 is more like $15,000 for a church in the United States! A priest in Ireland said he would not accept a contribution of more than $100. He said that money, for Americans, equals a kind of ownership and that taking large donations always meant some kind of entanglement that he did not feel good about. He indicated that he would rather have time, service work, and needed contributions of specific items; he said that American dollars simply complicate the issues.

Contribution for Mission and Ministry $ _____

Local Guides A local contact person is invaluable, especially when making a pilgrimage overseas. This person can facilitate local transportation, make contacts, set up lectures or meetings, help in emergencies, etc. Sometimes the local organization will provide such a person (in which case this cost is included in a registration fee). At other times you can arrange to have a local person, either through the local organization where the pilgrimage is taking place, or through the travel agent that makes the bookings (e.g. World Wide Pilgrimage Ministries). In any case, check into this. There may also be local coordinators, drivers, and others who perform services (e.g. cleaning rooms, doing laundry, waiting tables, etc.). You may wish to provide a “purse” for these. Check this out with your on-site person or organization.

Per Person

Total

Per Person

Total

Total

Per Person

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Cost per day $ _____ Number of days _____

Professional Fees Very often, the organization with whom you work in arranging the pilgrimage will charge a fee for their professional services – identifying and making preliminary arrangements with the pilgrimage site, arranging for local transportation, local guides, etc. This may be a lump sum or may be based on the number of pilgrims in the group.

Professional services $ _____

Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses This is the grab bag for anything and everything you did not think of earlier. You may choose to include pocket money, in which case we recommend that you limit the amount each pilgrim takes to $50 per person (the leaders need to take more to cope with unexpected emergencies). Remember, this is a pilgrimage, not a shopping trip! It’s a good idea for the leaders to take between $500 and $1,000 for extras, which can be anything from the most pragmatic needs (e.g. toothpaste) to luxuries (e.g. an ice cream cone or lunch out). These should be in traveler’s checks, preferably in the local currency. It’s also not a bad idea to have an American Express or Visa card for worst-case scenarios (e.g. lost luggage, a missed flight, or a long layover). The $50 pocket money for each pilgrim is not part of the fund raising effort. Remember, too, that there may be optional costs and/or services (e.g. travel insurance, medical coverage) which parents might appreciate having available. Miscellaneous Expenses $ _____

Total

Having done your research, this is the final figure that you can come up with and which you can present to the parents, church’s governing board, and other people. Remember, at least in the preliminary stages, that this is only an approximate figure. As a rule of thumb, if you are going overseas, it should not be much more than $2,000 per person for a 12-14 day pilgrimage. In the United States, it will probably be less.

Per Person

Total

Per Person

Total

Total

Per Person

Grand Total

Grand Total per Person

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Budget Planning Worksheet Income Now that you know how much money you will need to raise for the pilgrimage, you need to decide how to raise this money. Generally, we suggest that one-third be contributed by the parents of the pilgrims, one-third by fund raising within the congregation, and the balance by the young pilgrims themselves outside the church. This is important: having the young people raise some of the money on their own gives them some sense of ownership of the pilgrimage. Another decision that has to be made is how the leaders and chaperones will be funded: do they raise all of their money, or does the church somehow support them? If the families of one or more of the pilgrims cannot afford to pay their full allocation, what scholarship money might be needed and where will this be raised? All of these decisions have to be negotiated with the church’s governing board, the parents, the leaders or chaperones, and with the pilgrims. Leaders and Chaperones It’s probably best to begin with the leaders and chaperones. Remember, you will need one adult of the same gender for every 4-5 young people. The main point here is the amount that each leader is prepared to pay for the pilgrimage. Some may be able to afford to pay for their whole ticket, and be willing to pay this amount, plus other costs as enumerated in the Expenses section above. In some instances, it may be felt that the church needs to bear these costs. This needs to be negotiated before going on to the rest. Amount for each leader $ _____ Number of leaders (and chaperones) _____

Parents

This is where the real negotiation takes place. The issues to be negotiated include: • What percentage of the cost to each pilgrim should be paid by their parents? • Which parents may be prepared to pay the full cost for their child(ren)? • Are there parents who cannot meet the full allocation, and what can they pay? • Are there parents who might contribute scholarship money to those less financially well-off?

The negotiation with parents can be complicated. One suggestion is for leaders to meet with the primary clergyperson who, based on his or her knowledge of the congregation, can make a determination of what is an equitable sum to come from the parents. We cannot stress too highly the need for great sensitivity in this area. Percent of total contributed by parents _____ Number of pilgrims _____

Adult Leaders’ Share

Church’s Share

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Individual Pilgrims Now comes the question of what percentage of the total will be raised independently by the pilgrims themselves outside the congregation. This is important. J2A Youth Pilgrimages cannot stress too highly the necessity for this. The amount raised by the pilgrims themselves needs to be more than just a token amount. It will give the young people ownership of the pilgrimage like nothing else can, and this needs to be stressed to the parents. While one cannot stop any parent from writing a check for this amount, any such action should at the least be resisted if not actively discouraged.

Percent of total to be raised by pilgrims _____ Scholarships As has been pointed out above, not every pilgrim may be able to bear the full cost. In addition, some of the leaders may also need scholarship money. Some of these may be solicited from wealthy church members (It’s best to seek the clergy’s advice in this), but the bulk of the scholarship money will almost certainly come from fund raising. The youth themselves should raise some of the scholarship money, but none of them should know who is receiving aid – only the clergy, and perhaps a leader, should have that information. Number of scholarships needed _____ Money Raised Within the Congregation Finally, having decided how much money will come from parents, from individual pilgrims, and from leaders, we can arrive at the figure to come from the church. There are two sources for these funds: the core budget of the church or contributions from church organizations such as the Episcopal Church Women, and from a fund raising campaign within the church. It has also been our experience that there is always a shortfall that comes to light only at the very end of the fund raising campaign. St. Philip’s, Durham has handled this with appeals by the clergy at the announcement period on Sunday mornings. Once the church has carried out a pilgrimage, there will probably be some money left over. This should be deposited in a Pilgrimage account

Total Contributed by Parents

Total to be Raised by Individual Pilgrims

Total Scholarship Money

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to be used for future pilgrimages. This will provide a further source of funds. It is this latter amount which is key to a successful pilgrimage. Percent of total raised in/contributed by church _____ Scholarships $ _____

Total from Church

Through Fund Raising

Contributed from Budget

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Fundraising Tips & Ideas The pilgrimage is an essential component of the spiritual growth and formation of the young people enrolled in the J2A part of The Journey to Adulthood program. As such, it is an essential part of the mission of the congregation. Every effort should be made by the congregation to enable the young people to participate in this pilgrimage and every assistance given to their fund raising efforts. Once you have determined the preliminary budget for your pilgrimage with the Budget Planning Worksheet, you can then begin to plan your campaign to raise those funds. You should already have determined, in consultation with the clergy, the parents, and the governing body of the congregation, what allocations have been made toward the total pilgrimage budget – the shares allocated to the parents, the pilgrims themselves, the leaders and chaperones, and anything that the congregation is prepared to contribute from the central budget. The residual figure is the amount that you will have to raise from the congregation and other sources.

• Plan one BIG event, not millions of small events! It’s best to plan one major event that will raise between one-third and two-thirds of the total. The rest can then be raised through a number of events spread over the two-year planning period. One important point: do not let the fund raising become an intolerable burden to either the young people or the congregation. Don’t fritter away your time and energy on a succession of events that each raise, at best, $100-$200. Think big. Ask someone who does fundraising for a professional charity (local hospital, cancer research, etc.) to give you suggestions about what works best. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38)

• Involve LOTS of people! Spread the burden (and the privilege) around. Get as many people involved in the enterprise as you can. Needless to say, the bulk of the fund raising responsibilities will fall on the parents of the pilgrims and on the pilgrims themselves. However, make an attempt to involve others. Raising money for the first pilgrimage will be the most difficult. When the members of the congregation have seen for themselves what effect the pilgrimage has had on the young people, they will be more willing to give and to be more generous the second and third time around. It has also been our experience that the young people in both the YAC and the Rite-13 groups will help those in J2A to raise the money – the YAC class because they know what It’s all about; the Rite-13 class because they know someone will help them in the future.

• Don’t target only parishioners! If you are trying to raise the kind of money it will take to send your teens on pilgrimage, don’t try to target only the people who attend your church. Involve your community if you have a car

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wash, bake sale, or silent auction event. Who knows… you may even end up with some new members!

• Coordinate your plans with other church events Don’t let your fundraising efforts conflict with others in the congregation. For example, don’t enter into a major fundraising project during the annual stewardship campaign. Wait until that campaign is over and then start your own. However, don’t let yourself be fobbed off with token amounts of money just because you’re raising funds for young people.

• Get your clergy on board You will need your clergy’s support. If the primary clergyperson is seen to be solidly behind your fund raising efforts, they will flourish. The clergy’s support should be seen in things such as announcements in church on Sundays, something in writing in the church newsletter, being present at the events themselves, or, preferably, being an active participant. If that type of support is not forthcoming, it’s probably best to go back to the drawing board.

• Don’t forget to say THANK YOU! Some groups have thanked donors by sending postcards to all parishioners while on pilgrimage or have carried with them the church directory and prayed for every family by name during morning or evening prayers. At the very least, take lots of pictures and invite your parish to an after-church reception where the kids can tell stories of what the pilgrimage meant to them. As you publicize your fund raising efforts, stress repeatedly that this is a pilgrimage for which you are seeking financial support – a journey to a holy place to find the Christ. It is not a fun jaunt, nor is it a mission trip. It is a pilgrimage. With this in mind, here are some suggestions for fund raisers that have been used successfully in other congregations. The list is by no means exhaustive, and you may come up with other ideas that work, or learn about new possibilities from other sources. Episcopal Identity Items from LeaderResources Episcopal congregations can order a wide range of items with the Episcopal shield and colors – T-shirts, caps, keychains, flip flops, dog collars and leashes (the most popular item) and much more. See the Fundraising section at www.LeaderResources.org. There is also a free downloadable fundraising guide that helps you organize and manage a fundraising event. [NOTE: We may be able to obtain similar items for other denominations or with your own logo – call 800-941-2218 for information.] Auction This is practically guaranteed to raise big bucks. In fact, you can probably raise your entire budget (exclusive of what you get from parents and pilgrims) with this one event. St. Philip’s in Durham, North Carolina had an auction in 1996. St Philip’s is a moderate-sized parish with some 650 communicants and an annual budget of $350,000. Estimates in advance of the auction of the money that would be raised ranged from $1,000 to $6,000. The final figure was close to $18,000! (One pessimistic leader commented after the event, “Well, I guess I have to eat crow, but I have to say this crow is mighty tasty!”) Holding an auction has the advantage of involving almost the entire congregation (or community!) and is thus a great community-building event.

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Pilgrims and their families are encouraged to find different things that can be auctioned off. Also, other parishioners may donate items that can be auctioned. Here are some examples:

• Someone offers the use of a weekend vacation home • An attorney who agrees to draft one simple will • Various kinds of culinary items (a catered, sit-down dinner for eight, a catered cocktail

party, desserts once a month for six months, etc.) • Paintings or drawings of the church • Someone to come take photographs of a family gathering – photos could be developed

and put into a special scrapbook • A team of teenagers who will come clean out your garage on a Saturday of your

choosing • Frequent Flier miles that can be auctioned off as a “Trip to Anywhere” – check the

individual program details for restrictions • An evening of babysitting

To be successful, however, an auction takes some very careful organizing. Plan on four to six months for planning and preparation. You will also need the following:

• an overall coordinator (pick a real dynamo for this – it’s critical!) • an acquisitions committee to solicit contributions and arrange for their reception • a publicity committee to publicize the event and prepare the auction brochure listing the

items that will be available • a hospitality committee to make sure there are refreshments at the event • a treasurer to keep track of receipts and profits • an auctioneer (pick a realtor or someone in the congregation who’s something of a

celebrity); • plenty of volunteers to set out items, especially for a silent auction (a silent auction is

one where items are bid for, not out loud but by writing down the bids on a sheet of paper. Make sure that each item has a base price on it); serve refreshments; assist the treasurer during the auction; help put together the auction brochure; staff the admissions desk; set up and clean up; etc. (It’s a good idea to involve the young pilgrims with this effort.)

