Senior High Pilgrimage to combine Spirituality, Service, and Fun

All 9h through 12th graders interested in attending the Pilgrimage to Washington D.C. are asked to contact Youth Director, Holly Huisken, as soon as possible.

The trip is set for May 24-31, and will include a labyrinth walk and other spiritual activities and worship at Washington National Cathedral, service work through the Episcopal Service Corps and other ministries to the homeless and hungry of Washington, plus exploration of some of the many sites in our nation’s capital.

The group will fly to Washington and stay at a retreat center within walking distance of National Cathedral.  Dean Simpson will lead the pilgrimage as spiritual director, and will meet periodically with the youth in the coming months to prepare them for the different styles of prayer and meditation they will experience.

The Pilgrimage is a time away for our young people to examine and strengthen their faith and learn more about the Episcopal Church. Another focus will be on how a cathedral differs from a regular parish. “From the beginning of the Church, Christians have used pilgrimages to explore their faith and their world. I fully expect our youth to come home from this journey with a strengthened faith and a deeper understanding of how they can make a difference in the world,” says Dean Simpson. “In sharing this experience we all grow closer to God, plus, it will be lots of fun!”

Youth are asked to provide $250 of the cost of the trip, with $125

due on March 1 and the remaining $125 on May 1. If this is a financial hardship, confidential scholarships are available by contacting either Holly or Dean Simpson.

Cathedral members are asked to pray for the group as they prepare, and to support fundraising activities that will be occurring in the coming months. Kudos to our youth, who have raised over $3,000 in the past year for the Pilgrimage and other projects through Cathedral Underground shows and parking lot fundraisers. Another $1,000 came from gifts. These youth are on the way!