What Is a Pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a sacred journey, usually made to a place of spiritual significance, where both the journey and the destination are important and meaningful. It is a break from normal life, meant to help the traveler, or pilgrim, grow and transform spiritually. A pilgrimage can help Christians remember that they are pilgrims while on Earth, journeying to their home in Heaven, even while living out their daily lives. It offers an experience of conversion, of transforming one’s very being to orient it toward God’s holiness. Growth and conversion happen both individually and communally. By journeying through our local nature — whether forests, rivers, parks, or urban spaces — we witness God’s presence in the world around us and renew our commitment to protecting and preserving the beauty of creation for future generations. The time to reflect also allows us to consider the ways we have harmed God’s gift of Creation and find inspiration for us to do better.
Restoring Right Relationship
With God, Creation, & One Another
We are living in a time with countless challenges, but amongst this, our world is filled with hope and opportunity. Though God has lovingly brought us into being, many of us have fallen “out of right relationship” with creation, each other, and God. As we continue to proliferate issues such as the climate crisis, ecological degradation, and social injustice, we further stray from God’s love and suffering takes its place. Environmental harm not only impacts the nearby environment, but also impacts human health, intensifies natural disasters, and impedes our witness to the Gospel, especially our call to stand with and serve the poor. As Pope Francis teaches in Laudato Si’, environmental degradation disproportionately affects the vulnerable. For people of faith, this is a matter of justice. This calling for connection and care for the Earth is not an optional concern, but instead, a core expression of our faith.
“The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: ‘Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest’’’
Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 48
A Key Time for Action:
Jubilee, Laudato Si’, and the Canticle of Creation
The Jubilee Year
The 2025 Jubilee Year offers a unique opportunity to deepen our spiritual connection to the Earth through prayer, reflection, and action.
10th Anniversary of Laudato Si’
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on the environment, which calls for an integral ecology that honors both the natural world and the dignity of every human person. In the spirit of Laudato Si’, we are committed to advancing a culture of care for our common home, tackling the climate crisis, and fostering a deep respect for the earth’s resources and ecosystems.
800th Anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures
This year marks the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures: St. Francis of Assisi’s poetic reflection on creation as a mirror of God’s love. His legacy, as patron saint of ecology, continues to guide and inspire us to work towards healing the natural world.
Join Us In this
Hope-filled Journey
Join us in this sacred mission to live out the teachings of Jesus, St. Francis, and Pope Francis, taking practical steps to heal the planet and restore the balance between humanity and the natural world. Let’s walk together on this path of hope and healing as there’s so much to celebrate. Only united can we make this Jubilee year one of faith, action, and care for our common home.