The secret of a good service auction is for everyone to have fun while making lots of money. It’s also perfectly permissible to charge admission to the auction. Remember, too, to see about inviting the general public. Garage or Yard Sale Organizing a garage sale or a yard sale is generally a lot less work than an auction as outlined above. However, you’ll probably raise a lot less money. In running this kind of endeavor, you will still need volunteers to solicit contributions, price the various items, and generally help on the day of the sale. Christmas Tree, Greens, and Poinsettia Sales Most religious-based charitable organizations raise some two-thirds of their annual income in the three months from November to January – the so-called holiday season. We can learn from them and plan to conduct the bulk of our pilgrimage fund raising during that period. This has the added advantage of not conflicting with the congregation’s annual stewardship campaign. This method usually brings in several hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the size and resources of the congregation and the efficiency of the chair.

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Most nurseries and wholesale suppliers will provide them at relatively low cost. You can decide what the mark-up will be. Start taking orders just before or immediately after Thanksgiving, and plan to have the materials and plants available at least two weeks before Christmas. Other Horticultural Products Bedding plants are another option for fundraising. You can sell pansies in October and November (at least in the South), and geraniums, begonias, impatiens and other bedding plants in the spring. The same principles apply to Christmas trees and poinsettias above. (One suggestion: give a discount to people who order in advance; that way you’re not stuck with a large inventory that you have to bribe people to take off your hands.) Chili for Super Bowl Sunday No one really wants to cook elaborate food for the Super Bowl (sometimes known as the Feast of Exaltation of the Blessed Pigskin). Take advantage of this by taking orders for chili (with or without meat) in advance of this important date (try Jane Brody’s recipe in the New York Times Cookbook). The whole youth group – Rite-13, J2A, and YAC – can get together the Saturday before the game and prepare the chili. (This, incidentally, is a great community-building activity; order pizza at the end.) The chili can be available at church on Sunday for people to collect. Make some extra for last-minute requests! If you have any left over, it can be consumed at the youth group’s Super Bowl party. Car Wash Some congregations make quite a bit of money with this exercise. Do it when the weather is warm and when the kids won’t mind getting thoroughly soaked. It can be carried on before, after, or even during the Sunday services (one clergyperson of our acquaintance carried communion out to the young people.) Parents’ Night Out (during Advent) With busy schedules, often the only time parents have to do their Christmas shopping is in the evening. Unfortunately, this is also the time when children are crotchety, blood sugar is low, and tempers are short. Spare both parents and children from a traumatic experience of having to shop together. Have the parents drop the kids off at the church where the young people will look after and entertain, and even feed them for two or three hours. This is another good community-builder for your group, and it doesn’t have to be something that only the girls do. Make sure you have plenty of videos and games on hand. Some adult supervision is also necessary. We also offered a Saturday program from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on the Saturday before Christmas. Teens provided music, activities, games, Christmas videos and some simple crafts for children under the age of 10 and we had LOTS of parents take us up on this, only too happy to make generous donations to our cause, in exchange for a Saturday for running errands, wrapping presents, etc. Rent-a-Kid Raking leaves is a chore. Mowing the grass is a chore. Planting bulbs and shrubs, or cleaning gutters, or painting, are all chores. They can also be fun when done as a group activity, and can help the pilgrims raise their funds. Flock the Yard

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Pink flamingos can be a lot of fun. Imagine if a flock of them settled in your yard. How much would you pay to have them removed? Or suppose a flock of them settled on the church property. How much would the church members (or the altar guild) pay per flamingo to get them out? Flamingos may be ordered for about $1.50 each and can be ransomed for ten times that amount (at least, that’s what St. Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta found. They ordered them from Artline, Inc., 600 North Kilbourn, Chicago, IL 60624; telephone 773-722-8100; fax 773-722-6569). It’s a great activity and lots of laughs. Bail the Bishop / Ransom the Rector (or other church bigwig!) So the bishop or another important person in your denomination’s hierarchy is coming on his or her annual visitation. How much would the congregation pay for him/her to actually get into the church to do confirmation? That’s what one congregation in the Diocese of Alabama did. The young people painted a refrigerator box to look like a jail and conned the bishop into it. A bucket outside served as a receptacle for contributions from the congregation. (Note: Make sure that both your bishop or church leader and your clergy are comfortable with this, and have agreed to it well in advance.) A variation on this is Ransom the Vestry/ Governing Board. By the way…. yes, the bishop was eventually freed to do confirmation. Concert or Dramatic Production Music and drama are surefire ways to raise funds. Speak to the organist or choir director about having a concert. It may be an organ concert or a choral concert. Musicians generally love to showcase their talents outside of the Sunday liturgy and can be persuaded without too much difficulty to provide a concert. An alternative is to have a drama in the church; a good idea, particularly during Lent or Holy Week, is to have a reading of the Gospel of Mark. Charge admission or have a free-will offering. In the interval, sell refreshments. Become an Angel Angels are popular and every endeavor needs angels, like those who invest in a Broadway play. So, how about a lot of angels (what is the collective noun for angels)? This is what one parish in the Diocese of Missouri did: Each parishioner joining the Angels contributes one dollar a week in membership dues. In addition, the teens sold aprons and T-shirts emblazoned with an angel logo (like the J2A Angel logo!!). In six months, this parish raised $4,000 from 70 Angels. You can get J2A Angel logo T-shirts from LeaderResources, 800-941-2218.

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Pilgrimage Plan Countdown Calendar – Sample

Time Left Month Activity

21 months September

J2A class meets for the first time. Sometime during this month, discuss some potential pilgrimage sites with the class. Start planning ahead. Meet informally with the parents and solicit their input about sites.

20 months October

Have a dinner for all the participants, their parents, and the leaders in The Journey to Adulthood program. While the J2A kids are having their separate program, explain to the parents, as part of the overall program, the rationale for pilgrimage. Begin working on the budget.

19 months November

Meet with the church’s governing board. Share ideas with them about potential pilgrimage sites. Let them know that their input is valuable. Meet again with the parents about site selection, cost, etc. Start planning the first fund raiser.

18 months December Schedule the first fund raiser. (Selling poinsettias for Christmas, Christmas trees, decorations is a good idea.)

17 months January Super Bowl Sunday is coming up. Taking orders for Super Bowl chili earns some good dollars.

16 months February

Start to firm up the pilgrimage site. Meet with parents to explain the budgeting process (approximately one-third from the parents; one-third from the church; one-third from the participants themselves). Begin to get a rough, ballpark figure for the cost. Share this with the church’s governing board.

15 months March

Explain to the congregation, via the newsletter or some other medium, why pilgrimage is important. Share with them the site selected. Have the clergy preach a sermon, either this month or next. Make sure that the congregation understands that the clergy and church’s governing board are firmly behind this project.

14 months April Try to get a speaker in to address the congregation, the parents, and the participants about the choice of site.

13 months May Finalize the pilgrimage site. Start to firm up the budget. Share information about the selected site with the congregation. Begin to generate some enthusiasm.

12 months June Take a break – you deserve it.

11 months July Continue your break. Get some R&R.

10 months August Start thinking about gearing up for fund raising again. Begin your planning for a major fall fund raiser. Involve the parents in this. The more, the better.

8 months October

Organize a fund raiser to raise some serious money. (One suggestion is a service auction.) When the money for this has come in, have the participants sit down and count it. Let them get an idea of how much it is they’ve raised. Celebrate with a pizza party.

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7 months November Try another fund raiser. If any of the chaperons have not had sexual misconduct training, arrange for them to take it as soon as possible.

6 months December Whatever worked last December, do it again.

5 months January Whatever worked last January, do it again. Prepare a rough draft of the itinerary.

4 months February Take a break from fund raising this month. If you haven’t already, begin to make the arrangements for travel and accommodations, if necessary.

3 months March Try a fund raiser in Lent/Holy Week. A dramatic reading of the Gospel of Mark in the church might be an idea. Have the congregation begin praying for the pilgrims on a regular basis.

2 months April

If you’re going overseas, check with the group about passports. If anyone doesn’t have one, have them get it now. See that all passports are up to date. If you need visas, start the paperwork. If you’ll need immunizations, set up the appointments.

1 month May

Now is the time to see how far short of budget you are. If there is a shortfall, have the clergy launch an appeal from the pulpit to raise the needed funds. Advertise in the church newsletter. Stress once again that this is not a holiday trip but a serious pilgrimage. Firm up the itinerary if necessary.

4 weeks June

Check once more on passports and visas. If you need more money, this is probably your last chance. Have prayers for the pilgrims included regularly in the Prayers of the People. Arrange for the clergy to be present at the departure site.

3 weeks Make sure all arrangements for the participants have been made. Have the participants meet regularly to pray.

2 weeks

Use the J2A “Liturgy for Pilgrims” at the regular Sunday service to send them on their way. Using the same liturgy, commission the leaders. Hand out the airline tickets to all the participants. (Collect them afterwards so that they don’t get lost!)

1 week

This is it! Distribute Valium to the parents. The night before the pilgrims leave, arrange for a Eucharist to be held. Confirm that the primary clergyperson has the date, the time and the place in the calendar. Immediately before the pilgrims’ flight departs, in the airport lounge or wherever, have a prayer meeting. Go in peace to love and to meet the Lord.

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Prayers for Pilgrims Saint Thomas More once prayed: “The things, dear Lord, we pray for, give us the grace to labor for.” Pilgrimage is something to be desired – more than much fine gold’ (Psalm 19:10), and is therefore something to be both prayed for and labored for. The following prayers are provided to help you structure the spiritual side of pilgrimage. Use them at planning meetings, at meetings with the young pilgrims themselves, most particularly in the last few weeks before the pilgrimage (when you should ask the whole congregation to hold the pilgrims in their prayers), and during the pilgrimage. Please see also the “Order for the Blessing of Young Pilgrims and Commissioning of Their Adult Leaders” in the J2A materials. This service can provide a beautiful dedication of those who will be going on the pilgrimage. The “Prayer for Young Persons” is found on page 829 of The Book of Common Prayer, 1979. It may be used at any time.

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for Education is found on page 261 of The Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Use it to pray in particular for the adult leaders and chaperones who will accompany the pilgrimage.

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The following prayer is adapted from one written by Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), the noted Christian apologist, writer, and mystic:

O Blessed Jesus Christ, You have invited all who carry heavy burdens to come to You: Refresh us with Your presence and Your power. Quiet our understandings and give ease to our hearts, by bringing us close to things infinite and eternal. Open to us the mind of God, that in His light we may see light. And fulfill the calling of us to be Your servants, by making us springs of strength and a joy to all whom we serve. Amen.

We suggest that this prayer be used at evening reflection sessions on the day’s pilgrimage. Some questions to ask: • How have we been refreshed today by the “presence and power” of Jesus Christ? • What did we see today that was “infinite and eternal”? • How were we “springs of strength and a joy” to each other? • How did we live into God’s call to us? • How and where did we fall short?

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This prayer is attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430). Use as is, or use the adaptation that follows as a litany:

O Thou full of compassion, I commit and commend myself unto Thee, in whom I am, and live, and know. Be Thou the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of Thy wings. Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in Thee, O God. Leader O God, full of compassion,

I commit and commend myself to You. Response I commit and commend myself to You. Leader O God, in whom I am, and live, and know, Response I commit and commend myself to You. Leader O God, the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way, Response I commit and commend myself to You.

