What is Pilgrimage?
By: Brad Reynolds, S.J., University Ministry
On Saturday, September 19th, two hundred Zags will make the annual pilgrimage to the Sacred Heart Mission in Cataldo, Idaho. Every fall for the last 47 years, Gonzaga students, faculty, staff and alumni have made this trek.
Their day will begin with an early-morning breakfast in the Hemmingson Center, where they will also sign-in and board the buses that will transport them to their starting point near Kingston, Idaho. After an explanation of what the day is all about, the pilgrims will listen to a brief reflection and prayer before setting off into the hills that will eventually lead them to the old mission site. Along the way there will be rest stops, each featuring another reflection and prayer.
This year’s theme for the pilgrimage is built around an African saying, “When we pray, we move our feet.” Each reflection offered along the way will illustrate the theme by recounting earlier journeys made by pilgrims, including St. Ignatius Loyola, members of the Flathead tribe, and the early Jesuits who came to the Pacific Northwest.
Sacred Heart Mission, now a national historic site, is the oldest church and the first Jesuit mission in Idaho. The pilgrims will be met and led up to the church by members of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe, where they will be welcomed. After a hearty barbecue lunch, Mass will be celebrated by participating Jesuits on the lawn outside of the mission church. Afterwards, the weary pilgrims will board the buses for the trip back to Gonzaga.
This year a limited number of spaces are available to family members of Gonzaga students. To find out more about the pilgrimage, visit www.gonzaga.edu/pilgrimage. And to register, visit www.gonzaga.edu/umin. In any event, please join us in praying for a successful and grace-filled Pilgrimage.