the essentials
A pilgrimage is reflective of our faith and life journey, which is dynamic and ever-changing. In life, we are not always progressing the way we should. There are times when we find ourselves moving forward, and at other times we find ourselves stationary. In fact, there are even times when we may regress slightly. But through all these different "movements" of our journey, we are essentially moving on the path towards God. And this is precisely what happens on a pilgrimage.
Life brings with it various experiences which affect us in different ways. When we go on pilgrimages together, we offer everything of our human experience to God, including our fears, our hopes, our desires, our dreams, our doubts, our ailments and our gratitude. We walk together to witness the faith of God's People at sacred shrines, and we pray what we see while uniting ourselves with the faith of the Church.
Pilgrimages are by nature unsettling, just like life itself is. Just when we think everything is going smoothly, life brings with it a surprise which can be pleasantly welcomed or begrudgingly unwanted. Although the organisers of such trips are often vigilant to ensure that the best arrangements are made for you, there are things that are often beyond their control, such as mishaps in flight connections, flight delays, unpleasant encounters with people, and mistaken directions. If we take all this in our stride and keep our hearts on the purpose of such a journey, we would see that the journey eventually leads towards our intended destination: God.
Throughout our trips, pilgrims are constantly reminded to keep their hearts and minds on the spiritual dimension over and above the physical dimension of the journey. Much will be expected of us in terms of transcending the discomforts that the unsettledness of a pilgrimage brings us. But at the same time, if we allow ourselves to be taken through the journey with vulnerability and humility, a "joy of suffering" will come upon us as a deep experience in being united to Christ.
Life brings with it various experiences which affect us in different ways. When we go on pilgrimages together, we offer everything of our human experience to God, including our fears, our hopes, our desires, our dreams, our doubts, our ailments and our gratitude. We walk together to witness the faith of God's People at sacred shrines, and we pray what we see while uniting ourselves with the faith of the Church.
Pilgrimages are by nature unsettling, just like life itself is. Just when we think everything is going smoothly, life brings with it a surprise which can be pleasantly welcomed or begrudgingly unwanted. Although the organisers of such trips are often vigilant to ensure that the best arrangements are made for you, there are things that are often beyond their control, such as mishaps in flight connections, flight delays, unpleasant encounters with people, and mistaken directions. If we take all this in our stride and keep our hearts on the purpose of such a journey, we would see that the journey eventually leads towards our intended destination: God.
Throughout our trips, pilgrims are constantly reminded to keep their hearts and minds on the spiritual dimension over and above the physical dimension of the journey. Much will be expected of us in terms of transcending the discomforts that the unsettledness of a pilgrimage brings us. But at the same time, if we allow ourselves to be taken through the journey with vulnerability and humility, a "joy of suffering" will come upon us as a deep experience in being united to Christ.
Several years ago, Deacon Sherman Kuek conceptualised a slightly different kind of pilgrimage, realising that many conventional pilgrimages take pilgrims to sacred sites without proper spiritual and theological guidance. As a result, pilgrims are often unable to optimise the benefits they are supposed to received from such trips. Deacon Sherman therefore conceptualised "formation-based pilgrimages", these being trips that continue to take pilgrims to traditional pilgrimage destinations but are accompanied by daily systematic faith formation throughout the trips.
Formation-based pilgrimages ensure that the task of evangelisation is fulfilled through the running of pilgrimages as pilgrims are catechised and the Word of God is preached daily. Such trips powerfully fulfil the evangelisation task of the Church.
Today, Deacon Sherman accompanies groups of pilgrims on such trips to ensure that faith formation is provided for these pilgrims each day on their trips. These trips are strictly formation-based, so that pilgrims have a better understanding of what they see and experience in the course of the trips. They are also guided on spiritual practices to be undertaken in the places they visit. A priest is usually requested to join in the trips to administer sacraments to the pilgrims daily while Deacon Sherman takes care of their faith formation.
Formation-based pilgrimages ensure that the task of evangelisation is fulfilled through the running of pilgrimages as pilgrims are catechised and the Word of God is preached daily. Such trips powerfully fulfil the evangelisation task of the Church.