Leader O God, let me find refuge from the noise and confusion of my thoughts. Response I commit and commend myself to You.

Leader O God, let me hide beneath the shadow of Your wings. Response I commit and commend myself to You.

Leader Let my restless heart find peace in You, O God. Response I commit and commend myself to You, O my God. Amen.

This prayer was composed by the Roman statesman Boethius (c. 480-524) in a book called Consolations. Like the Augustine prayer above, this can be read as is, or as a litany, or both:

O Father, give the spirit power to climb To the fountain of all light, and be purified. Break through the mists of earth, the weight of the clod, Shine forth in splendor, Thou that art calm weather, And quiet resting place for faithful souls. To see Thee is the end and the beginning, Thou carriest us, and Thou dost go before, Thou art the journey, and the journey’s end. Leader To see God is the end and the beginning;

God carries us and God goes before us. God is the journey, and the journey’s end.

Leader Father, give me the strength to search for you all of my life. Response To see God is the end and the beginning;

God carries us and God goes before us. God is the journey, and the journey’s end.

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Leader Break through the sky, the clouds, the earth.

Break through our hearts and minds. Response To see God is the end and the beginning;

God carries us and God goes before us. God is the journey, and the journey’s end.

Leader Be our light and our guide

And our quiet rest along the way. Response To see God is the end and the beginning;

God carries us and God goes before us. God is the journey, and the journey’s end.

Leader O Father, give the spirit power to climb

To the fountain of all light, and be purified. Break through the mists of earth, the weight of the clod, Shine forth in splendor, Thou that art calm weather, And quiet resting place for faithful souls.

Response To see Thee is the end and the beginning, Thou carriest us, and Thou dost go before, Thou art the journey, and the journey’s end. Amen.

Eric Milner-White (1884-1963) was at one time Dean of York. This prayer is adapted from one written by him. The pronouns in italics, (like “them”) may be changed (to “us”) as desired.

Control them, O my God, gently, pervasively, irresistibly, increasingly, so that they walk their pilgrim way

steadily, and in a sure light; so that they neither dally nor disobey,

nor slip aside, nor stand still, nor sink down. Control them, O God,

by the pulse of Your Presence, by Your brightness about them;

by the spur of spiritual longing after Your holy praise, after the image of Your Son;

so that they move onward and upward with a song and melody in their hearts.

This prayer is by St. Richard of Chichester (c. 1197-1253). An adaptation for the musical Godspell made it more recently popular. An adaptation is also found in The (Episcopal) Hymnal, 1982 #654.

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which Thou hast given me,

For all the pains and insults which Thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,

May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly,

And follow Thee more nearly, Day by day.

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This final prayer is attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh (c. 1552-1618):

Give me my scallop-shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk upon, My scrip of joy, immortal diet, My bottle of salvation, My gown of glory, hope’s true gage; And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage.

Based on this prayer, consider giving each pilgrim a small satchel or other receptacle holding:

• a scallop shell (“scallop-shell of quiet”),4 • a walking stick (“staff of faith”), • a notebook (“scrip of joy”) with a psalm or the last five lines of St. Richard of

Chichester’s prayer inscribed in the notebook, • a water bottle (“bottle of salvation”) or holy water bottle, • a t-shirt (“gown of glory”) • a compass (“hope’s true gage”)

It’s a small monetary investment, but one which makes this prayer and the pilgrimage more tangible.

4 The scallop shell is the symbol of St. James the Apostle. Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the reputed

burial site of St. James, was one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Europe during the Middle Ages (and still is today). The nearby sea shore abounds in scallop shells. Pilgrims in the Middle Ages would wear these in their hats, hence the symbol of the scallop shell for pilgrims everywhere.

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Pilgrimage Reflection Fourteen Days in The Holy Land in 1993 Fourteen Days in Ireland in 1995 by Amanda Millay Hughes

After all the fundraising, after all the preparation for Confirmation and the celebration of this sacrament, tickets have been purchased, copies of the itinerary handed out to parents, a list of emergency phone numbers assembled, details and more details ironed out, the time arrives to leave parents and onlookers behind and begin the pilgrimage. Leaving is hard, but the excitement is overwhelming. Parents look on bemused and hopeful, while young people walk down the pathway to a destination that they can barely imagine and an adventure that is impossible to anticipate. In 1993, St. Philip's sent eleven young people and three adults to St. George's College in Jerusalem. The little we knew about what lay ahead of us was woven out of the memories of a visit by Canon John Peterson, then dean of the college, who came eight months previously to introduce the idea of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to a wary congregation. He assured parents of safety. He described the heat and the tension of the country. By quiet and well-spoken description, he evoked the holiness of the Holy City. He described the manger on which our Lord Jesus might have been lain: a stone slab, worn by time and use. He explained that in middle eastern culture, the innkeeper in the story of Jesus' nativity was not a bad man who refused to give the young Mary and Joseph a room, but a true caretaker who recognized that the inn would not be a suitable place for a woman about to give birth. It seems that in the inns of Jesus' time, there were no individual rooms at all, but rather great open halls with ledges where as many as twenty or thirty men, likely drunken and weary, would lie down side by side, under blankets and skins to keep warm. There would have been no privacy, not even a quiet corner. The offer of a stable, a manger, with animals nearby offering the warmth of their bodies as small comfort, was a gracious gift. This was but one of the many stories that Canon Peterson shared with us, but still, we did not know what to expect. Our journey took us from the airport in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina to Miami, to Rome, and finally to Tel Aviv. We would be met at the airport in Tel Aviv by a priest named Richard LeSueur. We had never met him, had no idea what he looked like, and had to hope that a band of weary American young people would be recognizable to him. I remember walking off the plane with the young people, a guitar, and the other two chaperones: my father, Richard Hughes, and Donna Hicks, a parishioner at St. Philip's who had been to the Holy Land once before and was a rich resource to us on the concerns of the Palestinian community in Jerusalem. By the time we reached the college, we had been traveling for a full twenty-four hours. We were exhausted. We had survived the first of our fourteen days of pilgrimage. After we had checked into the rooms at the college and settled in, dinner was served and we all talked and listened at the first orientation meeting. The staff encouraged us to get to bed and get some rest, as tomorrow would be a busy day. I suspect that first night brought the discovery of the roof of the college as a place to hide, to look at the desert stars above the city of Jerusalem – a place for the young people to go late at night to talk and laugh. If the young people didn't find the roof that night, they did the next day, when we were given even more information regarding the college. The laundry room was on the top floor with a door to the roof. A washing machine was available to us, and a clothesline across the roof. Warnings were

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offered to the youth that if they washed their clothes and hung them in the hot sun to dry, they should know that the sun would bleach the colors out of the clothes over the course of a day. None of us took the warning of the sun all that seriously the first day, but we would learn soon to refill our water bottles in the morning and keep them with us at all times. We would learn to wear our hats, to put sunscreen on our toes if we wore open-toed sandals, to sip water even though we never felt thirsty. The desert sun can be cruel and unforgiving, the heat unrelenting. Even though we were traveling from site to site in a large air-conditioned bus, there were still days when we all felt exhausted by the heat; and on occasion we had to stop to allow a young person to get a little air, or even to throw up by the side of the road. There were other reasons why we had to stop. Military checkpoints on the highways meant a stop while the driver of the bus spoke to the armed soldiers. On our first day in Jerusalem, we went to Hezekiah's Tunnel. Dating back to the time of King Hezekiah, the tunnel runs from the center of the city out to the wadi which surrounds it. During times of invasion or attack, people in the city could get water from the tunnel without leaving the city's protective wall. We were going to walk through it. Richard Le Sueur explained to us that the water would be cold and would come up to our waist at times, and that we would walk with our flashlights through the tunnel from the center of the city out to the well of Salome. He explained that we should stay close to one another, and help one other through the long trek under the city. One by one, we climbed down into the hole in the wall that was the entrance to the tunnel. The water was cold and clear. We lit our flashlights and walked. I wish I could say with certainty how long it took. Twenty minutes? Thirty minutes? Maybe longer? It was a long way. We needed to be careful with each step because the bottom was uneven. Step up, we would hear, step down – advice from the people at the very front of the line. Our pilgrim group had been joined by young people from all over the world: a total of 35 teenagers and our three chaperones and three from the college made the trek. As we walked, the water grew deeper until we were walking in ice cold, clear water up to our armpits. At times the tunnel is only shoulder-width wide. At other times it is wide enough for two people to walk almost side by side. The top of the tunnel varied in height from low enough to make us duck our heads to high enough to be invisible when we pointed our flashlights up to the distant roof of stone. It was pitch black. My father took up the rear, and did not bring a flashlight. Later he said he walked most of the way in pitch darkness, able to see the lights a few steps ahead of him, but his path through the water was not illuminated by the tiny beams of light in the darkness. He said he was comforted by being able to see the lights, but they did not change his experience of the close darkness. When we emerged from the tunnel, we were met by a group of young Palestinians, no more than ten or twelve years old. They pushed us down into the water of the open Well of Salome, stole our flashlights, laughed at us and goaded us. Their push caused me to fall down into the well, and I twisted my ankle, spraining it on the uneven bottom of the well. Everyone was stunned, shaken, frightened. We rode back to the college in silence. What could we say? We were in a foreign land, in a foreign culture. We were a long way from home. I tell this story because it was the true beginning for us. We had been through a tunnel, moving from one place to another. It was liminal time. We were neither in the city nor out of the city. We were not in daylight, but it was not nighttime. We were strangers, and we were suddenly allies in a place none of us understood. The task of pilgrimage had begun. We were

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beginning to experience a whole new way of seeing the world and the history of our faith. We were, at last, pilgrims. This new way of seeing would not provide easy understanding. That night, after watching a high-production video of the Holy Land, we had our first evening session of reflection. My foot was bandaged and elevated on a pillow and we began to talk about what it means to be a pilgrim. We had discussed the whole notion of pilgrimage at home, in the comfort of familiar surroundings, but suddenly the reality of how far away from home we were erupted. Young women expressed their fear at having been playfully assaulted by Palestinian boys. Representatives of the college apologized for the incident, took responsibility for it, and assured us, as best they could, that we would not experience this again. Strange food and strange smells stirred through our bodies. There were tears. There were young people holding hands in the meeting, as though they had known each other since infancy, holding on to someone who had suddenly become a friend, an ally on the pilgrim road. Historically, pilgrimage has been the occupation of the young. Young men and women set out away from home to make their way to the holy sites of the world. The goal was to stand where the ancients had stood. To see, through the leaving of family and friends, something of the passion of our Lord Jesus. The task of pilgrimage is to lay bare the heart, to allow the mystery of the Spirit of God to move through you in ways that are not available to us in our own homes. It is an ancient and sacred ritual that requires endurance, patience, tenacity, and grace. For the next twelve days we went from ruin to ruin. We visited Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. We went to the Red Sea, stripped off T-shirts and skirts and khakis to get to our bathing suits beneath the clothes, and floated in the salt-filled sea. Floating on that water we were floating on the lowest air/ground surface on earth, more than a thousand feet below sea level. We sat up late in the night. We talked. We prayed. We laughed. We learned how to build a community, and we learned how to be patient with one another’s weaknesses. For some, the weakness was in the body. I hobbled from site to site. My father struggled to descend and ascend the nearly endless stairs to the monastery in the wilderness. For others, the weaknesses were apparent in getting used to the foreign culture. It was difficult for some to learn to lower their voices – Americans are so loud. It was hard for them to remember that shopkeepers in the Old City understand a fair amount of English, and that the off-hand critical (though often humorous) comments of young people were readily understood by the man selling the olive wood crosses and the T-shirts that proclaimed religious aphorisms in English. But every evening we gathered to review what we had seen that day: to reflect on the calling of Mary by name; to ponder the mystery of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the thousands of tourists who descend like ancient pilgrims, only with a camera in hand, pushing and shoving for a “Kodak moment” in front of the site where tradition tells us the cross was placed on Golgotha. Every evening we laughed and talked and listened to the rhythm of hearts beating a little differently. The changes are hard to describe, but the lessons are those of a lifetime. We learned to look, to listen, to have eyes and ears ready for the Good News of God in our lives at any and every moment. Two years later, I escorted another group of pilgrims with other chaperones to Ireland. The experience was completely different, but equally challenging. The parts of Ireland we visited – Glendalough, Dublin, Monasterboice, and the Aran Islands – are not crime-ridden and politically charged as the sites had been in the Holy Land. No military conflict erupted in the night as it had in Nazareth, when a border skirmish began and bombers and helicopters woke us from our

