Westminster

Pilgrimage Design

Before the pilgrimage

Pilgrims will participate in pre-departure sessions to begin to get to know each other, set the itinerary for visiting sacred sites, and begin learning about the places the pilgrimage will take them. They will reflect on what it means to be on pilgrimage, establish some ground rules for traveling together and work out the logistics.

Each day of the journey

Pilgrims will visit a sacred site suggested by the faith leaders because of its significance to their tradition. A member of that faith will explain the significance of the site. Overall, equal attention will be paid to Muslim, Jewish and Christian sites. Each day’s schedule will also have time set aside for group and personal meditation, with everyone expected to participate. Leadership will rotate among the three faiths.

During the pilgrimage

Because pilgrims are committed to building relationships across divisions of race and religion, this will not be left to chance. Seating arrangements for meals and travel and roommate assignments will be deliberately arranged to ensure that pilgrims all get to know each other and have a chance to talk about their faith journeys one-on-one with each other. That may seem artificial, but it has worked well in past pilgrimages. The pilgrimage will include at least one formal worship service in each faith tradition, with all pilgrims participating or observing. The three faith leaders will identify the times and locations for the worship services.