Today, Deacon Sherman accompanies groups of pilgrims on such trips to ensure that faith formation is provided for these pilgrims each day on their trips. These trips are strictly formation-based, so that pilgrims have a better understanding of what they see and experience in the course of the trips. They are also guided on spiritual practices to be undertaken in the places they visit. A priest is usually requested to join in the trips to administer sacraments to the pilgrims daily while Deacon Sherman takes care of their faith formation.
REV. Deacon PROFESSOR dr sherman kuek ofsThe Reverend Deacon Professor Dr Sherman Kuek OFS is a permanent deacon of the Catholic Church, a Secular Franciscan, theologian, teacher, and preacher. As a deacon, he is incardinated in the Diocese of Melaka Johor, Malaysia. As a theologian, Deacon Sherman is the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue at the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE), an ecumenical and cross-disciplinary research institute chartered under the EUCLID prerogative (United Nations Treaty Series 49006/49007) and affiliated with the School of Theology and Interfaith Studies of Polê Universitaire Euclide (UNESCO/IAU WHED ID: IAU-024734). He has also been appointed Visiting Professor at several institutions of higher education locally and abroad. As a teacher of the Catholic faith, he is the Convenor of the Splendour Project, a Catholic apostolate for formation, evangelisation, and discipleship. Deacon Sherman spends much of his time communicating the Christian faith through prolific speaking, writing and media production. His Doctor of Theology degree was conferred by Trinity Theological College in Singapore.
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So you saw some upcoming pilgrimage trips advertised in the local Catholic newspapers or in your parish bulletin. And it looks rather compelling because you've always wanted to go to that particular destination for a pilgrimage, and more so, it seems cheap!
So how can you know if this is a pilgrimage worth going for? Just because a trip is cheap, it doesn't mean that it will be a trip worth going for, and more so, it doesn't mean that the trip will be all it promises to be.
So what criteria should you use to decide if you should participate in an advertised trip or give it a miss? Here are certain points that help a discerning pilgrim to distinguish a potentially fruitful trip from one that may not be so:
So how can you know if this is a pilgrimage worth going for? Just because a trip is cheap, it doesn't mean that it will be a trip worth going for, and more so, it doesn't mean that the trip will be all it promises to be.
So what criteria should you use to decide if you should participate in an advertised trip or give it a miss? Here are certain points that help a discerning pilgrim to distinguish a potentially fruitful trip from one that may not be so:
1. PILGRIMS MUST RECEIVE ADEQUATE AND ACCURATE TEACHING
On many pilgrimages, too little proper information is given to pilgrims to aid their understanding. Many tour guides, despite the training they claim to have received, thrive on anecdotes. There are also those who deliver facts that are either untrue or inaccurate to unsuspecting pilgrims, or worse still, teachings that contradict the Catholic faith.
This is one important reason why the Splendour Project decided to begin offering formation-based pilgrimages, so that an expert formator could accompany our trips to provide pilgrims with more than adequate teaching and guide their understanding of the places that they visit from the historical, Scriptural, and theological perspectives. Even the tour guides we provide on our trips are very carefully selected.
This is one important reason why the Splendour Project decided to begin offering formation-based pilgrimages, so that an expert formator could accompany our trips to provide pilgrims with more than adequate teaching and guide their understanding of the places that they visit from the historical, Scriptural, and theological perspectives. Even the tour guides we provide on our trips are very carefully selected.
2. PILGRIMS MUST BE GIVEN WHAT THEY PAY FOR
Because the Malaysian currency has devalued by at least 15 percent this past year and travel has become even more expensive, many travel organisers are forced to cut corners to keep their trips cheap. For example, some components of a trip may be removed, or quality of transportation, accommodation, and food is being compromised, or less time is spent in the more important places because being there is more expensive.
The Splendour Project ensures that this doesn't happen on our trips. On the face of it, it looks like our quoted prices are not cheap. However, we actually ensure that you get what you pay for because we refuse to compromise on the quality of your experience. We believe that since most of our pilgrims are visiting a particular place only once in their lifetime, it is not worth compromising on quality just to save a couple of thousand Ringgit. We want to ensure that pilgrims get the best that can possibly be offered, e.g. enough time at shrines without rushing just because days have been cut short, good morale because food is of good quality and accommodation is comfortable, and safety and security are ensured. Basically, we do our best to make sure you get what has been promised.
The Splendour Project ensures that this doesn't happen on our trips. On the face of it, it looks like our quoted prices are not cheap. However, we actually ensure that you get what you pay for because we refuse to compromise on the quality of your experience. We believe that since most of our pilgrims are visiting a particular place only once in their lifetime, it is not worth compromising on quality just to save a couple of thousand Ringgit. We want to ensure that pilgrims get the best that can possibly be offered, e.g. enough time at shrines without rushing just because days have been cut short, good morale because food is of good quality and accommodation is comfortable, and safety and security are ensured. Basically, we do our best to make sure you get what has been promised.
3. PILGRIMS MUST RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
Part of cost-cutting measures is to remove the accompanying priests from the cost equation. This means that many pilgrimage groups travel without an accompanying priest to keep their trips cheap. But having a priest around to provide the sacraments on a daily basis is very integral to a pilgrimage.
The Splendour Project makes it a point to personally invite priests and bishops who are well-respected and reputed for being serious about the Sacraments. They are also priests who are patient enough to offer spiritual guidance on a personal basis to pilgrims who need to receive some spiritual direction for their lives. Such priests would ensure that pilgrims are able to make good confessions at the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have Masses well-celebrated for them on a daily basis throughout our trips.
The Splendour Project makes it a point to personally invite priests and bishops who are well-respected and reputed for being serious about the Sacraments. They are also priests who are patient enough to offer spiritual guidance on a personal basis to pilgrims who need to receive some spiritual direction for their lives. Such priests would ensure that pilgrims are able to make good confessions at the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have Masses well-celebrated for them on a daily basis throughout our trips.
4. PILGRIMS' SAFETY MUST BE A PRIORITY
Prospective pilgrims are constantly worried about whether their safety is secured if they were to embark on a particular trip. They are usually afraid especially of unsafe socio-political situations in the places they will be visiting. It is important that the organisers of the trip have access to firsthand knowledge of what is happening in these destinations. Do keep in mind that the mass media is not trustworthy on such issues because they tend to sensationalise matters -- bad news sells!
The safety and security of our pilgrims are very important to the Splendour Project. We have firsthand regular updates from our contacts who live in the very places we are planning to visit, so we are well-aware of the security conditions there. We are therefore able to ensure that your trips are not unnecessarily cancelled or postponed, and also that your safety is not unnecessarily compromised. We also ensure that our pilgrims' insurance policies come with comprehensive coverage.
The safety and security of our pilgrims are very important to the Splendour Project. We have firsthand regular updates from our contacts who live in the very places we are planning to visit, so we are well-aware of the security conditions there. We are therefore able to ensure that your trips are not unnecessarily cancelled or postponed, and also that your safety is not unnecessarily compromised. We also ensure that our pilgrims' insurance policies come with comprehensive coverage.
5. PILGRIMS MUST BE AIDED IN THEIR LEARNING
It would be a pity if you paid all that money for a trip and came back without having learned, or having forgotten, everything that you are supposed to know upon having visited those places in your travel itinerary. And yet, most of the time, this happens because travel organisers are experts in making logistic arrangements, not so much in crafting your learning process to ensure optimal learning.
To ensure that our pilgrims understand and remember, the Splendour Project conducts faith formation sessions each morning during our trips. Detailed explanations are also given by our Formation Director at the sites of our visits. At the beginning of each trip, pilgrims each receive a detailed handbook containing all the faith formation content and the necessary information about the places the pilgrims are visiting. This would ensure that they are able to refer to the handbook during, and even after, the pilgrimages instead of losing those precious memories and the knowledge that come together with the visits.
In addition to that, after each trip, the Splendour Project provides all our pilgrims with a professionally produced hour-long video footage of their trip. The purpose of this footage is, again, to assist pilgrims in reinforcing their memory of their pilgrimage trip. It is not possible for other tour organisers to provide footages of such professional quality because it would cost them too much to do so, but the Splendour Project has the added advantage of our own in-house media crew to provide this for our pilgrims.