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sleep. Silence wrapped around us in Ireland. The weather was welcoming. The food was far more palatable. In Jerusalem, meals were prepared for us by the staff of the college and the hostel in Nazareth; in Ireland, we cooked for ourselves, three meals a day, virtually every day of our pilgrimage. In Ireland we had no washing machine, so we washed our clothes by hand. The Holy Land was vast and hot and dry. Glendalough is the green desert, lush and inviting. The martyrdom of the Irish saints was an inner death to comfort, not the sort that enveloped Bishop Pike in the wilderness around Jerusalem. Even the stark landscape of the Aran Islands was more inviting than the expanse of wilderness that surrounds Jerusalem. In Ireland, things looked familiar. In Jerusalem, everything was strange. But in Ireland, it was the people and the land that whispered truths to us as we wandered across the valleys, meandered over twisting roads in a tiny run-down bus, stood at the foot of High Crosses and wandered through the dark passageway of New Grange. I was once again on Holy Pilgrimage, the other chaperones were making their first such trip, and we traveled alone with only our group – this time no other young people joined us. There were eleven in our group; those who accompanied us were the Rev. Marcus Losack, the director of Ceile De, an ecumenical center for Celtic Spirituality; and Kevin O’Kelly, a mountaineer from the Wicklow Mountains with a spirituality as thick and deep as his black Irish hair and beard. We were joined on the Aran Island by Father Dara Molly, a Celtic monk, and Tess Harper, a Dublin woman in her early thirties who had lived the past ten years on the Island, trying to live out her faith in simplicity and honesty. For all that we saw and experienced in both Ireland and Jerusalem, as I have reflected on the experience, the most important work was done in the evenings, at meals, in the silence of the mornings before we headed out to view another ruin. It was the time to reflect, to discuss, to share that made each of these pilgrimages a success. Pilgrimage is a holy mystery. That is certainly true. But to assume that merely visiting site after site without time to talk and reflect, without structuring in daily prayers, singing, laughter, and conversation, is to miss the richness that a living community of pilgrims can offer to one another. I offer these stories as a way for youth leaders and chaperones to begin to imagine being engaged in this journey themselves, being leaders and lovers of God in the midst of the hardship of pilgrimage. I offer them as tiny tidbits of nourishment. In Ireland, we climbed the Wicklow mountains. There was no path. We had to forge our way through heather up to our waists, watch every step lest we put our weight down in a crevice between hidden rocks and fall. We had to find our way. We had to find our own pilgrim path. Once in a while, as we climbed the steep side of the mountain, one would find a small wild raspberry bush hidden under the heather, and call out to the others. We would work our way across the rough terrain, gather for a moment, share water and raspberries, and encourage each other to go on. It took us nearly seven hours to climb the mountain, and another three to walk back down the path on the other side. I offer these stories, not as a road map for your journey, but as tiny pieces of fruit found along the way. May the Lord God bless you in your travels. And may God meet you every step of the way.

Copyright © 1998 by Amanda Millay Hughes. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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Sample Release Form RELEASE The undersigned parent or legal guardian of _________________________________________, a minor child, does hereby grant permission for said child to embark on a Pilgrimage to _____________, on ___________________ (dates) with the J2A youth group and leaders. This consent also includes specific permission hereby granted to the adult supervisors and leaders of St. Philip’s Youth to make medical decisions with respect to the said minor child in the event of accident or injury when parental consent shall be unavailable or when circumstances shall require immediate medical decision, and to administer medication when required. Dated this ________ day of _______________, ______ _________________________________________ Parent or legal guardian Medical insurance information: Company_____________________ Policy Number ______________________________ Notarized by:

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Sample Information Form

Name of Pilgrim _______________________________ Name of Parent(s) ______________________________ Home address: _________________________________ Home phone: __________________________________ Work address: (1)_______________________________ Work phone: (1)_______________________________ Work address: (2)_______________________________ Work phone: (2)_______________________________

Other relative or friend to contact in case of emergency:___________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Medical concerns: _________________________________________________________ Medicines taken: __________________________________________________________ Reason: ________________________________ Dose: _____________________

(Also see reference forms in Better Safe Than Sued by Jack Crabtree)

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Resources for Pilgrimage: Background Reading & Study If you’re going on pilgrimage, careful preparation is essential no matter where you will be traveling. This applies equally to reading as much as possible on the place, or places, you will be visiting, and reading about the act of pilgrimage itself. The following listing is a selection of sources which can help the leaders, as well as the young pilgrims, to be thoroughly prepared ahead of time. However, don’t let this reading become a burden. Also, remember that our God of surprises is always waiting for you around the next corner. General Cousineau, Phil, Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, Berkeley, CA Conari Press, 1998. A highly useful guidebook packed with great ideas such as tape recording local voices, music and sound; asking people you meet contemplative questions; lighting a traveling candle, etc. Suggests ways in which a pilgrimage can become a life-changing ritual that entails “a deepening of focus, keen preparation, attention to the path below our feet and respect for the destination at hand.” Crabtree, Jack, Better Safe Than Sued: Keeping Out of Trouble in Youth Ministry, Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, Inc., undated. This is a must-have book for all those who work in youth ministry or church administration. Safeguard youth from accidents and your congregation from lawsuits. The wisdom of this book offers down-to-earth advice and guidance concerning screening volunteers, insurance coverage, thorough safety planning, accident-proofing games, and designing safe trips and retreats. Lynn, David and Kathy, Great Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups and More Great Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups, Youth Specialties Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Pawley, Margaret (ed.), Prayers for Pilgrims, London: SPCK/Triangle, 1991. This is an excellent resource for any pilgrimage. Many of the prayers contained in this book may be adapted for use by young pilgrims. A British publication, it is not widely available in the United States, but it can be found (several copies were recently discovered in Trinity Bookstore, New York). Regalbuto, Robert J., A Guide to Monastic Guest Houses, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1998. This guide to 80 Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) guest houses in the US and Canada offers detailed information on rooms, meals, charges, architecture, points of interest, and directions. It can be used to plan a pilgrimage or a shorter retreat experience. Strommen, Merton P. and Charles Bruning, FaithTalk, Minneapolis, MN: Youth & Family Institute. FaithTalk is a set of 192 share cards that provide opportunities for in-depth conversation between young people and their parents or other adults. It includes 48 cards in each of four areas: Memories, Etchings, Values, and Actions. Perfect for your pilgrimage “kit bag.” Use during long hours on the bus or as reflection starters at the end of the day. Vest, Douglas C., On Pilgrimage, MA: Cowley Publications, 1998. Vest explores the differences between sightseeing, vacationing, and pilgrimage, inviting us along on pilgrimages he has made. He also helps you plan for pilgrimage—not only in the most

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practical sense, with checklists and guides, but by preparing yourself for a change of place, and opening yourself to new people and experiences. An excellent primer for anyone planning to lead a pilgrimage. Yolen, Jane, Sacred Places, New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1996 (illustrated by David Shannon). This is a children’s book which is not really a children’s book. It covers sacred sites in places as disparate as England, America, Australia, India, and Japan. The illustrations are great, and the poetry is deeply moving. Canterbury Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (especially the Prologue). The sine qua non of pilgrimage accounts, this really should be read by anyone going on pilgrimage to Canterbury. If you don’t want to do battle with the Old English spelling, try the Neville Coghill translation. Shirley du Boulay, The Road to Canterbury, Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1994. Join the author’s 130-mile journey along Pilgrim’s Way in the south of England. Includes meditations on spirituality and pilgrimage in the contemporary world. This book can be used by youth and their leaders to explore taking this pilgrimage route. It will provide leaders with material they can use in planning the programmatic aspects of the pilgrimage. Ireland/Celtic Christianity and Spirituality Frederick Buechner, Brendan, HarperSanFrancisco, 1988. A sequel to his Godric, this novel covers the life of the sixth-century Irish saint, Brendan (Brendan the Navigator), whose lifelong search for the Terrestrial Paradise, Tir-na-n-Og, was one of the most popular of all the medieval legends. This is a rich, and ribald, piece of writing. Esther de Waal, God Under My Roof: Celtic Songs and Blessings, Orleans, Massachusetts: Paraclete Press, 1984. Esther de Waal, Every Earthly Blessing: Celebrating a Spirituality of Creation, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications, 1991. Esther de Waal, The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination, New York: Doubleday, 1999. Esther de Waal is an expert in Benedictine and Celtic (pronounced with a hard “C,” like “keltic” ) spirituality as well as a noted pilgrimage leader. Anyone planning a pilgrimage to sites associated with the Celtic Christians— Ireland, Iona, Lindisfarne—would be well advised to read one or two of these Cintra Pemberton, OSH, Soulfaring, Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999. Sister Cintra, a member of the Episcopal Order of St. Helena, has been leading groups of pilgrims to Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales for many years. Soulfaring describes the spirituality of 15 sacred Celtic sites, and offers an engaging history of pilgrimage tradition from Celtic times to the present. This is a guide that is both spiritual and down to earth, offering practical hints and embodying the spirit of these holy places. Michael Rodgers and Marcus Losack, Glendalough: A Celtic Pilgrimage, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Morehouse Publishing, 1996. If you are making a pilgrimage to Ireland, you will probably make your arrangements through the Center for Celtic Spirituality of which Marcus is the founder. It would therefore be essential

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to prepare for the pilgrimage by reading this book ahead of time so as to get the maximum out of the experience. Philip Sheldrake, Living Between Worlds: Place and Journey in Celtic Spirituality, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cowley Publications. Again, a study of this highly scholarly book will deepen the appreciation of the Celts and their spirituality. Durham and Lindisfarne Frederick Buechner, Godric, HarperSanFrancisco, 1983. Buechner at his best. This fictional retelling of the life of the twelfth-century hermit and holy man, Godric of Finchale, is almost essential reading to capture the flavor of that time. The book was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and the writing shows it—like W.B. Yeats writing prose. This would be as good, and as enjoyable, for young pilgrims to read as for the leaders. James W. Kennedy, Holy Island: A Lenten Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications, 1997. Dr. Kennedy was at one time the rector of Christ Church, Lexington, Kentucky and director of Forward Movement Publications. This is a deeply spiritual account of Lindisfarne. Jerusalem and the Holy Land Herbert O’Driscoll, A Certain Life: Contemporary Meditations on the Way of Christ, New York: Crossroad, 1980. These brief meditations on incidents in the life of Jesus are based primarily in Jerusalem. These could be read throughout the pilgrimage as well as providing an excellent preparation. Salisbury Susan Howatch, The “Starbridge” Novels ( Glittering Images; Glamorous Powers; Ultimate Prizes; Scandalous Risks; Mystical Paths; Absolute Truths), New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987-1994. Starbridge, in this extraordinary set of novels, is actually based on Salisbury. It thus paints a powerful picture of this city and cathedral from about 1937 to the present day. Edward Rutherfurd, Sarum: The Novel of England, New York: Ballantine, 1987. There’s something about Salisbury which is quintessentially English. Perhaps this is the reason for the fascination it has for recent novelists (another is Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth). This book covers the history of Salisbury from Neolithic times to the present day. This would be a good resource to assign to the young pilgrims making their pilgrimage to Salisbury. Taizé There are many publications about Taizé. If you plan on going there, you will be furnished with a list of these. Brother Roger’s book, No Greater Love, is probably essential reading. Equally essential is the music of Taizé; invest in several tapes and/or CDs. If you have a musician in the group, consider ordering the musical settings of the Taizé chants. In the US, contact 413 West 48th St., New York, NY 10036-1225, phone 212-246-0029. Revised: December 2004

