The Transforming Power of Pilgrimage
The spiritual practice of pilgrimage traces to the beginning of our tradition, as early Christians sought to encounter the Risen Christ by walking in the footsteps of Jesus in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land. Over the centuries, the transforming power of pilgrimage was discovered in paths and destinations around the Christian world, including the Camino in Spain, Canterbury, Iona, and Taizé. Pilgrims journeyed along these sacred ways and visited these and other holy places as a way of deepening their faith and inspiring their lives. Pilgrimages can be local, regional, across North America, and international: from the San Luis Valley in Colorado, to a border pilgrimage to Mexico, to a compelling journey to the Holy Land.
Today both adult and youth pilgrims from across Colorado have been drawn to pilgrimages near and far and discovered that by making pilgrimage, individuals and communities experience their faith and find inspiration in ways they never imagined!
Explore this page to learn about pilgrimage offerings from around the Episcopal Church in Colorado. The Formation Team (the Rev. Canon Greg Foraker, Tracy Methe, Elizabeth Cervasio, and Janet Choyce) is available to answer questions and to help you imagine and plan your next pilgrimage!
Walking in the Footsteps of Saint Hildegard
Hildegard Way Trail, Germany
September 8-18, 2024
Join The Rev. Canon Jon Anderson and Filmmaker-Pilgrims Michael M. Conti & Heather Boyle from September 8 to 18, 2024, in Germany, on a spiritual journey through the Hildegard Way Pilgrimage, tracing the path of Saint Hildegard von Bingen, a revered theologian, composer, and mystic. This pilgrimage offers a unique blend of religious reflection, historical exploration, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Spanning key locations significant to Hildegard’s life, this transformative journey connects pilgrims to her deep legacy and fosters personal growth and contemplation. The Hildegard Way Trail stretches 84 miles (135 km), and we will walk highlights over six days. Each day invites spiritual reflection and connection with nature, resonating with Hildegard’s holistic teachings and her extraordinary legacy.
Pilgrimage Guides: The Rev. Canon Jon Anderson and Filmmaker-Pilgrims Michael M. Conti & Heather Boyle
Cost: $4890 (land only), $5990 (with group travel from Denver, CO)
Package Includes:
- Roundtrip Airfare and all ground transportation
- All overnight accommodations and most meals
- Walking and cultural pilgrimage for Hildegard Week, includes Saint Hildegard’s Feast Day at the Pilgrimage Church.
- Nine-night stay in a comfortable and convenient accommodation with dining options
- Time for preparation leading up to pilgrimage and reflection afterwards.
- Pilgrim passports, admissions to sites, lectures, films, music events, and Hildegard docent-led trail guides.
View and Download Pilgrimage Registration Form >
View Online Pilgrimage Registration Form >
Experience the wisdom of Saint Hildegard of Bingen in multiple dimensions
The American filmmaker Michael Conti (creator of “The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard) filmed these texts with Dr. Esser on an international pilgrimage in 2019.
Learn More!
Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Pilgrimage from Portugal to Spain
Camino Portuguese Coastal & Interior Route
October 21-November 4, 2024
***This pilgrimage is now full. Please contact Canon Greg Foraker or Missioner Tracy Methe to join a wait list for this trip.***
For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have made their way from every corner of Europe, walking the converging paths of the Camino de Santiago. Designed for Episcopalians across Colorado and beyond, we will experience the transforming power of walking the Camino firsthand, sharing the opportunity to deepen bonds with each other as encounter God in the compelling landscape of Portugal and Spain and in pilgrims we will meet along the Way. Our journey will begin in Portugal in the faith-inspiring village of Fátima, before traveling north to join the Portuguese Way to walk to Santiago, Spain. This pilgrimage offers an invitation for pilgrims to experience their faith like never before.
Offered by the Episcopal Church in Colorado and the St. John’s Hiking Group, based at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Boulder.
Pilgrimage Guides: the Rev. Canon Greg Foraker, Missioner Tracy Methe, & Canon Mike Orr
Cost: $3790 (land only), $5180 (with group travel from Denver, CO)
Package Includes:
- Roundtrip airfare
- Hotel accommodation (double occupancy)
- Thirteen days’ walking pilgrimage
- Additional overnight in Porto, Portugal
- Pilgrim passports/credentials
- Pilgrimage preparation
- Pre-pilgrimage retreat at Cathedral Ridge, Woodland Park, CO, with fellow pilgrims