Saturday morning was my final World Youth Day meeting! I can hardly believe it was nearly a year ago that I committed to this amazing journey with the Diocese of Sioux Falls…

The majority of our meeting focused on last minute details like flight itineraries, packing lists, and the like. I’ve had quite a bit of experience packing for trips, but a pilgrimage is not something I have ever done before. In my preparation, I have tried to keep that in mind, more simple and re-wearable items of clothing that wash well, comfy shoes that can handle all terrains and lengths- who knows what my pick is?! (Did you guess Keens?? You’d be right!) I also have to keep in mind the rest of my trip after the pilgrimage- I will be visiting Stockholm, Sweden and London, England.

One poignant part of our meeting was when we went around the room and shared a personal prayer request for the pilgrimage to the whole group. Over the past months discerning a coherent prayer intention for the trip has weighed heavily on my mind. I have long felt called to teaching; I can’t imagine my life not teaching. I don’t know how my faith can (or does) impact my passion as a teacher. Does it strengthen it? Does it guide my decisions? Likely both. Another pilgrim going to Poland shared this to our Facebook group today:

“On vacation, the goal is rest. On an excursion, the goal is adventure. On pilgrimage, the goal is transformation. A pilgrimage is not an escape from the everyday experiences (or frustrations) of life, like a vacation or excursion might be. While there are certainly exciting, enjoyable, and intense moments to World Youth Day, the primary purpose of a pilgrimage like this is not to achieve peaceful rest or great entertainment, nor is it an endurance test of strength or stamina. Rather, a pilgrimage like World Youth Day helps one to better appreciate the moments of life, both the good and the challenging, and prepares one for the road ahead. It is often a journey to a holy place, in the hope that the sacredness of that place will illuminate the traveler’s soul. The pilgrim enters the ‘struggle’ of the pilgrimage with the hope that God is doing great within him or her. Within that struggle (as well as illuminating moments), the Lord calls the pilgrim to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. In all this, the end goal of the journey is transformation.”

I’ll leave you to mull over that bit of wisdom, as I am 🙂