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Sample J2A Pilgrimage Barefoot in New York: A Template for a J2A Pilgrimage Here is a model for what your J2A group might do during 10 days on pilgrimage. This template takes as its subject a pilgrimage to New York City, but you should be able to adapt the format to any destination. No template should be followed blindly: we offer you this to spark your thinking, and we hope you adapt it to the needs and makeup of your specific group. Why New York City? We are using New York City as our example because, for those who have never been there, it is a fairly daunting destination to plan for. One obvious disadvantage to New York is that it is a busy, hectic place with many, many distractions that make it hard for pilgrims to focus on the purpose of their trip. Creating opportunities for prayer and reflection requires careful thought. On the other hand, if you can find God in The Big Apple you probably can find God anywhere! The advantage of New York as a destination is that there are several sites “standing by,” ready and willing to host you. There is also a significant, structured experience available—the Nightwatch event at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (see additional material about Nightwatch at the end of this section). You might spend a week in the city and end up with the Nightwatch event, or you might begin with Nightwatch and stay for a week or so afterwards. This outline assumes that you are starting with Nightwatch, but to end with it simply shift the days around in the schedule. Planning As you plan for this pilgrimage, consider that it is as complicated an undertaking as a small wedding, though probably somewhat less costly. The only way to stay on top of everything is to start early and secure as much as you can as early as you can. This means booking sleeping space, and figuring out how the group will travel, long before the event is more than a gleam on the horizon. But since this is a J2A pilgrimage, and not a holiday trip which any may join at the last moment, you should be very confident of the number of young people and leaders who will be going. Your J2A materials contain ample materials to help you prepare. Make good use of them, engage the group and adult volunteers in a year-long game of pilgrimage-planning, and with God’s help you will be able to go on this trip with your own heart ready for a pilgrimage, and not worn down and anxious over not-yet-settled details. Pick a theme for the journey, if at all possible including the youth in making this decision. Settle on the theme as soon as you can, so you can begin gathering materials and resources that will help focus on the theme. Research appropriate scriptures to be part of your Bible study times, identify short devotional readings, hymns and songs, and some logo or graphic that the group can use as a badge. Bring a minimal art supplies—a box of crayons/colored pencils, colored paper, scissors, tape, glue—so they can be used to decorate the place where the group will stay. Consider a “house gift” to bring to the host group or agency. It might be very useful to bind the resource materials you will be taking with you into pilgrimage journals for each member of your group. The journals could have all the hymns and

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prayers you plan to use, and room for extras, Compline and any other services, and space for the pilgrims to record their impressions and discoveries. Obtain permission before duplicating hymns or readings—publishers are generally happy to grant permission for you to print “brief excerpts,” but are much less happy if you go ahead and do it without permission. Some themes you might consider are:

• Christ in the City—finding Christ in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life is a good way to focus on how we find Christ, and make space for Christ, in the hustle and bustle of our lives.

• Building a life with Christ—look at how people have sought to make Christ an

integral part of their buildings and public spaces, and explore how we can build the structure of our lives with Christ as integral to who we are and who we continue to become.

• Christ in political life—how is Christ present or absent in government actions, in the

lives of political leaders, and in public policy; and how Christ is present or absent in our public lives.

• Christians as people in the midst of American life—look at the people of this

country—immigrants, slaves, and native peoples—and how they came here, how they live here, and how they become part of this country. Look at our place in this country as children of God and as Christ-bearers—examine what it means to be part of both the Church and our secular society.

Rituals One way you can emphasize the difference between a pilgrimage and any other kind of trip is by establishing rituals that the group observes throughout the journey. This is sacred time, adorned with sacred actions. Ideally, these will have some connection with the traditions and rituals the group has already established. Observing these rituals is not a matter of catching people who neglect them and making them feel foolish. It is a matter of reaffirming that we are on a special journey, and we act this way to keep ourselves strong and focused. Work out what is going to happen, and get the agreement of the group before you leave on the pilgrimage. The youth may have some good ideas to contribute . . . or may point out an essential flaw in the “good idea” you had.

• It is important that the group have a wake up ritual. This might be singing a specific song, such as “This is the day that the Lord has made.” Or the group could observe silence (even early risers) until a certain hour, at which time the appointed “waker-upper” will use a versicle and response (such as V: This is the day that the Lord has made. R: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!) that he or she leads until all are awake and have responded. Or you might slowly strike a gong several times (remember to bring one along!). Or you might play a specific CD.

• How will you remind yourselves of God’s gracious gifts at mealtimes? Will you eat

simply, bringing food into the housing area and serving each other, or will you be eating

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out? How will you give thanks for the food and God’s many gifts? What can you do that you might not otherwise do? While planning, encourage the group to “push the envelope.” Remind them that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a chance to try out something new (or very old) and learn from it. Brainstorm ideas—at a fast food joint, will you sing grace, or gathering in a circle, holding hands for a prayer? Encourage the group to think of a way that is “sacred”—a way that really does give God thanks and, if you are in public, a way that invites others into that thanksgiving. A song, sung gently and prayerfully, can be powerful in a public context. Sung “camp-style,” it can be offensive to other diners. Invite the group to reflect on how they can pray and invite others into that prayer without turning them off.

• In the evening, light candles or turn down the lights during your closing discussion and

liturgy. Practice the Examen: The Examen asks two questions: For what moment today am I most grateful? For what moment today am I least grateful? These questions can be restated, according to the situation: When did I feel most alive today? When did I feel life draining out of me? When was I happiest/saddest today? What was today’s high/low point? When did I give and receive the most/least love today? These questions are all based on St. Ignatius’ Examen—what he called “consolations and desolations” in The Spiritual Exercises. It teaches us to reflect openly and honestly on our lives. Through reflecting on these questions we become aware of God’s presence and of the ways in which we block, ignore, or fail to see God working with us. Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life by Dennis, Sheila, and Matthew Linn (Paulist Press) is helpful in describing and expanding the practice of the Examen.

o Depending on your group, you can do the Examen entirely aloud or allow some time for the youth to write in their journals.

• Ask the group to observe the Great Silence—the time of silence monastics observe

from the end of their closing liturgy at night to the opening liturgy or ritual the next morning. This is expecting a lot of the group, but explain the tradition to them and ask them to commit to trying it. Remember to ask them to reflect on this experience each morning or as part of the next evening’s reflection on the day. Ask a couple of the following questions: What was this like for you? What did you experience? What did you learn? What is the value of silence? Can you have silence in a noisy city? How can you pray in the midst of a noisy silence? How does “natural” noise differ from our own noise (TV, talking, etc.) in its impact on us? Is your experience of this time changing as the pilgrimage progresses?

o End with Compline or some other closing worship service—use candles and

leave them burning (in a safe place) for 30 minutes after the close of the service. After the service no one says a word . . . if you absolutely must speak, whisper very quietly or use hand signals (It’s amazing what you can communication silently!). Trust us on this one—setting this as your “spiritual practice” for this pilgrimage time serves two purposes: 1) the youth actually get some quiet time with no reading, TV, etc.—time to reflect and pray; and, 2) you get to go to sleep at a decent hour! If you like, you can play a CD with monastic chants, Taizé music, or some other music the group will recognize as “holy.” Just make sure it is quiet and sacred—nothing stimulating. After 30 minutes, a designated youth leader blows out the candles.

o (Is it necessary to mention that the Great Silence applies to the grownups, as well? No sneaking off for late-night coffee and gossip in another room: you are

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pilgrims, too.) Where to Stay Pilgrimage accommodations are available at several locations with varying costs and facilities. Please make your reservations well in advance: six months to a year is not too far ahead. If the site you contact is booked for the dates you want, ask if they can recommend an alternative. Most of these places charge or ask for a donation of $50-65 per person, per night. Some will suggest a lower rate for youth groups. Floor space at General Seminary and at a local church will be much less costly (plan on a donation of about $10-15 per person, per night) but you won’t have a bed and the bathroom accommodations will be minimal. So you might want to do a combination of more and less costly accommodations. And remember that hotels in New York City (which are not good pilgrimage accommodations anyway) are anywhere from $150-300+ a night!

• Trinity Church, Wall Street has three apartments in Neale House. One apartment accommodates about 20 people (bedroom, living room, large conference room with kitchen, 2 baths); the other two are smaller (bedroom, bath, living room) and would accommodate about 10 people. It is located at 50 Fulton Place, east of Trinity Church down at the lower tip of Manhattan. Call 212-602-0800 and ask for the Coordinator of Neale House.

• General Theological Seminary is in the Chelsea District of New York (south and west), at 175 Ninth Avenue. They have floor space in a gym or classroom, with showers in another campus building. Occasionally, some of their 22 double rooms and two small apartments are available (unfortunately not in June). Call 212-243-5150 and ask for the Director of Facilities, Elsa Gore, for floor space, or Michael Walsh, Housing Coordinator, for the rooms.

• House of the Redeemer is a former mansion converted into a retreat center with five double and six single rooms. This facility is at 7 East 95th Street ( between Madison and 5th Avenue) on the east side of Central Park in upper Manhattan. Call 212-289-0399.

• St. Hilda’s House at the Community of the Holy Spirit can house twenty guests in fourteen single rooms, two double-bedded rooms and one twin-bedded room. Meals and arrival dates are not available on Mondays. They are located at 621 West 113th Street (in the Northern part of the Island of Manhattan) and can be reached at 212-932-8098; or www.chssisters.org.

• Leo House is managed by the Roman Catholic Sisters of St. Agnes and is very close to General Seminary. It has sixty rooms and can house up to 100 people, BUT it is very popular so you need to make a reservation FAR in advance. They have a breakfast buffet daily (continental breakfast on Sunday) included in the room rate. You can call them at 800-732-2438 or 212-929-1010.

You probably will be traveling by bus or subway a lot – dealing with cars in New York City is expensive (parking can be as much as $25-50 a night). You can get a Seven-Day Metrocard before you arrive. Call 1-800-METROCARD or buy it online at www.metrocard.citysearch.com You can also get a One-Day pass or pay per ride. Remember to plan for the cost of food and drinks. Again, it can be quite expensive. Fast food restaurants tend to be closer to the prices you know at home but other prices may give you “sticker shock.” If your accommodations have facilities to cook or offer meals, we suggest you

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seriously consider taking advantage of that option. Otherwise, you will find that a lunch consisting of a sandwich, drink and chips will cost $10-12 per person. The other advantage of cooking and eating simply is that it helps keep the group in a pilgrimage mode. Pilgrims, in all times and places, have generally sought to live simply, eat simple meals, and stay at simple accommodations. It reinforces the concept that this is not a vacation and that the primary goal of this trip is to seek the Christ in places where other Christians have known Christ. Safety New York City is generally safe these days. But it is a big city, so use common sense. The only specific advice we’d give is that you take care if you are traveling after dark. Buses are a better choice than the subway if the entry and exit points are in neighborhoods that have lots of people around. About the lodging identified here:

• Lower Manhattan empties out after 5 pm, so if you are staying at Neale House, you might want to get yourselves back into the neighborhood before dark. There are lots of restaurants and a grocery store across the street, and it is fine to walk around that area to get dinner. The South Street Seaport Museum and shopping area is a couple of blocks away and, when you need a shopping break (see below), you can go there at night provided you stay in groups with an adult.

• House of the Redeemer is on a quiet, empty street that can be rather unnerving at night to those unfamiliar with the area. Talk with them about transportation, but you might want to get yourselves into the House before dark. They will feed you dinner if you arrange it in advance.

