My First Pilgrimage
After the 2 month hiatus that followed filming the pre-recorded rounds of The Voice, I was nervous to return to Burbank for the live rounds. To prepare for this new chapter and to settle into a healthy headspace, I decided to look for a Catholic young adult event/retreat in my area. The first result my Facebook search yielded detailed a 1.5 day, 33 mile on-foot pilgrimage from Mission San Luis Rey to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, a “pilgrimage” is a journey to a destination of religious importance. The famous saying, “it’s not the destination, but the journey” captures the essence of a pilgrimage. It’s not about the end location, but about the time, energy, and prayer that are poured into the traveling. It’s about walking with and for God, both literally and metaphorically.
It was Thursday evening when I, a bit impulsively, drafted an email to the pilgrimage’s organizer, asking if there was room for one more on the trip. Saturday morning at 6 AM, I was standing with 5 strangers in front of Mission San Luis Rey, packed and ready to go.
As we began the trek, our group leader, Will, explained our schedule for the next 36 hours. We’d walk about 23 miles, then spend the night at the home of a host family. Sunday morning, we’d complete the final 10 miles, explore Mission San Juan Capistrano, and end the weekend with Mass.
Will assured us that the journey would be difficult, but encouraged us to view the difficulties as opportunities to grow in faith. That by carrying our clothes on our backs and traveling by foot, we might experience a taste of what Jesus endured as he carried His cross to Calvary.
As we walked, I assessed the group, and realized I was the youngest pilgrim by upwards of 5 years. I sent up a quick prayer to calm my increasing worry that I wouldn’t fit in, and soon realized my worry was unfounded. I learned that I had a special connection to each pilgrim.
One of my companions, Steven, was in the Navy and had just graduated from flight school in Pensacola, Florida- exactly where my brother was stationed and in school. Will had graduated from Notre Dame, the alma mater of two of my older siblings, and the school I’d dreamed of attending for most of my life. Taylor worked at a parish just minutes away from mine, and was once a member of my same youth group. Ron recently completed the 500 mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, an achievement I desperately wanted (and still want) to cross off my bucket list. And Jasmine and I shared a love for latin dancing- a sport I competed in for many years. More than my personal connection to each of these people though, we were all united under our Catholic faith, our deep devotion to Christ, and our mission to grow spiritually throughout our 36 hour journey together.
As the trip continued, little challenges and little miracles constantly presented themselves to us. One of our first obstacles came when we arrived at the entrance of Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps Base. Walking through the base was the only way we’d be able to reach our destination. During the planning phase of the pilgrimage, Will had contacted a friend who lived in Camp Pendleton, and confirmed that we could walk on base without a hitch. Once we arrived, however, we were told we could only be granted access if someone in our group was involved with the Department of Defense and possessed a military ID. As I mentioned earlier, one of our members (Steven) happened to be in the Navy and had his ID on him! Amazing how God ironed out this little detail for our trip.
Our next mini miracle occurred shortly after. By this point, we’d traveled close to 15 miles, and, being on a rural backroad on a military base, it’d been a long time since we passed even a park bench on which to rest. We hoped to find an area to eat our lunches, but came to the consensus that if we couldn’t find a place to sit, we’d have to just settle down on the curb next to the road. Right when we began looking for a shady spot along the curb, we stumbled upon an old, empty cabin with several picnic tables and benches. It was the first building we’d seen in miles. We spent an hour refueling, relaxing, and thanking God for providing a make-shift rest-stop for us.
As we continued on, I realized that walking wasn’t what made the pilgrimage difficult. It was walking with a giant, heavy backpack on my shoulders. I had grossly overestimated how much water I would need, and had stuffed three liters into my backpack, in addition to my pajamas, a change of clothes for Sunday, snacks, and a toothbrush. After a while, my pack’s weight forced me to hunch over as I walked, and I began to wonder if I’d make it the last few miles. Not 30 seconds after I began to slow, two of the boys noticed I was struggling and offered to carry my backpack. Without complaint, they added the weight to their own backs, switching off mile after mile until we reached our destination. I am thankful that my companions generously added my burden to their own. When I needed it most, I was granted an earthly reminder of Jesus’ love.
When we finally arrived in San Clemente, we were taken to the home of our host, Bill. We each took a warm shower, and were fed a home cooked meal. We exchanged stories with Bill as we ate, and enjoyed getting to know our gracious host. Hours were spent feasting, talking and laughing. It was the most fun I’d had in a long, long time. Finally, (it took nearly 5 minutes to coax my poor legs into walking up the staircase) we were able to get some rest. I’ve never been so grateful to have a roof over my head and a bed in which to sleep. I will forever remember the overwhelming joy and relief that filled my heart as I closed my eyes that night.
Sunday morning, our last 10 miles sped by, and we finally arrived at Mission San Juan Capistrano. It was beautiful. We spent an hour wandering around the grounds, taking pictures, and exploring. We then attended Mass together. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful, challenging, rewarding journey.
The pilgrimage catapulted me into a beautiful spiritual high that carried me through the remaining two and a half months of The Voice. I felt God’s hand in every aspect of our journey and was shown His bottomless, unconditional love through His small miracles, and the lasting fellowship that bonded my companions and me to one another. I feel so blessed to have had this experience, and to be able to share it with you!
The whole trip was organized through Will’s company, Modern Catholic Pilgrim. Just this past week, after seeing a DIY “walk for Mary” challenge on their website, I decided to embark on a short, one-day pilgrimage right here in Nashville. I went on a long hike at my favorite park (Percy Warner Park) then made my way over to St. Henry Catholic Church for Mass. Along the way, I prayed my rosary, listened to worship music, and enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation in silence. I enjoyed the change of scenery, and reflected on how much I’ve grown and matured in my spiritual and personal life since my last pilgrimage. I loved sensing Jesus’ footsteps next to mine yet again.
Wherever you are in the world, and wherever you are on your journey with God, I encourage you to take a pilgrimage. Walk or bike to church, or to your favorite local prayer spot. Whatever you decide to do, be intentional about it. It’s a wonderful feeling, going on an adventure so close to home. And it’s refreshing to focus on the commute rather than treating it as a means to an end. You don’t have to travel far to grow closer to Jesus.
If you’d like to learn more about Modern Catholic Pilgrim, or find a pilgrimage near you, please check out their website here: https://www.moderncatholicpilgrim.com/. The founder, Will, is kind and generous, and is eager to help others experience the joy of taking a pilgrimage.
Here are some pictures!
Pilgrimage #1:
The whole crew! From left to right: Taylor, Will, Steven, Me, Jasmine, and Ron
The incredible view from the home of our host, Bill
Some images taken right when we arrived at Mission San Juan Capistrano
Inside the Mission’s church, where we attended Mass
Pilgrimage #2!
Percy Warner Park in Nashville
The lovely grotto outside Saint Henry’s where I finished my “walk for Mary”
