What Is A Pilgrimage?

Simply put, a pilgrimage is a spiritual journey. It can be made anywhere, by anyone, for just about any spiritual purpose. For Catholics, it means traveling to a destination — whether it's a holy site, outdoor space, or even near to home — to experience God in a unique way. The goal is always transformation.

This year Father JC and Father Matthew will host various Pilgrimages at Little Flower. We hope these journeys will allow you to encounter something deeper.

A pilgrimage is never truly finished, because hopefully you will be changed, unable to return to old ways of living or thinking.

A pilgrimage is an intentional encounter with God’s work in the world. Pilgrims pray, celebrate Mass, and reflect on the significance of their journey with their hearts, minds, and souls. 

Pope Benedict, in an address given at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in 2010, gave this summary of Catholic pilgrimage: 

“To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendor and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe. 

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