• General Seminary is in an active area of Chelsea that is quite safe, even at night. You can get a bus to drop you off a couple of blocks away and easily walk to the seminary at night – esp. in a group.

In all of these cases, talk with the local folks when you book your housing and make sure you ask about the safest way to travel at night. Also, check with them about other safety issues—like fire exits and any special rules and regulations they may have. When you arrive, locate fire extinguishers, make sure everyone knows where the fire exits are and that you check to make sure they are operative! Remember the rule for hotels—locate the nearest fire exit, count the number of doors, and make sure you can get to the exit in the dark. Tour guides When working with tour guides at a museum or elsewhere, remember that they are paid to talk, not necessarily to notice whether anybody is listening. If you use a tour guide, it would be helpful to tell the tour guide ahead of time that you just want a brief orientation and a few things youth might like. Be prepared to intervene if the guide goes on and on (which happens sometimes, even in youth-friendly places). Do not ever let a tour guide take over for more than 15-20 minutes. Let the tour guide know that you are on pilgrimage, not a tourist group. Be clear that the youth are not there to learn about their wonderful building or history—they are there to find God. If it is a church, ask if their clergy will come and pray with the youth, as a group or individually at the altar. Ask the tour guide or the church’s clergy if there are special sacred places they can tell you about, or special ways the church helps show Christ to the world. Tell them about the need to create opportunities for youth to encounter God and reflect on that experience. Ask them for suggestions. Make sure everybody thanks them politely when it is time to leave.

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Sample Schedule & Activities in NYC Day 1: Getting There, Settling-in and Setting the Tone This is your departure day. If you are doing Nightwatch, it will probably be the Thursday before your Nightwatch event, and, depending on how far you have to go, most of it may be spent traveling. Before you leave home, gather at the church (if that’s possible) and set off from there together. Whether you meet at the church or elsewhere, have a short service that officially marks the beginning of the pilgrimage. It can be simple, but should help to set the tone of the trip. Invite parents, family members, and other members of the congregation to take part, and involve the clergy (get this on their schedule early—around the time you book your accommodations, to make sure that they can be present). After you arrive at your destination, lug your stuff inside, drop it in a pile in the main room, and make a prayer circle around it. Thank God for bringing you safely so far, and ask for nourishment, enlightenment, and challenge. Then figure out who goes where (you should know most of this from your planning conversations earlier in the year, and if you’re smart you’ll have a map in hand showing who goes in what rooms). Let people have a little time to explore the space and get out of traveling mode, and then gather the group. Make sure everybody knows any basic health and safety rules (“never leave that door unlocked” and especially “this is how you escape in case of a fire”) and deal with housekeeping details—assign duties, set up a shower schedule, discuss issues/concerns (i.e., how much time does each person get in the bathroom?). Keep the instructions clear and brief. Then move on to some activity that all are familiar with from your regular group meetings (a sung round, a guessing game, something more active that will not damage furniture). Then invite the group to create sacred space. The youth need to decide how to decorate the space so it is theirs, how to set apart an area for gathering to pray, how to keep before the group the theme of the pilgrimage. When the decorations are done, you might want to do a modified “house blessing.” Move from room to room, reading a Scripture passage and praying a blessing prayer for the people who will eat, sleep, relax/recreate, wash themselves, or worship in that room or space. The Book of Occasional Services • 1994 (Church Publishing, Inc.) has a Celebration for a Home (p. 148ff.) that you can use as a model. You can also have a candle bearer lead the procession and, if you like, incense to carry from room to room. Then move into a time of discussion. Spend some time talking about how you will remind yourselves that this is a pilgrimage. If you worked out some of these items beforehand, now is the time to review them. Review what will happen in the next few days. Now it will be time to organize for dinner. It might be a good idea to “eat in” the first night, if you can. Keep it simple: pizza would be good. Or cook spaghetti or some other “infallible” meal, if you have a kitchen. Observe your thanksgiving ritual before (and maybe after) the meal. Have an activity planned for this first night after cleanup that, again, sets the tone. For example, you might read from a book about pilgrimage and a story from scripture. Whatever it is, it needs to invite the group into the pilgrimage experience and set the expectation that you

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will be seeking God and will be asking God to find you. How do we seek God physically, emotionally, spiritually, and among those who make our community? How do we recognize God’s mighty acts? How will we know when we encounter the Christ this week? Light a candle, turn down the lights, and close with the Examen or some other exercise that enables everyone (youth and adults) to reflect on the day, and Compline or closing prayers. (About candles: Make sure candles are acceptable in your lodging or ask about special arrangements. It is best if you have a candle that is enclosed in a glass jar. And it is essential that an adult sit with the candle—preferably in prayer to model what is expected of the youth.) Day 2: The Cloisters and Nightwatch Begin with your wake-up ritual, morning worship, dressing, and breakfast according to the schedule you established. You will be due at the Cathedral for Nightwatch at 6:30 tonight, so everyone needs to pack one night’s supply of clothes, modest sleep wear, and toiletries, and set all that next to their sleeping bag and pillow, ready to be picked up later in the afternoon. This might be a good day to go to the Cloisters Museum. During your planning for the trip, call 212-650-2280 to make a reservation and to arrange for a tour. The tour is $6 per person; a self-guided tour ($4) is an option, but the tour guide will make your job easier. The museum has statues of pilgrims (like St. James) in traveling attire with pilgrim’s badges and other symbols. You can talk with the museum’s education department ahead of time about what to focus on during the tour—tell them about the J2A program, your pilgrimage, and your theme so they can design something for you. Their tour is an hour long, which is a stretch for youth. But is more likely to fit what your group is doing that the standard church or museum tour. This is especially true if you pre-arrange the tour and help the tour guide understand what you are there for. When you call, ask them about suggested activities you can give the youth to do, and see if they have a book about the Cloisters you can buy to help you prepare activities ahead of time. The group tours are at 9:45 and 11:00 am; group self-tours are in the afternoon. There is no restaurant on the grounds but a cafe nearby carries lunch fare (call 212-568-5323 to make sure they’re still open as NYC restaurants tend to come and go quickly), or you could bring a picnic and plan to eat in the park surrounding the museum. After lunch (and some play in the park if the group needs to let off steam), invite the young people to go back and do an activity you develop. Arrange this with the staff ahead of time—the museum staff told us (off the record) that they are more likely to let you back in after lunch if you have a structured activity for the youth. If they have a busy day, the Cloisters may be too crowded, but they are reluctant to say “no” to a well-organized group. Take the clue and be organized! For example, ask the group to identify one or two places they want to visit again. Their assignment is to go there, sit quietly out of the way, and spend some time drawing or writing about their selected item. One might want to sit at the feet of St. James and write about what it might have been like to be on pilgrimage with him. Another might want to spend time with the tapestries and see what they reveal. You’ll probably need to divide the youth into small groups with one adult per group (which is also much more comfortable for the museum staff!). Head back to your lodgings in time to clean up (there are no showers at the Cathedral), eat,

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collect your gear, and get to the Cathedral between 6:15-6:30 to register for Nightwatch and stash your luggage. Do not let the young people explore the Cathedral on their own yet, or even peek through the door. After you have registered and divested yourselves of luggage, gather outside the Cathedral doors. Ask the youth to form a single line and walk, slowly and widely spaced out (2 or 3 in the length of the aisle at a time), down the center aisle to the high altar where a priest from the Cathedral (if you’ve arranged for one with the Nightwatch staff) or a leader from your group welcomes and blesses each pilgrim by name. From there, direct them to sit in the choir while the other pilgrims in your group are blessed, and then head for the Nightwatch gathering spot. You may need to coordinate with 100 youth and adults from various groups. If the groups are all arriving within a short time-frame, you may want to use several priests to do the blessings. The Nightwatch staff might then meet you in the Cathedral and start the program there. The rest of the evening will be in the Cathedral staff’s hands. The only thing you need to do is to check in with the other leaders to agree upon a closing ritual for the day. If you are on a J2A Nightwatch (for J2A groups only), we strongly suggest The Great Silence as a way to end the day even though we acknowledge that this can be hard to enforce when many disparate groups are joined into one body. Ring a bell or gong several times or start a song to signal the start of the closing ritual. If you are on the J2A Nightwatch, get the names of the other J2A groups from the Nightwatch Coordinator and contact the youth leaders ahead of time. That way you can coordinate efforts in advance. If you are not on a J2A Nightwatch and, as sometimes happens, the larger group takes a while to settle down, gather your group and sing Taizé chants or some other soft music for awhile. That may help the other groups there settle down. If not, you may need to speak with the other leaders as Nightwatch groups can get quite rowdy and go far into the night. Day 3: Nightwatch/Late Nightwatch You will be under the Nightwatch and Cathedral staff’s direction until 10 am. At that point, you can give the young people an hour to roam on their own through the Cathedral, visit the bookstore, or just sit and deal with sensory overload. Eat lunch in the neighborhood at one of the restaurants on Amsterdam Avenue or Broadway, or make a picnic on the Cathedral close (an enclosed park), near the remarkable fountain. After lunch, do some structured activity you have worked out ahead of time. For example:

• There is a poet’s alcove where you can sit and write poems about your experience that will be shared during the evening reflection and worship time.

• There is a huge crystal that you could gather around and reflect on time and creation: When was this crystal formed? How was it formed? How do you see God in the crystal? What does the crystal tell us about God? Why do you think there is a crystal in the Cathedral?

• Sit and watch people come and go in the Cathedral (be discreet!). What do they do? What impact does the Cathedral seem to have on them? Why do you think they came here? What do you think they take away from this experience? Pray for a specific person or couple or group as you observe. Ask God to speak to them. Watch what happens.

• Find a spot in the Cathedral that you feel drawn to. Sit there for 20 minutes and listen. What do you hear Jesus saying to you? What do you say to him? Gather afterwards and talk about your experience.

There are two ways to design these activities. You can call the Cathedral bookstore (212-222-7200) to order The Living Cathedral ($9.95 + s/h) which is the book they recommend as the most complete overview of the Cathedral. Another way is for some of your adults to stay with

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the Nightwatch group during the morning while other leaders wander around and look at what is there and design activities. What you want to do is:

• Create reflective times for your group—give them time to slow down and absorb what is happening around them and to them and to share what they discover.

• Encourage them to look for and identify Christ’s presence. Help them pray; help them listen to God’s word and for God’s word to them.

Head back to your lodging in mid-afternoon. Some folks will want showers before dinner, and some down time (including naps, since many may not have had much sleep the night before). Short walks in the neighborhood in small groups would be good. A dinner planning and cooking team might go shopping. Have dinner and return to the Cathedral before the Late Nightwatch begins at 9 pm (or whatever time Cathedral staff gave you). Again, you are under their care until the next morning. And again, we recommend the Great Silence introduced by prayer, chants, and a candle (in a jar with an adult in prayerful attendance), as a way to settle the group into a restful night. Day 4: A Sabbath Day Stay for the 9 am or 11 am service at the Cathedral the next morning and then head back to your lodgings for lunch. Some will want to take showers or just relax for a while. Set a specific time for the group to reform after giving them some down time (set the amount according to your group and its ability to manage unstructured time). Do not let them loose in the city—they will probably want to go shopping, see a movie, or do something else that will draw them away from the spirit of Pilgrimage. When you are all together again, reflect on the time at the Cathedral. Do the Examen: What were you most grateful for? Least grateful for? Ask what they learned. Ask where they saw Christ present; where they experienced Christ present to them. Talk about Sabbath time. What is Sabbath time? How did Christians over time live in Sabbath time? (Tilden Edwards’ book, Sabbath Time, will give you the history of the concept of the sabbath, and ideas for this discussion). Do a Bible study on it. Why is a time of rest important? Why would God ask us to do that? Talk about what people usually do on Sundays, and how that compares to what they do the rest of the week. What might they do to make the Sabbath holy? To renew themselves? To become aware of and thankful for God’s creation? Ask the group to think about and write down what they would like to do today to make this a Sabbath time for themselves. After about 15 minutes, invite the pilgrims to share what they have written. Form groups according to what they want to do and, wherever possible, let them do what they feel would be Sabbath time for them. It might be to sleep, read a book, play cards, or go for a walk. TV, movies, shopping, phone calls, and the Internet are not options, except for brief check-ins with parents (you may want to ask the lodging folks to remove TVs or at least stash them in a closet to remove temptation). Remind the group that it is rest, renewal, and refreshment—in God’s presence—that are at the heart of Sabbath. Movies and shopping don’t count. It needs to be something that is restful, and perhaps playful.

