Leading a Pilgrimage vs. Becoming a Pilgrimage Leader

Leading a PIlgrimage vs. Becoming a Pilgrimage Leader

Leading your first pilgrimage trip may feel overwhelming until you realize that you have teamed up with a pilgrimage company that handles nearly everything. All you have to do is commit to the trip, find a Spiritual Director, and promote like crazy. “Leading” the pilgrimage, then, really is all about being present and engaged with the people on the trip.

Leading a single pilgrimage is a great way to offer your audience a life-changing faith experience. But being a Pilgrimage Leader adds another dimension to your ministry. Because a Pilgrimage Leader offers continuing opportunities for their audience to grow in their faith. It may seem counter-intuitive to plan another trip before you’ve departed on one, but there is an important reason to consider doing so.

When is the Best Time to Start Promoting a Pilgrimage?

People often ask when the best time to start promoting a pilgrimage is. That’s simple. The best time to begin promoting your next pilgrimage is at the Farewell Dinner on your last pilgrimage. 

Why?

Because the Farewell Dinner is an important moment in your trip. The group has gelled; they have made new friends, traveled to a fantastic place, learned, tasted, and experienced new things. They are sad to go but excited to see friends and family and share the trip with them. 

When their friends see the pictures and hear the stories, they will undoubtedly want to do something similar. If you have another trip ready to take reservations, you make it much easier for them to do so! But this is where things get interesting. In our 36 years of experience, we know that people who travel with you on pilgrimage are more likely to travel with you a second time. We have many people that travel every year with a group leader. This built-in core group becomes a selling machine for your trips. So make sure they have something to enroll in and bring their friends with them.

A Pilgrimage Leader Offers Hope and Anticipation

When you become a pilgrimage leader, you give people something to look forward to. That might seem small, but in a world full of bad news, having a joyous future event in mind can keep people looking forward.  And not only are they looking forward to something fun, but they are also looking forward to concentrated time and space with Our Lord and the Saints. What future could look better? So don’t lead a one-and-done pilgrimage; consider giving your audience more opportunities to look ahead.

The New Model that Experienced Pilgrimage Leaders are Following

Deciding where to travel next takes time. Planning a trip takes time. Promoting a trip takes time. But offering your pilgrims a Pilgrimage Series saves time AND allows you to pre-sell trips for the next several years. Also, people will be more apt to join you on all three, maximizing your promotional energy and giving you a core group of faithful pilgrims. 

What does a pilgrimage series look like?

A popular option is to bring your groups on a series showing the Catholic faith in three parts. You start in the Holy Land, where Our Lord Walked and established the Universal Church. The following year, you visit Rome to see where the Church is headquartered and finish the series in year three by visiting either a Marian Apparition site (i.e., Fatima or Lourdes) or Poland, where the Church is most vibrant today. That’s just ONE idea. If this appeals to you, let’s talk more about it.

Are You Ready to Be a Pilgrimage Leader?

If you’re ready to make pilgrimage travel an essential part of your ministry, you’ve chosen the right partner. We are excited to help you maximize your time and energy as you make a real impact with your pilgrimage ministry. Give us a call, so we can get your next pilgrimage ready to launch at your next farewell dinner.