From Busy to Blessed: Why You Should Consider a Retreat or Pilgrimage

Sometimes, we need to step away from the world to truly see the heart of God.

This week, I’ll be joining over 60 women on a powerful Catholic retreat—three and a half days set apart for prayer. There will be laughter, there will be tears. There will be love and compassion. There will be snacks!

It’s a local retreat, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. Last year when I attended, it changed my life. It was the spark that led me to start this blog. This year, I return as a team member, helping behind the scenes while witnessing the Holy Spirit move in new ways. Our theme is from Isaiah:

“And they shall come and see my glory.” (Isaiah 66:18)

I don’t know exactly what this weekend will hold, but I know this: When we give God space, He always fills it.

Why Retreat?

We all get caught up in the everyday. The emails, errands, demands, and noise. But stepping away, even briefly, can change everything. It gives us perspective, and it helps us to hear God’s voice again. It offers rest, clarity, and sometimes, a renewed calling. Jesus Himself modeled this. Time and again, we see Him “withdraw to a quiet place to pray.” And it’s often after those moments that His greatest miracles unfold.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus retreats regularly:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

After feeding the 5,000, “He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.” (John 6:15)

Before choosing the apostles: “He went out to the mountain to pray, and spent the night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

Jesus models what it means to step away to listen, to commune with the Father, and to prepare for mission. Every major moment in His ministry is surrounded by prayer and solitude.

What About Pilgrimage?

Retreats aren’t the only way to encounter God deeply. There’s a long, beautiful tradition in our Church of pilgrimage, of journeying to sacred sites, walking in the footsteps of the saints, and offering the journey itself as a prayer. Whether it’s to the Holy Land, Lourdes, Rome, Fatima, Guadalupe—or closer to home, to a national shrine or historic monastery—these journeys nourish the soul in a unique way. They remind us that our faith has deep roots, and they let us walk where miracles happened. Pilgrimages become sacred vacations, not escapes, but encounters with the Holy Spirit.

If you’re planning a trip this year, ask: Could this vacation also be a pilgrimage? Could this be a chance to draw nearer to the sacred? You might just return with more than memories. You might return transformed.

A Sacred Tradition: Retreats and Pilgrimages in the Life of Faith

The idea of stepping away from daily life for spiritual renewal isn’t something modern Catholics came up with—it’s woven deeply into both Jewish and Christian tradition.

Jesus also grew up in a tradition of pilgrimage. Jewish law required faithful Jews to travel to Jerusalem for feasts like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Each of which are pilgrimages of prayer, offering, and remembrance. Even Mary and Joseph made this journey with young Jesus:

“Each year His parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.” (Luke 2:41)

And it was on pilgrimage that Jesus was found in the temple, deep in discussion with the teachers.

Christian Pilgrimage Grew from That Foundation. After the resurrection, early Christians began traveling to holy places: The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, sites of martyrdom and miracles, shrines built over the homes of saints, eventually, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes, Fatima, and more. Pilgrimage became not just a journey of feet, but a journey of repentance, healing, and encounter. And even the idea of a “retreat”—pausing regular life for prayer—was formalized by St. Ignatius of Loyola, who structured spiritual retreats into focused, prayerful encounters with God.

So, taking time away to draw near to God isn’t just helpful. It’s historical, scriptural, sacramental, and holy.

An Invitation for You

Whether it’s a weekend retreat or a journey across the world, I want to encourage you to say "yes" to opportunities that invite you to step away with God. Give yourself a rest and reset with God. Allow the possibility that God might want to show you something new, or allow you to view yourself in a new light.

This Week, Pray for Us

I’ll be away Thursday through Sunday, helping serve the retreat that once served me. Please keep all of us in your prayers—especially the women who will be encountering Christ in a powerful way. And I’ll be praying for you too. That when the time comes, you’ll say yes to your own “come away with Me” moment.

May your next journey be one that brings you closer to Heaven.

References:

• Ignatius of Loyola. Spiritual Exercises. Loyola Press, 1951.

• Sumption, J. Pilgrimage: An Image of Medieval Religion. Faber & Faber, 1975.

• “Pilgrimages.” Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent.

• Pitre, B. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist. Doubleday, 2011.

• Jewish Virtual Library. “Pilgrimage Festivals.” jewishvirtuallibrary.org.