To ensure that our pilgrims understand and remember, the Splendour Project conducts faith formation sessions each morning during our trips. Detailed explanations are also given by our Formation Director at the sites of our visits. At the beginning of each trip, pilgrims each receive a detailed handbook containing all the faith formation content and the necessary information about the places the pilgrims are visiting. This would ensure that they are able to refer to the handbook during, and even after, the pilgrimages instead of losing those precious memories and the knowledge that come together with the visits.
In addition to that, after each trip, the Splendour Project provides all our pilgrims with a professionally produced hour-long video footage of their trip. The purpose of this footage is, again, to assist pilgrims in reinforcing their memory of their pilgrimage trip. It is not possible for other tour organisers to provide footages of such professional quality because it would cost them too much to do so, but the Splendour Project has the added advantage of our own in-house media crew to provide this for our pilgrims.
6. PILGRIMS MUST BE GIVEN A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING
Did you know that the places that the Church considers holy are all connected to one another in some way? But it does take a considerable amount of intellectual expertise and skill to help pilgrims to see this connection. Otherwise, one can only organise a particular pilgrimage trip in isolation from others and would be unable to help pilgrims to understand how a particular place is intricately linked to other places that they may have visited or will be visiting in time to come.
The Splendour Project encourages pilgrims to participate in our Trilogy of Pilgrimages, i.e. the Holy Land (known as the 1st Holy land), Rome (known as the 2nd Holy Land), and Greece & Turkey (known as the 3rd Holy Land). Pilgrims who travel on our Trilogy of Pilgrimages will be given a thorough knowledge of how all these places we visit actually are intricately related to one another. Because we are guided by detailed theological research, only we have the means to ensure that you receive information as a coherent whole and not in bits and pieces.
The Splendour Project encourages pilgrims to participate in our Trilogy of Pilgrimages, i.e. the Holy Land (known as the 1st Holy land), Rome (known as the 2nd Holy Land), and Greece & Turkey (known as the 3rd Holy Land). Pilgrims who travel on our Trilogy of Pilgrimages will be given a thorough knowledge of how all these places we visit actually are intricately related to one another. Because we are guided by detailed theological research, only we have the means to ensure that you receive information as a coherent whole and not in bits and pieces.
Hence, choosing among pilgrimage trips is never just a matter of choosing the cheapest trip you can find. There are many factors that need to be considered before making a final decision. Only when a tour organiser can guarantee the above to a reasonable extent that you can be almost certain that you have embarked on a good trip. So what are you waiting for?
"Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. For pilgrims seeking living water, shrines are special places for living the forms of Christian prayer in Church.'"
- Catechism of the Catholic Church #2691
the upcoming trips
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South Korea |
Greece & Turkey |
Vatican & Italy |
22-28 February 2025 |
24 March - 9 April 2025 |
September / October 2025 |
with Rev. Deacon Prof. Dr Sherman Kuek OFS |
with Rev. Deacon Prof. Dr Sherman Kuek OFS |
with Rev. Deacon Prof. Dr Sherman Kuek OFS |
Formation Content: History of persecution, Discipleship, Sainthood and martyrdom, Vocations and charisms |
Formation Content: Scripture from the Acts of the Apostles to Revelation, the missionary journeys of St Paul, church history, ecumenism, etc. |
Formation Content: Apostolic Succession, Explanation on Basilicas, Catholic pious devotions, Eucharistic miracles, Ancient Catholic spiritualities, Angelology & Spiritual Warfare |
"In these historic moments in which we are called, with greater force if possible, to evangelise our world, the riches offered to us by the pilgrimage to shrines should be highlighted. First of all, for its great ability to summon and bring together a growing number of pilgrims and religious tourists, some of whom are in complicated human and spiritual situations, somewhat distant from living the faith and with a weak ecclesial affiliation. Christ speaks to all of them with love and hope."
- Pope Benedict XVI (2010)
the testimonies
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KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US |
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