A pilgrimage is a sacred journey taken to encounter God
“To travel as a tourist is acquisitive – what photos and stuff can I bring home?
[But] to travel as a pilgrim is receptive – what does God want to give me and how can I be receptive to that?” – Susan Skillen
Join us for a life-changing seven days in Manresa, Spain, as we engage with the lives and spirituality of the 16th century Spanish Saints of the interior life – Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross.
Plan to arrive into Barcelona on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to enjoy lunch and a private group tour of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, the magnum opus of Antoni Gaudi, architect and devoted Christian, who embodied the motto “pray and work.”
Interior of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Late that afternoon, we travel by coach about an hour to Manresa, where St. Ignatius spent eleven months and developed the majority of his Spiritual Exercises. We are staying the entire week and taking our meals at the beautiful Baroque Jesuit Retreat House and Center for Spirituality built over Cova Manresa, the cave where Ignatius sought God and met with Jesus in 1522. The retreat center also has a garden for meditation and a museum on Ignatius.
Center for Spirituality, Manresa
Pilgrimage Costs (per person) $3,000.00*
*inclusive of lodging, ground transportation from Barcelona to Manresa and back, three meals a day (except first/last day), entrance fees & tips, but does not include airfare
Sketch of Jesus by St. John of the Cross
received in a vision in the 1570s
The focus of our prayer retreat is on three saints who tried to bring spiritual reform from inside the Catholic Church during the 16th century. Although subject to the Inquisition, they were exonerated for their innocence and holiness.
About half of the retreat concentrates on two saints who reformed the Carmelite religious order: Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. The Carmelites first began as a group of hermits on top of Mount Carmel in northern Israel during the 12th century. The Carmelite order follows the prophet Elijah. Forced to leave due to the Muslim conquest of Palestine, they moved to Europe. Both Teresa and John were known for their pursuit of God’s presence, and invited others into mystical union with Jesus through what they call “The Ascent of Mount Carmel.”
Half of the retreat focuses on Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1544, which has a strong evangelistic and missionary emphasis. Jesuits have long been engaged in educational, scientific, and artistic pursuits, believing that God can be glorified in everything. For 500 years, the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius have been a powerful means to deeply form people in the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat,
where Ignatius laid down his weapons
Program or Academic Credit Information
Sherpa Program Credit
If you are enrolled in the Sherpa Certificate in Spiritual Direction Training Program and want to count this pilgrimage as your Sherpa capstone (spiritual immersion experience), please email confirmation of your intention to debbie@sherpaclimb.org to specify your forays and work out the details.
The King’s University and Seminary Academic Credit
“BIBM 8315 Spiritual Formation II: Historical Models of Spiritual Formation” is the capstone course for Doctor of Ministry students in the Spiritual Formation and Direction concentration. This course, taught by Dr. Gill, culminates in the annual Sherpa pilgrimage.
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary/Evangel University Academic Credit
Sherpa pilgrimages are approved for D.Min. credit by Dr. John Battaglia, D.Min. Program Director. Contact him to register for credit; once approved, email debbie@sherpaclimb.org for a syllabus and to work out the details.
Non-Credit Participants
We always delight in having other guests join us, as space permits!
Optional Pre-Pilgrimage Reading List
(TKU and AGTS participants, see your respective syllabus for Required Reading and Collateral Reading [options to use in your research]).
The best primary sources for these saints, which also contain introductions to their lives and works, are as follows:
- The Collected Works of Saint Teresa of Avila, in 2 volumes. Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2017.
- The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, 3rd ed. Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2017.
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Personal Writings: Reminiscences, Spiritual Diary, Select Letters including the text of The Spiritual Exercises. Translated with Introductions and Notes by Joseph A. Munitiz and Philip Endean. NY: Penguin Books, 1997.
Pilgrimage Leaders
Dr. Debbie & Jan Gill are spiritual adventurers who love journeying deeper into the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Ever since their giant year-long sabbatical and pilgrimage in 2014-2015 to twelve countries, they have been leading annual pilgrimages and prayer retreats for others seeking to go deeper in Christ.
Jan is an architect, sailboat racer, and contemplative Christian specializing in ancient and Orthodox spirituality. Debbie is a retired seminary professor, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and the founder and director of Sherpa: Guidance for the Spiritual Climb, a spiritual formation and soul care ministry.
Debbie and Jan at a 2023 Retreat in Hawai‘i