PLAN A PILGRIMAGE

A Gift of Love Exhibit at the Saint John Paul II Shrine Washington DC

What is a Pilgrimage?

Pilgrimage is a form of prayer. It is a spiritual journey a person makes to a sacred place, often one marked by God’s special intervention, such as the Holy Land, or that has particular importance in the religious history of a people.

Catholic shrines are places of prayer, liturgical worship, and adoration of God. They are dedicated to the veneration (or honoring) of particular saints, each of whom is a unique source of inspiration and encouragement, and have become beloved places of Christian pilgrimage. Pilgrims come to shrines to ask for a saint’s intercession, and to renew and strengthen their faith.

A group of pilgrims pose with a statue of Saint John Paul II on the lower level of the Shrine

What would my pilgrimage to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine look like?

Your pilgrimage to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine will lead you to the encounter with Christ through the life and teachings of Saint John Paul II. This can include:

Time for prayer and worship, including participation in the Holy Mass, opportunity for confessions and the prayer at the Hour of Mercy lead by the Sisters of Divine Mercy. See our liturgical schedule.
Tour of our world-class permanent exhibit, A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II, which will allow you to discover the man who became Pope John Paul II and learn about the major themes and events of his papacy.
Veneration of the first-class blood relic of St. John Paul II.
Visit of special temporary exhibits on different aspects of St. John Paul II’s teachings
Opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgency.

For more information, please download the Pilgrimage Planning Guide

A groups of pilgrims walking through the Shrine's permanent exhibit

How can my group make a pilgrimage to the Shrine?

Please submit the Group Tour Form to begin planning your group’s visit and to make any special requests. We encourage you to complete the form so that we can better assist you in planning your group’s pilgrimage.

While we encourage pilgrims to join us for our daily Mass and Confession, a group can request to have a private Mass with its parish priest or chaplain in the chapel or church, depending on the size of the group. A group can also arrange time for Confession with its priest.

In addition, groups coming on pilgrimage to the Shrine can ask for:

Guided tours of the exhibit, including special activities for school groups
Spiritual talks by the Sisters of Divine Mercy
Tours of special exhibits
Special talks on a variety of subjects, such as themes of the papacy of John Paul II

Resources

For Pilgrimages

We have developed several resources to supplement your visit.

For Students & Educators

To provide younger pilgrims with as rich and fruitful an experience as possible, we have several resources to offer.

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