Church of the Holy Comforter | Vienna, VA

Monday, March 3, 2025

Women’s Pilgrimage to Iona

March 26–April 5, 2025


A group of fifteen women from Holy Comforter are journeying to the Scottish island of Iona, a holy site ever since St. Columba landed there in the 6th century and established a monastery on the westernmost coast of Europe. The idea of this pilgrimage bubbled up organically in the Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study as we discussed holy places to explore the ‘Feminine Divine.’ Bishops’ House, where we’re staying, can house fifteen people. Since not all the members of the WBS could go, a few other women who have been helping to discern the ministry and practice of pilgrimage stepped in. We ask for your prayers and we will be sending back blogs and pictures to include you in the experience. 

What is pilgrimage?

  • A journey of intentional encounter with God that renders the pilgrim transformed by the encounter. A pilgrim band is a temporary committed Christian community that embarks together and completes it as a new people.
  • Pilgrimage often means a journey to holy sites throughout the world, but it can be closer to home as well. Last year we took a day trip to the birthplace of Harriet Tubman on the eastern shore of Maryland. Pilgrimage can also be walking the labyrinth in our own back yard. Pilgrimage can even be an entirely inner, spiritual journey—serving on the Vestry, for example.

How is pilgrimage different than a tour?

  • On a tour, you move through the land. On a pilgrimage, the land moves through you.

Why pilgrimage as practice and ministry?

  • It deepens one’s relationship with God.
  • It allows one to walk in the shoes of others.
  • To be expanded by new horizons, new cultures, new ways of being and thinking.  
  • One can feel in the marrow of one’s bones what can’t be known from books or a history or a Bible lesson.

Why pilgrimage at Holy Comforter?

A small group of people entered a discernment process facilitated by parishioner Frances Sullinger to determine if Holy Comforter was called to a ministry and practice of pilgrimage. This is what we came up with:

  • A hunger for both travel/adventure and a deeper connection with the Spirit has been discerned. It serves to enrich the whole congregation, not just those who journey.
  • We will continue to explore ways to bring pilgrimage to those who do not have the resources or mobility for international travel; more options for day-long, local pilgrimage. Daily blogs when traveling far away to stay connected with the congregation. Presentations/reflections upon return. 

More big pilgrimages are in various stages of planning. A pilgrimage to walk the Camino del Santiago in Spain in May, 2026 and a trip to South Africa—Windows into Reconciliation—in November, 2026. These are open to all, physical fitness permitting. Stay tuned for more info. Have questions? Please reach out to the Rev. Ann Gillespie.

From March 2, 2025:

The Gospel and a sermon on Pilgrimage by Ann Gillespie …

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