Family Pilgrimage: The Practicals and Spiritual Fruit

What if the most powerful pilgrimage your family could take this year started just a few hours down the road? Jason Spoolstra, creator of the Light and Heavy Pilgrimages YouTube channel, joins Jim and Meghan to make the case that every Catholic family is called to pilgrimage, and that it is far more accessible than most people think. Drawing from nearly two decades of Catholic ministry and years of personal experience leading pilgrimages around the world, Jason unpacks both the spiritual depth and the practical steps that can turn any journey into a sacred act of faith.

What’s in this episode:

• Pilgrimages as accessible, affordable, and doable for every Catholic family
• Tying a pilgrimage into your next road trip or family vacation
• The spiritual warfare and sacrifice woven into every pilgrimage journey
• The American Saints tour: finding blesseds, venerables, and saints near you
• Adapting pilgrimages to your children's ages, temperaments, and interests
• A moving story of consecration to Our Lady and answered prayer in Brazil
• Practical steps: devotions, budget, timeframe, and choosing your destination
• The difference between a pilgrimage and a regular vacation
• Using AI tools to discover Catholic shrines along your travel route
• One resource every Catholic family should know: Handbook of Prayers & Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Book he is currently reading: The Theology of the Body 
• Advice to his younger self: Learn to pray more and trust in the Lord more
• Final wisdom for listeners: In the words of JP2, do not be afraid to go on pilgrimage

Resources Mentioned:

National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate (NASPA)

Catholic Pilgrimage Sites

The Faithful Traveler - Map of US Shrines

The Little Pilgrim 

Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.