A Message of Hope
We took in the beauty of God’s creation on our first-ever youth pilgrimage across the Olympic Peninsula. Teen pilgrims started at Saint Mark’s Cathedral and headed west, hiking in the mornings; enjoying field-trips, kayaking, and other activities in the afternoon. We spent each night at different “waystations”—churches along our route that offered to provide hospitality—where we participated in group discussions, team-building activities, games, art, and music. Along the way, we heard inspirational stories about what teens and adults are doing to stem climate change.
The emphasis throughout the week was on a message of hope: that even in the face of climate change there is much that can be done to reverse its effects. Each one of us has the power to make a difference, and our faith calls us to play an active role in this restoration.
With A Special Guest
We are delighted that the former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who also has a Ph.D. in Oceanography, joined us for this pilgrimage. We appreciated her guidance and insight into the interplay of faith and science in the context of today’s changing world and climate. Read TIME Magazine’s interview with the Rt. Rev. Schori.
Inspiration
You may have heard of the famous pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain. When we started planning for this Youth Pilgrimage across the Olympic Peninsula, we were inspired by that journey which pilgrims have been making since 812 A.D., as well as the youth pilgrimages of the Diocese of Northern California. Like the Camino, our teen pilgrims walked several miles each day along the Olympic Discovery Trail and then ate, played, and rested at “waystations”—Episcopal churches along the way.