Exploring Changing Meanings of Pilgrimage at 2025 Annual Symposium for Pilgrimage Studies
Exploring Changing Meanings of Pilgrimage at 2025 Annual Symposium for Pilgrimage Studies
by Donna Looney | Norfolk, VA
In November I once again had the pleasure of devoting an entire weekend to the thoughtful, inspirational, and challenging exploration of the vast subject of pilgrimage. The Annual Symposium for Pilgrimage Studies is held each autumn, this time on November 7-8. The symposium is organized by the College of William & Mary’s Institute for Pilgrimage Studies and held on the William & Mary campus in Williamsburg, VA.
The institute’s mission, in part, is to explore the many layers, definitions, and facets of pilgrimage, and the symposium is their annual capstone event. The symposium brings together “international scholars and practitioners to disseminate cutting-edge research that transcends disciplinary boundaries.” Participants come from fields as varied as religious studies, art history and music, psychology and philosophy, medieval history and linguistics. They “examine pedagogical approaches to incorporate pilgrimage studies into university curricula” and share current research projects and unique pilgrimages all focused on the annual theme.
The 2025 symposium theme was “Changing Meanings of Pilgrimage: Contested Definitions, Competing Perspectives.” It was two days full of a variety of scholarly papers focusing on the varied meanings of pilgrimage. While the symposium is designed for scholars and scholarly work, it welcomes anyone interested in world pilgrimage, religious tourism, and travel for transformation. Although a packed schedule, there was time to make new friends and reacquaint with old friends, including many members of American Pilgrims on the Camino. There was plenty of coffee and snacks, great lunches, a fabulous welcome reception, and closing banquet. We were well fed physically, mentally, and spiritually!
Concurrent sessions allowed exploration of sub-themes with similar topics grouped into panels. The challenge was choosing which intriguing sessions to attend. Here is a small sample of the wide-ranging topics:
- Pilgrimage Experiences as Shaped by and Shaping Politics
- Revisiting Creative Works and Pilgrimage
- Layering Sacred Sites
- Camino Layers
Dr. Edward Wright-Rios was a featured speaker who presented a fascinating talk, “Devotion in Motion: Dynamic Tradition and Lived Religion,” about pilgrimage in modern Mexico to the shrine in Oaxaca. Prior to the closing banquet, students delivered creative presentations and faculty announced the winners of the institute’s Research Fellowships in Pilgrimage Studies. Unfortunately, weather forced the cancellation of Sunday morning’s planned walking workshop around the campus. Perhaps next year!
A solid representation of American Pilgrims on the Camino members attended the symposium, more than in previous years. It was a veritable pilgrim gathering! American Pilgrims attendees included Joe Curro, then-board chair; George Greenia, Institute for Pilgrimage Studies founder; several chapter coordinators and trained hospitaleros; and authors and scholars Anne Born, Lynn Talbot and Maryjane Dunn. We enjoyed our time together, time spent expanding our understanding of pilgrimage, and sharing the story of American Pilgrims to many unaware of our organization. We gathered, along with many of the presenting scholars, at a delightful Sunday brunch once again generously hosted by American Pilgrims then-board member Tom Coleman and his wife, Tricia.
Interested in deepening your understanding of pilgrimage? The next symposium is being planned for early November 2026. Watch the Institute for Pilgrimage Studies website for schedule announcement, registration information, draft program, and call for papers.
