During my second year training as an ordinand I had the privilidge of journeying with my training parish on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi.
I was encouraged by our curate to accompany them on the trip, which I was told would not only be a terrific personal experience, but as I would be helping to lead worship, would be formational as part of my training. Well….I could not have anticipated what an extraordinary experience we would have, with experiences that I will cherish forever.
We began in Assisi visiting some of the key sites related to Saint Francis including a monastery that he founded and the Basilica which holds the depiction of the crucifixion which Francis was viewing when he had a calling from God to rebuild his church and received the stigmata. We also visited the tomb of Saint Claire among other important Christian sites.
After a couple of days in Assisi, we travelled to Rome via Greccio, the home of the first re-enactment of the nativity. It houses hundreds of crib scenes showcasing such diversity in depictions. It was the most beautiful place, with a chapel in a cave up a mountain. Celebrating the Eucharist here was one of the most spiritual experiences I have had and something I will treasure always.
We moved on to Rome where we spent a further 6 days. We visited so many churches, chapels and historic sights. Some of my highlights were the Church of Saint Mary of the Victory which was a small church, fairly ordinary looking on the outside, but had the most splendid, ornate baroque interior and houses a very famous Bernini sculpture of the ecstasy of Saint Teresa, the day I was invited to read the gospel for for Archdeacon Rowan Williams at the Anglican centre and the audience with Pope Francis. I was tasked with coordinating and leading the daily offices for the pilgrims and I also acted as liturgical deacon at all the Eucharists.
I learnt so much about leadership, the origins of our faith and the spirit of pilgrimage as well as learning much about myself. The fellowship time gave opportunities for discussions on faith and theology that people often would not discuss in the same way in a regular church context. I also learnt much about some of the issues female priests face in a patriarchal society, but that there are those who are open to change and show respect for the office, even if they do not entirely understand it. I used to believe that Church was about the people and not the building but I am learning that it is through the sacred spaces that some people connect with God and the importance and reverence that the buildings therefore deserve.
It has also inspired me to perhaps lead my own pilgrimage in the future and has fostered contacts that I can use to realise that. If others training for ministry have the opportunity to go on pilgrimage, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Beverly Hanshaw
