Sojourn: Pilgrimage of the heart, journey of faith

The Sojourn Lasallian Pilgrimage and Renewal Program was launched in 2007 in the Philippines. Intended to run for just five years from 2007-2011, the goal was “100 by 100” – 100 pilgrims having visited important Lasallian sites by the 100th year of Lasallian presence in the Philippines in 2011.

After 2011 however, the demand for the experience remained high. It was opened to international participants early on, with endorsements from the head of 7 sectors in East Asia – the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Hong Kong – and the head of Lasallian Asia-Pacific Region (Pakistan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka), and from the Superior General coming in. And so, Sojourn has continued and will be celebrating 20 years in the running soon. From the shared experiences of pilgrims, Sojourn has also evolved through the years. 

Today, at the core level, Sojourn continues to foster a personal reflection on one’s life story. It offers a one-time opportunity to quietly reflect on one’s life journey, against the backdrop of the Lasallian story. By walking through the life story of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the first Brothers, pilgrims also undertake their personal journey of the heart and hopefully, continue a lifetime journey in faith.

In a special way, Lasallian Family members – students, teachers, alumni, parents, friends, relatives – walk and physically revisit our Lasallian roots in Sojourn. And in so doing, they experience on a second level, a unique spiritual and educational  experience for deepening the Lasallian charism – a new understanding of the Lasallian journey, and a rejuvenation of the faith and zeal of Mission today. 

On a third level, Sojourn offers a historical-cultural experience of Western Europe from its foundations in the Roman Empire and early Christianity, to contemporary times, particularly in its architecture, history, fashion, and culinary experiences.   

At the end of every pilgrimage then, pilgrims return home, personally feeling spiritually and historico-culturally nourished, and also more inspired by the journey of faith of De La Salle and the first Brothers – a core experience of being intimately spiritual and intimately Lasallian. 

Sojourn brings pilgrims to France, Belgium, and Italy, to particular Lasallian places, and key historical-cultural icons of these Western European countries, by planes and by coaches. The Lasallian pilgrimage is also interwoven with a Marian pilgrimage – visiting Cathedrals and sites in France dedicated to Our Lady, and elsewhere, and with Catholic icons like St. Mary Alacoque (Sacred Heart) in Paray-le-Monial, St. Catherine Laboré (Miraculous Medal) in Paris, St. Joan of Arc in Rouen, Sts. Francis, Claire, and Carlo Acutis, in Assisi, etc.

More specifically, participants visit Lasallian pilgrimage sites, and incorporate prayer services, talks, encounters with European Lasallian Brothers and partners in, Masses, personal and group sharing, etc. The program is always adjusted, depending on the composition of each group. 

From 2015 onward, De La Salle Philippines and the Sojourn Coordinating Team (SCT) have been in-charge. In 2016, a pilgrim Brother from Japan took part. On numerous occasions too, Br. Manuel Pajarillo FSC led Lasallian pilgrims from Singapore and the USA on customized programs. In 2019, the participation of the wider Asia-Pacific Lasallians was conceptualized, along the lines of the renewal programs offered by the Centro Internazionale Lasaliano (CIL) in Rome, Italy of which Br. Manuel Pajarillo FSC was also a Director for several years. It was in 2023, when the Superior General asked that Sojourn be offered first to English-speaking countries and eventually, that Sojourn develop a multi-lingual version for the rest of the countries where there is Lasallian presence. This is an attempt to bring together members of the Lasallian Family in a once in a lifetime spiritual journey.

* Article published by De La Salle Philippines.