Twelve undergraduate men, accompanied by four Holy Cross seminarians, a Holy Cross collegian, and a Holy Cross priest, recently participated in the first annual Holy Cross Backpacking Pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage – in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee – covered thirty miles over the course of four days and three nights. The hike concluded with two nights at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Spencer County, Indiana. The men enjoyed moments of prayer, fellowship, and conversation around vocation discernment, all in the midst of the beauty of God’s creation.
Learn more about the backpacking experience
Faith, Backpacking, Creation and God’s Call
The Appalachian Backpacking Pilgrimage is an opportunity to spend spring break with a group of young Catholic men at Notre Dame and Holy Cross College who want to:
- Experience (perhaps on cold, snowy mountains!)
- Grow in their Catholic faith & connect faith with love of creation
- Connect experiences of wonder and awe with authentic Catholic spirituality
- Learn the fundamentals of backpacking and care for the wilderness
- Further discern God’s call in their lives
