2026 Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope
Registration for this pilgrimage is now closed. We look forward to journeying together August 7-9, 2026.
Carlisle & Harrisburg
AUGUST 7-9, 2026
This year's Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope remains close to home, exploring places throughout Carlisle and Harrisburg that tell stories of injustice, resilience, and hope. Together, participants will visit the historic Carlisle Indian Industrial School, hear from descendants and community members connected to its legacy, and examine the history of segregation and racial justice in central Pennsylvania.
By listening to these stories where they happened, pilgrims are invited to deepen their understanding of our shared history and consider how God calls us to participate in healing, reconciliation, and the work of building the Beloved Community today.
Listening. Learning. Living Faithfully
Every Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope is rooted in the belief that discipleship requires both learning and action. As we encounter stories that are often difficult to hear, we are invited to listen with humility, reflect with honesty, and respond with compassion.
This journey is not simply about understanding history. It is about allowing those stories to shape how we love our neighbors, seek justice, and live out our faith in the communities we serve.
Building the Beloved Community
The Commission on the Beloved Community sponsors these pilgrimages as an invitation to grow together through shared experiences of learning, reflection, and faithful conversation. By engaging the history of our own region, participants are encouraged to return home with a renewed commitment to building communities where every person is valued, heard, and loved.