The New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity was imagined and founded by Mike Pitchford (1958-2020).
Mike was an exceptional Christian man in so many ways. As he tells it, “In the summer of 2015, I made a 500 mile pilgrimage on foot along the Camino Francés as part of the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain. My motivation for walking the Camino was two-fold. First, it was to serve as a rite of passage. I was not only celebrating my retirement from the company where I had worked for over thirty years, but I realized that I had to leave behind some bad habits and attitudes that had developed in me over those years. It was time to let go of those. Second, the pilgrimage was meant for me to begin to discern what I was going to do with my life going forward."
At the time of the Camino Francés pilgrimage, Mike was enrolled in the St. Norbert Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program through the New Mexico campus. Upon his return, he decided to focus his MTS thesis on pilgrimage, specifically how pilgrimage might serve ecumenism. His thesis, A Study of Pilgrimage Systems: What Constitutes Powerful Ecumenical Pilgrimage?, was completed in August, 2016; upon graduation, Mike began to bring into reality the concluding vision of his thesis: a New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity.
With a small group of four interested colleagues, Mike planned and re-planned routes, housing, meals, devotional services, special conversations with local religious leaders; he arranged for safety equipment, shopped for snacks, cut through red-tape…and with two vans, one port-a-potty, 30 Pilgrims, two spiritual directors and a support staff of four…the first NM Pilgrimage for Unity became a reality in September, 2017. It was a labor of love that resulted in spiritual growth, insight and community for all who walked with him.
A steering committee was formed to work with Mike in 2018…and this time there were evaluations from the previous pilgrimage to guide the committee and fresh new enthusiasm. Again the 2018 NM Pilgrimage for Unity was a spiritual success; the numbers were slightly higher, 33 Pilgrims and a larger support team of 8. At the conclusion of this walk, everyone felt a tradition was initiated.
A new steering committee was convened; they adopted a new financial model “Pay as Led”, a bold move to establish sustainability by disclosing the actual cost of the pilgrimage per person and suggesting a range of payment options. This meant that Pilgrimage would no longer rely on donations for more than half the total expenses; instead interested folks were asked to provide scholarships so that no Pilgrim would be turned away. By the time of our 2019 Pilgrimage, Mike was in the midst of treatment for aggressive cancer. Though weak, he was able to join pilgrims in Chimayo for the final worship celebration in conclusion of the 2019 pilgrimage.
In early 2020, the New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity moved from an individual-driven project to a more institutional organization-driven project by establishing a relationship with the Ecumenical Institute for Ministry, a 501(c)(3) no-profit religious educational organization. Through a Steering Team (composed of experienced pilgrims) and an Advisory Team (composed of members with various expertise and experience with pilgrimage) the New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity will continue to plan, evaluate and refine an annual pilgrimage and interpretive opportunities.
Mike passed away on February 5, 2020. Many pilgrims participated in his funeral mass at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parish in Albuquerque, NM.
The New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity is humbled by the huge gift Mike has given to our ecumenical community in New Mexico. Through walking together new relationships are forged, theological division are minimized and ecumenical acceptance grows: pilgrims learn to depend on their brothers and sisters in Christ…and Christian unity is expanded.
Your support of and participation in the Pilgrimage honors Mike's labors of love and enables us all to live more deeply into the motto of the first Pilgrimage: That All May Be One.
Mike was an exceptional Christian man in so many ways. As he tells it, “In the summer of 2015, I made a 500 mile pilgrimage on foot along the Camino Francés as part of the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain. My motivation for walking the Camino was two-fold. First, it was to serve as a rite of passage. I was not only celebrating my retirement from the company where I had worked for over thirty years, but I realized that I had to leave behind some bad habits and attitudes that had developed in me over those years. It was time to let go of those. Second, the pilgrimage was meant for me to begin to discern what I was going to do with my life going forward."
At the time of the Camino Francés pilgrimage, Mike was enrolled in the St. Norbert Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program through the New Mexico campus. Upon his return, he decided to focus his MTS thesis on pilgrimage, specifically how pilgrimage might serve ecumenism. His thesis, A Study of Pilgrimage Systems: What Constitutes Powerful Ecumenical Pilgrimage?, was completed in August, 2016; upon graduation, Mike began to bring into reality the concluding vision of his thesis: a New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity.
With a small group of four interested colleagues, Mike planned and re-planned routes, housing, meals, devotional services, special conversations with local religious leaders; he arranged for safety equipment, shopped for snacks, cut through red-tape…and with two vans, one port-a-potty, 30 Pilgrims, two spiritual directors and a support staff of four…the first NM Pilgrimage for Unity became a reality in September, 2017. It was a labor of love that resulted in spiritual growth, insight and community for all who walked with him.
A steering committee was formed to work with Mike in 2018…and this time there were evaluations from the previous pilgrimage to guide the committee and fresh new enthusiasm. Again the 2018 NM Pilgrimage for Unity was a spiritual success; the numbers were slightly higher, 33 Pilgrims and a larger support team of 8. At the conclusion of this walk, everyone felt a tradition was initiated.
A new steering committee was convened; they adopted a new financial model “Pay as Led”, a bold move to establish sustainability by disclosing the actual cost of the pilgrimage per person and suggesting a range of payment options. This meant that Pilgrimage would no longer rely on donations for more than half the total expenses; instead interested folks were asked to provide scholarships so that no Pilgrim would be turned away. By the time of our 2019 Pilgrimage, Mike was in the midst of treatment for aggressive cancer. Though weak, he was able to join pilgrims in Chimayo for the final worship celebration in conclusion of the 2019 pilgrimage.
In early 2020, the New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity moved from an individual-driven project to a more institutional organization-driven project by establishing a relationship with the Ecumenical Institute for Ministry, a 501(c)(3) no-profit religious educational organization. Through a Steering Team (composed of experienced pilgrims) and an Advisory Team (composed of members with various expertise and experience with pilgrimage) the New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity will continue to plan, evaluate and refine an annual pilgrimage and interpretive opportunities.
Mike passed away on February 5, 2020. Many pilgrims participated in his funeral mass at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parish in Albuquerque, NM.
The New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity is humbled by the huge gift Mike has given to our ecumenical community in New Mexico. Through walking together new relationships are forged, theological division are minimized and ecumenical acceptance grows: pilgrims learn to depend on their brothers and sisters in Christ…and Christian unity is expanded.
Your support of and participation in the Pilgrimage honors Mike's labors of love and enables us all to live more deeply into the motto of the first Pilgrimage: That All May Be One.
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The Pilgrimage for Unity and the 3-day New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity are committed to healing and building up the Body of Christ by providing opportunities for profound, shared spiritual experience and dialogue.
Support the Pilgrimages for Unity! Your donation helps heal and build up the Body of Christ by removing financial barriers to participation in the pilgrimage for pilgrims of limited economic means!
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Contact: info@nmpilgrimage.org
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