Shoppers are turning to purposeful travel , Outreach is leading a three-day New York City pilgrimage, September 25–27, 2026, for LGBTQ Catholics, allies and ministers to remember the HIV/AIDS era, celebrate progress in the church, and pray for renewal. Registration details and a $250 per-person fee (excl. housing) are listed below.

Essential Takeaways

  • Dates and cost: Pilgrimage runs Sept 25–27, 2026, and costs $250 per person; housing not included.
  • Who’s leading: Father James Martin, S.J., with Outreach executive director Conor Reidy and assistant director John Consolie.
  • Itinerary highlights: Masses, site walks including Stonewall and AIDS Memorial Park, visits to St Francis Xavier, St Paul the Apostle and St Ignatius of Loyola.
  • Focus: Remembering lives lost during the HIV/AIDS crisis, hearing first‑hand ministry stories, and building spiritual companionship.
  • Registration: Space is limited; sign-up closes Sept 7 , contact [email protected] to register.

Why this mini-pilgrimage feels important now

This isn’t a sightseeing jaunt; it’s deliberately quiet, reflective and occasionally raw, with sensory cues like the hush of a chapel and the names etched on memorials. Outreach designed the weekend to centre memory and prayer, making the city’s streets and churches into rooms of witness. According to Outreach organisers, New York’s history with LGBTQ Catholics , especially during the HIV/AIDS crisis , makes it a natural classroom for both grief and hope. If you want a pilgrimage that combines spiritual practice with social history, this is built to deliver.

Who will lead and what they bring

Father James Martin, S.J., founder of Outreach, brings a public profile and pastoral voice, while Conor Reidy and John Consolie handle programming and logistics. That mix matters: you get both big-picture reflection and practical shepherding. Outreach has led pilgrimages before, including to Rome, so there’s a template of talks, Mass and guided walks. Expect short, candid talks from people who actually ministered during the epidemic , those first-hand accounts are the weekend’s emotional core.

The route: sites that carry stories

Walks will include the Stonewall National Monument and AIDS Memorial Park, then pivot to church spaces like St Francis Xavier, St Paul the Apostle and St Ignatius of Loyola. Each stop pairs place with testimony: a memorial’s quiet bench, a parish’s stained glass, a hospital leader’s recollections. Organisers have brought in speakers such as Karen Helfenstein, who worked at St Vincent’s Hospital during the crisis, to provide institutional memory. For pilgrims, the practical tip is to wear comfortable shoes and bring a small notebook , you’ll be walking and listening in equal measure.

What to expect on the programme and the mood

The weekend begins with Mass and an opening talk, moves through historical walks and lunchtime conversation, and concludes with Mass on Sunday at St Ignatius. There’s also a regional evening event at St Paul the Apostle with the parish’s “Out at St Paul” ministry, offered as a partnership. The tone is respectful and conversational; people who attended similar Outreach events say there’s lots of space for questions and quiet reflection. If you’re sensitive to strong emotional content, be prepared , hearing about the AIDS years can be moving and at times painful.

Practicalities: price, registration and accessibility

The pilgrimage fee is $250 per person and does not cover accommodation, so budget for lodging in Manhattan. Space is limited and registration closes on Sept 7; to register contact John Consolie at [email protected]. For those who need a gentler pace, reach out ahead , Outreach staff can advise on mobility or scheduling concerns. Finally, if you’re travelling from abroad, consider arriving a day early to recover from jet lag and take in the city calmly.

It's a small change that can make every step of remembrance and solidarity feel more intentional.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: