Pilgrimage Innovation Hub

In this special episode of Breathe In Place, host Montague Williams introduces the first Young Adult Roundtable, a new segment designed to bring forward the voices of young people navigating faith, purpose, and the complexities of modern life.

In this episode, Montague is joined by three university students — Zackary Darker, Elianny Soto, and Lauren Hemberry — for an honest and thoughtful discussion about what it means to search for purpose in today’s world and how the practice of pilgrimage has helpfully shaped their journey.

Check out the link in our bio or search for Breathe in Place where you listen to podcasts!

Together, they explore questions of identity, calling, and resilience, offering insight into both the challenges and hopes that define young adulthood.

In this week’s episode of Breathe In Place, Montague Williams sits down with Dr. Jamie Gates, a cultural anthropologist and educator, to explore the heart of pilgrimage. They discuss how pilgrimage differs from tourism or short-term mission trips, and how it invites young people to listen, learn, and witness the work God is already doing in a place. Check it out by using the link in our bio or searching for Breathe in Place where you listen to podcasts!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Breathe in Place podcast! That’s right…we have a podcast now!

Breathe In Place explores how the practice of pilgrimage can help young people find purpose, resilience and hope in a world that seeks to keep them from hard histories and deny them stories of justice. Through conversations with pastors, educators, youth workers, and scholars, the podcast invites listeners to imagine new ways of guiding emerging generations to engage history, place, and story with courage and meaning.

Check out the inaugural episode with Montague Williams and Guimel Sibingo as they explore what is at the heart of pilgrimage 🎙️

PIH Director and Principal Investigator, Dr. Montague Williams was featured on KPBS on Monday in honor of MLK Jr. Day. Swipe to see to listen to the ways that the legacy of King is connected to the present work of pilgrimage! If you are interested in listening to the full episode, click the link in our story or below.

https://youtu.be/nI-wtrNl84s?si=cR5Nd9etZxlaLc58

This poem by Jackie Wang invites us to reflect on themes of pilgrimage through her experiences of finding sacredness in common and unexpected places. As you read, reflect on how you might open yourself up to encounter the mundane moments of your life in a new and perhaps more meaningful way 🌱

Introducing the 2025-2026 Pilgrimage Innovation Hub team!! Swipe through to take a closer look and learn a bit more about each member of the team ⭐️

Last week our team had the opportunity to present a poster to share our research in progress, entitled, “Pilgrimage, Virtual Reality, and Young People” at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the Religious Education Association (REA)! This year, the conference centered around the theme, “Navigating Humanity: Technology, Ethics, and the Future of Religious Education.” 💻

Collaborative somebodiness begins starts with the foundation that is everyone is a “somebody” who is worthy of dignity and the reality that the identities people carry are interconnected. What role does collaborative somebodiness play in contributing to meaningful pilgrimage experiences? Check out this post from Jazmyn’s literary findings to see how pilgrimage might be a “third space” that cultivates collaborative somebodiness ⭐️

When people hear the word “pilgrimage”, they often picture something ancient, distant, or strictly religious. But when asked to name one- chances are, they’ll say “El Camino de Santiago”.

This centuries old route through Europe has captured the attention of thousands from all walks of life. Because it’s so well known, it often shapes how we define what a pilgrimage is, and what it can be today.

If you’re curious about some insights of El Camino de Santiago, feel free to click through Elianny’s literary findings!

Sojourner Truth’s life as a model for pilgrimage. Her lived out courage and resilience, attentiveness to God’s voice, and activism toward justice for the marginalized are features of a powerful example that pilgrimage is more than a solo spiritual journey.

This post gives introduction into viewing Sojourner Truth’s life as a valuable case study to learn more about the pilgrimage practice.

Community both forms the critical storytellers and is formed in the process of critical storytelling. Critical storytelling can be a way to meaningfully engage far beyond when the pilgrimage is over. Take a look at these insights Jazmyn’s literary research!