Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope
Durham’s story. Your story. God’s story.
About the pilgrimage
The Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope is an opportunity to discover how your spiritual journey is connected to the place you live – Durham, NC. Through the pilgrimage you will immerse yourself in the story of the city and the Biblical story as you reflect with others on what it means for how you live your life in Durham. Join us for this transformative experience connecting Durham’s story, your story and God’s story.
The Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope is a partnership between DurhamCares and the Duke Center for Reconciliation.

testimonials
Main Components
1. Weekend Immersion
A weekend where participants visit sites and hear from key leaders in Durham, learning its story. There is time for reflection and prompting to engage with challenging questions about history, identity, and community. Meals will be provided.
2. Pilgrim Journey Discussions
Participants will gather for two meetings before the weekend immersion to prepare for the immersion. It will be followed by three meetings for reflection. These will be lunch meetings unless the majority of the group would prefer a different time.
3. Pilgrimage Alumni Network
Pilgrimage is more than a one-time experience – it is a way of life. That’s why we help pilgrimage alumni stay connected through a communication network and gatherings throughout the year.
4. Pilgrim Life Events
The values that are learned through the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope continue to be cultivated through smaller events that help connect Durham’s story, your story and God’s story. See the announcements section and our events page for upcoming Pilgrim Life Events.
The cost of the Weekend Immersion and Pilgrim Journey Discussions is $100, which includes 11 total meals, speakers, and admission to each of the sites. Scholarships are available so that the cost will not be prohibitive. There are 20 spots available, and we will notify registrants if they are selected.
Announcements
We are scheduling all our custom pilgrimages for 2019 before December. If your group would like us to organize a Pilgrimage for you, contact Reynolds Chapman at [email protected].
DurhamCares Executive Director Reynolds Chapman writes about pilgrimage in the Church Health Reader. Read reflections from two pilgrimage participants here.
DurhamCares board chair writes about pilgrimage in Faith and Leadership.
DurhamCares can organize a custom pilgrimage for your
church, organization, or any group
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED
sample pilgrimage itinerary
(taken from october pilgrimage)
Friday
Afternoon/Evening
3:00-4:00pm
Meet at Stagville Plantation to prepare for the Pilgrimage Weekend
4:00-5:30 pm
John Blackfeather Jeffries on Native American history in Durham
5:30-7:00 pm
Stagville Historical Tour
7:00-8:30 pm
Dinner at Stagville with guided reflection
Saturday
Morning
8:45 am-12:00 pm
Meet at ReCity for guided walking pilgrimage of downtown Durham
- Parrish Street
- Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Durham History Hub
- Duke Memorial United Methodist Church
- Pauli Murray Mural
- Former Woolworths/One City Center
- NC Mutual Life Insurance Company
- Carolina Theater Exhibit
Saturday
Afternoon
12:00-12:45 pm
Lunch at ReCity
12:45-1:45 pm
Personal Reflection time at ReCity and Central Park
1:45-3:00 pm
Virginia Williams, participant in the 1957 Royal Ice Cream Sit-In
3:00-5:30 pm
Break
Saturday
Evening
5:30-7:30 pm
Hayti Heritage Center with Skeepie Scarborough
Sunday
7:30 am
Worship at Union Baptist Church
9:30 am
Guided reflection at ReCity
12:00 pm
Lunch and presentation at Latino Community Credit Union
2:00-2:30 pm
Break
2:30-4:00 pm
Durham Then, Durham Now Panel at Nehemiah Christian Center