The School of the Pilgrim
The School of the Pilgrim
Welcome to the website of the School of the Pilgrim.
Introduction: The School of the Pilgrim’s goal is to take people out of the “religion of rush,” like “rush hour in the morning and evening commutes of life, and rushing to and fro between the hectic, chaotic pace of daily life, and teaching people to apply the ancient, sound practices of religious pilgrimage in today’s world, with the hope that people will come around to adopting some of those practices and understanding that we are all pilgrims on a fascinating pathway on a life-long pilgrimage.
Background: I grew up in a family that loved to travel. Every summer there was a week-long family vacation in which we would get into our parents’ Buick LeSabre, and off we would go around the east coast of the US. The pilgrimage part came into sharp focus after I saw the musical “Canterbury Tales,” based on Geoffrey Chaucer’s tales, and was enthralled by the stories sung and acted out on stage. In my work with and writing about people with disabilities in faith communities, one strong image of how communities of faith were responding to the needs of people with disabilities was quite simple, and dramatic: it was as if people with disabilities were pilgrims, and no one, not even churches, were welcoming or providing hospitality to the the pilgrims with disabilities. While teaching at Duke Divinity School, Catholic friends told me that I wrote “beautiful passages” about pilgrims and pilgrimages…it was just too bad that I hadn’t been on one.” And with that observation, they invited to me to go on pilgrimage to Chimayo, New Mexico, in which my world and everything in it changed. Read more about this in the “About” portion of this website.
The Name “School of the Pilgrim”: By “school,” we aren't a brick and mortar school. Instead, the focus is on schooling as in a regular course of meetings of a teacher or teachers and students for instruction, and process of learning. The “Pilgrim” who is the teacher of all things related to pilgrimage? Jesus, or as the late Brother Roger of the Taize calls Jesus, “The Pilgrim God.” In other words, the School of the Pilgrim is about learning the art and practice of being an everyday pilgrim from Jesus, the Pilgrim God. After all, the earliest Christians were called “people of the Way” (Acts 9:2), in which Jesus calls himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Instead of an actual “school house,” actual sanctuary, or physical “classroom,” the School of the Pilgrim takes place best on the pilgrim road of life. It is a portable classroom, in the best sense of the word.
What We Do in the School of the Pilgrim: I offer everything from 1-3 hour workshops, two or three day retreats and workshops for groups of people, week-long pilgrimage excursions, join groups as a spiritual director on a pilgrimage for church or spiritual groups, lead committee retreats in churches, host pilgrimages at retreat centers, and lead non-profit board “bonding” experiences, to teaching classes and preaching sermons around the theme of how we are everyday pilgrims on an incredible pilgrimage with Jesus, the Pilgrim God. More about this in “About Us” section.
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell, brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com, 919-444-9111, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224
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Now, let’s explore more about the School of the Pilgrim, and beginning to consider and act like pilgrims on the road of life, following Jesus, the Pilgrim God…
About
Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of our decades of advocacy.
Take Action
Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor to our cause, or participate yourself.