As part of June's National Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, the Catholic Aging Ministry has announced a first-of-its-kind dementia-inclusive pilgrimage this fall aimed at affirming the dignity of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
The Oct. 22-24 pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, is intended to provide spiritual renewal, accompaniment, and hope, while responding to what organizers describe as a growing pastoral need within the Church, according to the ministry’s June 2 press release.
Matthew Estrade, founder of the ministry, said the pilgrimage is intended to help families affected by dementia feel seen, supported, and accompanied within the Church.
“Families affected by dementia often feel invisible, even within the Church,” Estrade said in the release. “This pilgrimage is a way to walk with them — to affirm their dignity and show they are not alone.”
The three-day pilgrimage, sponsored by a leading Catholic tour company, Peter’s Way Tours, will include visits to EWTN Studios, Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, and the Ave Maria Grotto, along with daily Mass and time for prayer.
Estrade said in a YouTube video that participants will have opportunities for fellowship. The Catholic Aging Ministry said it hopes the pilgrimage will serve as a model for similar initiatives nationwide.
Founded in 2019, the Catholic Aging Ministry helps families, clergy, parishes, and dioceses respond to caregiving and dementia through educational resources, workshops, and pastoral accompaniment.