Katie's Pilgrimage

For my birthday, I am asking friends and family to contribute to this fundraiser.

 

 I have decided to take the month of October to go on a religious pilgrimage to London, England, and Taize, France.

 

In London, I will be living simply with the Augustinian Sisters for a week to spiritually prepare for my pilgrimage to Taize. Here, I will take a vow of silence while worshiping with the sisters multiple times a day. I will also attend services at other historic churches of London, such as Westminster Abbey, the Temple Church, and Westminster Cathedral.

 

I will then travel to Taize, which is a religious Christian community of Catholics and Protestants who pray together, live a life of simplicity, observe silence, and chant. It is also an order of monks and nuns. During my stay, I will be a volunteer and liturgical musician. I will be taking this time to connect with God and heal from all the struggles and losses of the previous 5 years of my life.

 

I have not given myself the opportunity to sit with my grief of the loss of my father, grandfather, and friends lost during the pandemic. Life has seemed to rush from crisis to crisis, and then the pandemic hit. I need to seriously reflect on my life and what I want to do with the precious time I have left. I'm ready for profound change in myself. If you would like to see what a day in the life of a Taize pilgrim is like, you can do so here . Please note that this video was produced before the pandemic, and safety precautions are in place.

 

This fundraiser will secure funds for my transportation and donations to the religious orders. The donations to the orders will cover my lodging and food.

 

There are few opportunities in our life when we can take time for ourselves.  It is a traditional practice for pilgrims of many religions to seek alms to sustain them on their journey, and I am grateful for your gifts. If you are unable to donate, your prayers will give me strength while I go on this pilgrimage. Thank you!