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Group members will probably come up with lots of fun things they want to do that you can’t let them do in New York (leaders must discuss this ahead of time, and be united about what is and is not an acceptable activity). The inviolable rule is: an adult has to be with them (that usually eliminates a lot of far-out stuff). And they will be asked to spend time in theological reflection of their experience afterwards! Agree on a return time and send them forth....with an adult! At the end of the day you will need to have dinner, ideally at a nice but inexpensive restaurant. Chinese or Italian food often fills this bill. Or try an ethnic cuisine that is unfamiliar to your group. When you make your reservation or, if reservations aren’t necessary, when you arrive, ask the waiter to serve you slowly, explaining that you want to enjoy a leisurely meal. You may want to reiterate that when you arrive even if you mentioned it when making reservations….be precise: “We’d like to finish up about X:00” rather than letting the waiter guess about what you mean by leisurely. If you don’t do this you may end up feeling “rushed” as the assumption is often that New Yorkers want to eat and move out quickly! Some New York City waiters can be, shall we say, challenging. So this is a good time to practice your assertive skills. Remember, you are paying them for the meal and have the right to ask for what you want. Before you leave for the restaurant, ask the young people to talk about how the group can make this meal special and sacred. How can we celebrate the Lord’s Day at this table? What can we do to be Christ at the table? How can we help ourselves be more aware of Christ’s presence? What will we do about giving thanks? How will we interact with those who serve us? With others we meet along the way? With others in the restaurant? What will we NOT want to do? Why not? Listen and gradually urge the young people to make some choices. Keep coming back to the question: How can we celebrate the Lord’s Day at this table? With luck, you’ll come up with some interesting and neat ideas. Encourage the pilgrims to carry them out. If you have not done so before during the life of your group, you might want to take this opportunity to talk about norms and manners. Talk about what manners are and why we do things in established ways. Talk about how manners help communicate respect for God’s created beings. Talk about them as ways we help people belong to a group. Every group has manners (norms), or ritualized ways of being together. The rules we follow at dinner communicate something about us to each other and communicate something about us to others. Informal settings call for one way of being together; formal settings another. The youth will, most likely, not like the idea that rules at table making any difference. But the reality is, it does make a difference. Good table manners communicate respect for the host(s), respect for the food, respect for the other diners, and respect for those who prepared and serve the meal. Formal table manners also make an occasion “special”—just like we use special ways of gathering about God’s table. Ask the group to talk about how the Eucharistic gathering is different from everyday meals. Encourage them to make this dinner special. Many young people do not have a chance to learn formal table manners—so take the time to review the basics: Stand at your chair until all are in place . . . caps off in buildings . . . start eating only when the person appointed as host does . . . pass to the right. See how many formal table manners they know. Ask the adults to add any they know. Then ask them to practice this at the meal tonight. Later, reflect on that experience. How did it feel? How did it make the meal different? Why? What happened? How did it impact us? After dinner head back home. This is a good time for a fun night—games, songs, dances. Make sure you don’t disturb the neighbors and plan to go out if you are in a monastic setting.

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Sabbath is for recreation and play. Close the day by reflecting on the Sabbath time. What was it like? What was restorative for them? What did they learn about God? About themselves? What will they take home and use in the future? At the end of the discussion, close with a time of prayer, giving thanks for what you’ve experienced so far, and ask God to lead you into the next phase of your time together. Days 5 and 6: Lower Manhattan Start with the usual morning routine. Talk about what you will be doing the rest of your time in New York City. Make a transition from the Cathedral to the City. If it’s a nice day head out for a neighborhood walk (if the weather is poor, switch with another day’s indoor activity). Divide into groups, with at least two adults in each group. The goal of this walk is to see Jesus in the neighborhood. Each person needs his or her pilgrimage journal for notes and sketches. The rule is that you walk alone and spread apart, but always within view of one of the adults (one in front, one behind). Walk, watch, listen. Stop and make notes or discuss what you are seeing. The front adult should lead the group wherever he/she chooses (carry a map!), or according to a plan developed earlier. It would be nice if you came upon a “surprise” (like a stand selling fried ice cream) that the leaders had discovered earlier. After an hour or so, head home or to an agreed upon meeting place (a nearby park would be good; a local church would be good, too). Talk about what you saw. Where is Christ in the city? Where do you think others have found Christ in the city in the past and where people now find Christ in the city? What did you think/feel about what you saw? What do you think God calls us to do in response to what we saw? What is the Christian thing to do? Where did you encounter Christ in yourself? Frame your questions in terms of what you saw. You most likely will have seen the homeless, the lost, the lonely, the sad . . . and the joyful, the helpful, the polite, the loved and loving. You will also have seen extremes of consumption and privation— probably over and over again! Engage the youth in discussion about whatever you saw. Time for lunch. If appropriate, renew the conversation about manners and showing forth Christ. These days are focused around Trinity Church, Wall Street. As part of your pre-trip preparations, call them (212-602-0800) and work out what is available (including special events) during your time on pilgrimage. And remember that Ground Zero is only a couple of blocks away so you will want to spend some time there as well. Trinity Church has a small museum and will conduct a tour of the church, although that isn’t necessary or even always preferable. If you do want a tour, make sure you tell the tour guide when you call to make arrangements (and again when you arrive) that this is a pilgrimage group and that the tour can only be about 15-20 minutes and needs to focus on pilgrimage, holy places, saints, etc. A bit of history goes a long ways with most young people. Encourage them to be interactive and to pay attention to whether the youth are engaged. Most church tour guides have a routine speech they give that can be quite boring—especially for youth. There are several activities you can do at Trinity Church and vicinity, each of which will take most of a morning or afternoon:

• Invite youth to wander (carefully) around the graveyard at Trinity after talking about saints; ask them to identify a saint and to sit quietly next to the saint’s grave stone,

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carrying on a conversation with them, seeing what that saint might be telling them. Have them record their thoughts in their journal. Finish by walking to the Ground Zero which is a few blocks away.

• Arrange to have Trinity Church’s organist, Owen Burdick, do a presentation on the

organ—he has a great short explanation of the history and use of church music, and talks about how, in its time, what we now call traditional was edgy and contemporary. His program and style will engage youth and he can demonstrate some neat things with the organ. Again, call in advance and talk with him about pilgrimage and ask him to help you design a time that is spiritual rather than purely informative.

• The Stock Exchange is just across the street from Trinity. While not a pilgrimage

destination (!) its proximity can provide an interesting contrast to the simple living emphasized on pilgrimage and provoke some discussion about the contemporary focus on money, getting rich quick, etc.

• Make arrangements with Trinity to visit St. Paul’s, the church across the street from

Ground Zero. There’s plenty of display items to look at after which you can talk about terrorism, Muslim-Christian relations, service ministries, etc. This is also the church where George Washington went to worship immediately after his inauguration. Ask for copies of the service they used in 1789. Invite the group to reflect on and then discuss church-state relations when our country was young, and what they are today. Talk about how public actions impact private citizens. Talk about their own public actions and the impact those actions have on them and on others around them.

• If you visit St. Paul’s in the morning, the afternoon would be good for a trip by ferry to

the Statue of Liberty. Yes, that’s a touristy thing to do. But after the tour, get the group to focus on the “Give me your tired....” poem and continue the conversation you started at St. Paul’s. What does this poem, this offer of hospitality and new hope, mean to us as citizens? As Christians? Talk about America as a Christian nation—something that was true, or at least assumed to be true, some years ago but is not true now. What makes a nation Christian? How did Christianity impact the founding principles of our nation? What does it mean to be Christian and a citizen? What happens if there is a conflict between the two? Which do you choose (Christ over nation)? How do you choose? What might be the impact of our choices? Did you ever have to make such a choice or can you imagine a time when you might? What would you do? Why? Who would you ask to help or support you? Why is it important for Christians to be involved in politics? How can you be involved and remain true to your Christian values? When have you had to make a tough decision in order to remain true to your Christian values? When can you imagine that happening? What did you/will you do? How was Christ present with you or how do you imagine Christ would be present?

• If you wanted to continue this theme (especially if you made this the theme of your stay

in NYC), go to Ellis Island on another day and invite the youth to reflect on the immigrant experience. Invite them to go around and pray for the individuals named or pictured, giving thanks for what they brought, and for their descendants. Get the group to talk about how their families came to the United States; if there are Native Americans in the group, how their families were impacted by the immigrants. Get the group to talk about Native Americans and what happened to them in the past and what is happening now. What is the just and right thing in relationships between tribal culture and the

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dominant American culture? Who “owns” the earth? How is ownership transferred? What responsibility does the nation have toward those who lived here before the immigrants arrived? What about the immigrants who came here as slaves? What is justice for them? How do we live together in community? Where do you experience this in your lives? Where do you expect you will encounter these dynamics in your future? How can you, how will you be a Christ-bearer in situations where there is tension between groups? What support do you need, how will you ask for that support, and who might provide it?

• Again, if you are continuing this theme, you might locate the African Burial Ground

and continue this discussion there. Look in the vicinity of Duane and Read Sts. near City Hall where a graveyard has been unearthed (You can call the Burial Ground Project at 212-264-6949). Some New York churches have recently refurbished their ancient slave galleries, where the slaves went to church while the masters sat in the pews below, as memorials to Christians’ complicity in slavery. This would be a good time to talk about racism, their experience of it (toward themselves or others), and their understanding of God’s role in this reality of American life. How can they be Christ-bearers? What do they need (skills, support, clarity of vision, charity, etc.) and how can they get what they need in order to be Christ-bearers?

• Neale House is also home to the Sisters of St. Margaret. Call the Sister in Charge (212-

619-2672) in advance and see if you can join them for at least one of their services. Ask them to talk with the group about monastic life. Ask if you can see how they have made their space sacred. Explain that you are on pilgrimage and ask them to suggest what you might do—they are likely to be most helpful. Their primary ministry is the senior center just across the street (you might be able to get meals here: ask). Perhaps they could suggest a way for you to be a part of their ministry for a day. They might be willing to join you for your morning or evening reflection times, etc. Or one of the sisters might join you for one or more days. We encourage you to invite them into your lives, as it is good for the youth to experience people in religious orders and will open up lots of interesting conversations.

o They may not suggest a fee for whatever they do with you, but please make as

generous a donation as you can. Monastic orders live on the generosity of others. If you can’t give much at the time, you might see if the youth would be interested in “adopting” the sisters for the next year and upholding them in prayer, collecting money for their ministry, and sharing news of their ministry with your congregation.

• Go to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian which is

nearby (call 212-514-3705 for group reservations). Engage the group in conversation about native peoples and their spirituality. If you call ahead you might be able to get a staff member to talk with you about this. What are some of the symbols of spirituality for Native Americans? How have they made use of Christian symbols? What realities do these symbols “point to and participate in?” How do symbols come to have meaning for people? What do native people value? How do indigenous cultures relate to the land, to animals, to questions of life and death? How is this similar to/different from the dominant American culture? The Christian Church? Invite the youth to select some object they feel drawn to and to meditate on it for 15-20 minutes and then record their experience in their journal. Talk about what they experienced. Where did they see

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God/encounter Christ? What Word of God came to them in this context? • Spend several hours or a day at the General Theological Seminary (888-487-5649),

which is in the Chelsea section of the City. The seminary encloses an entire city block and has a chapel and some limited green space you can use to sit and contemplate life, pray, talk, etc. You can also attend chapel with the seminary community, set up a tour of the campus, and a visit with GTS faculty or staff to discuss ministry, vocation to ordination, life-long theological education, why people would go to seminary, etc. Staff or senior students might also be willing to lead a retreat day, a morning, or a couple of hours of discussion on a specific topic. If you are working with a faculty member, you may need to help them understand how to work with youth—a seminary lecture is not going to appeal to your group, but a dialogue with some experiential activity may.

