Dear Fellow Pilgrim,
Over the many years of making pilgrimage and helping others to do the same, we have developed a series of steps that the organizers have learned from their experiences. When brigades fail to form or reform from year to year, it is usually because the people try to circumvent the methods that I attempt to explain.
1. Brigades are organized and led by lay people.
This does not mean that the clergy cannot contribute by helping to recruit, and by providing leadership within the brigade while on pilgrimage. Organizing and leading a brigade is a great task that requires the prayers and sacrifices and contributions of many people – even people that are not able to come on the pilgrimage. Currently I am not aware of any men and women from your brigade with whom I can communicate. There should have been lay people serving as officers last year filling positions such as safety, banner bearer, morale officer, captain, and song leader. It takes at least 10 people to fill these positions, and as many (optimally) as 15.
2. Second, the Pilgrimage for Restoration cannot be treated like a soccer club or a bus trip to Atlantic City.
Making an announcement and putting out a sign up sheet is a fine step to take but it will never be sufficient. Making a pilgrimage is an act of faith. God calls people to make pilgrimage and we need to help our friends recognize the call.
3. The first step is to find a few people who wish to make pilgrimage together and then to register: yourself first — or with two others, if you wish a discounted fee.
Pray with these people, and then begin inviting others – one by one – to register.
4. Invite a chaplain for the brigade and then begin inviting other officers.
When you invite, we always recommend that you avoid discussing the material details that everyone thinks that they must know before registering. Did the pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem in the 10th century know where they were going to sleep or what they would eat or how many miles they would walk in a day? Instead you should focus the pilgrim’s mind on the spiritual realities. For example, we are making pilgrimage to pray together, to make reparation, and to bring honor to God. These things should appeal to at least a few people in the Church!
5. As you gain momentum …
The next step would be to send an email to the pilgrims who walked in your brigade last year. Mary Rose Kadar-Kallen, Director for Invitations, can provide you with that information. Click here to email Mary Rose.
What about those who cannot make it to Auriesville?
Or, who say they cannot return this year? Tell them that you are not asking if they can return. Ask them to help organize the brigade from home. Will anyone help to organize the brigade? If not, then it cannot reform. Besides organizing, they might wish to pray, or request prayers, or to sponsor pilgrims by giving “alms for the pilgrims’ palms”.
Click here to find out more about sponsorship, support, prayers, etc..
Veni Creator Spiritus,
Reuben
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Click here to read about how to form a brigade.
If questions remain after you have read the (above) linked .pdf, then email Gabrielle, the Assistant to the Director for Brigade Life.
Reuben DeMaster of New Tripoli, Pennsylvania has served pilgrims as Chief of Brigadiers and the Director for Brigade Life for a decade. He and Mrs. DeMaster have also led their Family of now nine children on pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Auriesville since 2011.
milestone 30th annual
Friday – Sunday
26-28 September A.D. 2025
“Nobody makes pilgrimage alone.”
“In unione orationum.”
“Now is the acceptable time.“
Registration is open.
Click here to register.
Jump-start your plans, even if you are not sure you can make it to Auriesville. PRE-register. It’s simple: remit a pre-fee of $35, and you are left free to decide later whether you can make it or not.
You can also make pilgrimage from afar, from home or parish: obtain a plenary indulgence, sponsor a pilgrim (or two), request prayers or offer them — all from this page.
Listen to and learn the Songs of Pilgrimage!
Click here for the