• Close each of these days with a time to reflect on your experiences. Do the Examen:

What were you most grateful for today? Least grateful? Ask where the group experienced Christ’s presence. Give them time to journal. Ask them to write poems, songs, stories to share with the group. Do Bible study on scriptures related to the themes.

• If painful things emerge (e.g., in the racism discussion or in seeing homeless and

hungry people) or wonderful things emerge (e.g., an act of love and grace they observed or did) talk about those discoveries and provide a liturgical experience that addresses the concern or the celebratory experience. This might be a time for confession or a time to pray for victims. It might mean deciding to do something specific and making the commitment to God in a worship context. It might mean creating a celebration for whatever was discussed. Design worship according to the needs that emerge. Start and close each day with your chosen service, prayer time, rituals, etc.

Day 7: Central Park If it is nice out, today would be a good day to visit Central Park (if it is raining, switch this design to another day). Pack lunches and head up to the Park. You might want to start at the Planetarium and take in the show there first. This will set the stage for a day of being in God’s creation. Get a guide book about the Park and chart out a path to do a meditation walk. This means walking slowly, single-file and spaced out a bit, but always within sight of an adult leader. You might have a leader, 4 youth, a leader, 4 youth, a leader, 4 youth and a leader at the back of the procession. Each young person should have a “buddy” he or she is responsible for sticking close to. But aside from necessary conversation, walk in silence, just taking in God’s creation. Stop at various “stations” (much like a church procession). For example:

• Stop at the area with the children’s statues, or another playground, and watch the children play. Invite the youth (and adults ) to reflect on when they were children and how God was with them. Ask them to record in their journals the names and stories about people who were Christ-bearers to them in their childhood. Gather the group into a circle and sing, reflect on a scripture passage, give thanks for your Christ-bearers, invite God to send you as Christ-bearers, pray for the children you see, the children you know (by name), and children everywhere.

• Stop at the boat pond and watch the boats and people. Invite the group to write about the gift of water, its value to us and how God has been like water for them. Gather the group in a circle, sing, reflect on a scripture passage, give thanks for the gift of water.

• Stop anywhere (when you’re tired) and gather around a tree. Invite the group to reflect

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on trees as you did with the water above. • Stop wherever you see flowers or a beautiful rock or whatever you want to focus on,

celebrate and give thanks for. Do as above. • Locate other similar stopping points and design reflections on God’s creation, how God is

present to us in and through God’s creation, how we are present in the world as a creature of God, etc.

The lower parts of Central Park are generally safe in the daytime. Nonetheless, please observe the advice to keep an adult with each group of youth. You need to impress on your youth they are never to go off by themselves in New York (or any other place, of course). It’s not that you don’t trust them—It’s just that you are responsible for them and therefore need to be with them. Day 8 and onward: If you will be in New York for a longer time, research additional sites and develop activities connected with them. Get books about the city to identify possibilities. Call local churches to see what they suggest. The trick is to avoid turning your pilgrimage into a tourist trip. As you can see from the above, the way to prevent that is to:

• Select a theme and build at least several days around that theme (you might do two related themes if you run out of ideas on just one theme)

• Go to a site, explore it, and then focus on one or two aspects to explore in depth • Include quiet time, reflection activities, discussions, and worship that focus on your

theme, site, focal points • Structure your day to start and end with prayer, and explore ways to be prayerful in the

midst of what you are doing—eating, walking, seeing, being Some other sites or ideas you might consider:

• Pick several churches and ask the clergy to greet and bless each pilgrim as you arrive. Ask if they can identify two people (preferably laity) who will talk with the group about how they found God in and through the Christian community gathered at that church. Walk from one church to another. Wear pilgrim’s badges; collect something from each place. Some of the New York churches are spectacular—go to any one that appeals to you and just let the youth look and experience the place. Some of the huge churches (e.g., St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church) will be especially powerful if the group’s main experience is of smaller churches.

• Visit the three Episcopal convents (St. Helena’s, St. Margaret’s and Community of the Holy Spirit5) and ask each order if there is a sister available to spend some time with you. They might tell you about their order and its ministry, lead a retreat, invite you to join them for a meal (It’s often a silent meal at Holy Spirit—which would be a good experience for the group), or ask you to join in their work. Work out something with each order. St. Helena’s house in New York is very small and may not have anyone available at all times. Perhaps one of the sisters can come in from their Mother House. Again, in all cases make sure to pay for expenses the sisters incur and to make a donation if they do not have a fee for their services.

5St. Helena’s phone is 212-889-1124; fax is: 212-779-4009. The best time to call is between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. St. Margaret’s phone is 212-619-2672; best time to call is between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon or evenings after 6:00 pm. Community of the Holy Spirit’s phone is: 212-932-8098.

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Almost the last day: Most groups will want to have at least an afternoon to explore the city as tourists, or to go shopping. It is fine to schedule in some time to do this, but remember that the youth are not to have large sums of money with which to load up on “stuff,” and that nobody ever goes anywhere alone. This might just be a chance to walk around an area you want to explore. Some of the youth may want to see Times Square (and the surrounding area, which has been cleaned up enough that it is likely to disappoint those looking for the seedier elements once there), or ride on the subway, or ascend the Empire State Building. You might also consider a trip to Harlem (talk with some of the local churches or someone who knows the area to identify interesting areas to see). If you didn’t visit the Statue of Liberty before, this might be a good option. A walk up Fifth Avenue to window shop (you probably can’t afford to more than that!) can yield some fascinating discoveries and can generate some conversation about consumerism, money, simple living, etc. After your fun time, spend the evening reflecting on the whole pilgrimage experience. Talk about what you will take home with you and how you might share what you experienced with parents, the congregation, and others (you’ll be working more on this after you get home). Design your closing worship time to include references to the significant discoveries and encounters of the week. Find ways to begin to say thank you to your hosts and goodbye to the city. The last day: Start with your usual morning ritual. Eat and pack. Clean your living quarters. Carry out your actions of thanks and farewell. Head for home. When you arrive, have all the parents and as many other members of the congregation as possible meet the train/bus/plane/cars. If possible, do not tell the young people that this will happen as the welcome will have more impact if it is unexpected. Have a simple liturgy prearranged that the welcomers are ready to lead—you can distribute it on the Sunday prior to the group’s arrival so everyone has a copy. Alert the parents to the fact that there will be a service so they do not plan to dash off as soon as they have retrieved their young person. Ask the clergy to greet and bless each pilgrim in the company of his or her parent(s) or guardian(s)—the pilgrim kneels, parents/guardians place their hands on the young person’s shoulders, as in the Rite 13 ceremony. If the group is small, you can have the entire group join in the laying on of hands. If the weather is nice, you can do this in the parking lot, or, you may want to lead a procession of pilgrims with their luggage, families, and congregants into the sanctuary. Provide time for everyone to give thanks for the pilgrimage, for God’s presence, for the youth and their leaders, and for their safe return. Close with whatever song has become significant for the youth during the pilgrimage. Then encourage the pilgrims to say goodbye to each other (remind them to get to each person)—perhaps by passing the peace. Leave for home. Take yourself home and put your feet up.

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Sample Activities: Nightwatch in NYC Nightwatch and Late Nightwatch Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York City Nightwatch is an intense, one night experience of the Cathedral that includes time for meeting and mixing, a program highlighting the ministry of the Cathedral, a private demonstration of the Cathedral’s great organ, a candlelight meditation and Eucharist, and a tour that traces the story of the Cathedral and Christian tradition as it is embodied in the building. [NOTE: The church is being renovated after a fire so much of it will be closed off at various times until Christmas 2008….call to check on the current status.] Late Nightwatch is an option for the second night. After a day in the City, groups return to the Cathedral for a tour of the high spaces, upper galleries, roof, and attic. Nightwatch begins at 7:30 pm and ends at 10:00 am the following morning. The group is then free until 6:15 pm when they return for dinner (or slightly later if you’re not eating at the Cathedral) and the “high” tour. Bring your own food. Cooking facilities consist of a small room with one stove and one refrigerator which you will share with up to 100 participants! So, spaghetti or some other very simple meal is the most you can expect to cook and eat in that space. Pizza by delivery is available and a small grocer is across the street. We recommend sandwiches purchased prior to arriving and Danish for breakfast (coffee and tea are provided). There is no soda machine so even drinks must be brought with you. Bring comfortable clothes, sneakers (for gym floor), something modest to sleep in (you’re all on the gym floor together), sleeping bag, pillow, and toiletries. And, if you play one, bring a musical instrument. Don’t bring valuables, electronic devices (Discmen, Walkmen, handheld games and the like are a distraction and a potential target for theft!). LeaderResources recommends you bring one CD Player (if you plan to use chants or music on CD to introduce the Great Silence) and keep it with you at all times while at the Cathedral. No drugs or alcohol allowed. There are NO showers. Bring a washcloth for use at the sink. You’ll probably be attending the Cathedral service on Sunday morning (9 or 11 am service) but there is no need to “dress up.” Slacks and a decent shirt with sneakers are fine. This is New York City, where tourists are abundant and even the locals don’t dress up much anymore. Standard Nightwatches are open to any size youth group combined to the maximum of 100 participants. An exclusive Nightwatch (like the J2A groups only Nightwatch6) requires a minimum of 65 participants. There is one Nightwatch each summer that is open only to J2A youth groups. Reservations are final when a deposit and completed reservation form are

6The designated J2A Nightwatch is primarily for J2A pilgrimage groups or secondarily for those on Urban Adventure. If you are on Urban Adventure your youth will be too young to qualify for the Late Nightwatch which is only open the older age group. Also, we encourage you to join in observing the Great Silence at the end of the day, both to avoid disturbing those on pilgrimage and to give your group some peace and quiet at the end of the evening!

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received (contact the Cathedral for the form)—you can’t reserve by phone. The cost is $30 per person for one night and $44 for both nights, with one-half of the amount due at registration. Deposits are non-refundable. Nightwatch is only one part of a New York City pilgrimage. You can schedule it either the last days (leaving for home after the service on Sunday morning—although that means traveling without showers for a third day). Or you can start with Nightwatch. In the latter case we strongly urge you to arrive the day before and spend the night at your “on-going” facility even though that means moving in, and then out, and then back in again. It also means that you will need to pay for that lodging for the two nights while you are at the Cathedral and you are only using your lodging to store gear. However, the experience of other groups is that coming directly to the Cathedral makes it difficult to get into a Pilgrimage spirit. Also, remember that you, unlike more Nightwatch groups, will be carrying luggage for 10-14 days and not just two nights. If you have lodging elsewhere in the city, you can settle in, get a gentle and restful start, have a place to escape to on Saturday afternoon (and take showers!) before the Late Nightwatch, and have a place to stash all of your extra luggage. Friday night will keep you up until about 2:00 am. So your group may want to nap, rest, and refresh at your alternative lodgings on Saturday afternoon before heading back for the second night. This might also solve the concern about food as the food preparation and eating area at the Cathedral is so small. You can then eat before you arrive and just bring breakfast for Saturday and Sunday mornings. To make arrangements for Nightwatch contact the Director, Paul Johnson at 212-579-6210; fax: 212- 579-6318; e-mail: PonyDealNY@aol.com. You need to make your reservations early as Nightwatch tends to fill up quickly.