Journey with Pastor Pam in the spring of 2027 to Assisi, Italy, to explore the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare — two of Christianity's most beloved figures. This is an invitation to step away from the pace of everyday life and immerse yourself in a timeless world of rolling hills, cobblestone streets, and inspirational art, as you discover the wisdom God has placed within you.
Who Were Francis and Clare?
Francis and Clare lived in 13th-century Italy, abandoning wealth and status to follow Christ through radical simplicity, care for the poor, and joyful delight in creation. Though canonized by the Catholic Church, they are universal figures whose witness has renewed the faith of Christians across every tradition for eight hundred years.
About the Trip
Pilgrimage Leaders
Margaret Benefiel
Margaret served as Shalem’s Executive Director from 2015 to 2025. A Quaker minister, she holds a PhD in Spirituality from Catholic University and an M.A. in Theology from Earlham School of Religion. She is a graduate of Shalem’s Nurturing the Call: Spiritual Guidance Program. She is co-director of Heart Longings: An Invitation to the Contemplative Path, and co-leads Shalem’s Assisi pilgrimage, In the Footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare. She has authored or co-edited 7 books, including Soul Food, Crisis Leadership, The Soul of Higher Education, The Soul of Supervision, The Soul of a Leader, Soul at Work, and Hidden in Plain Sight, and has published numerous articles and book chapters.
Chuck McCorkle
Chuck holds a BFA in Fine Arts and an MSW in clinical social work. He is currently a docent at the National Gallery of Art where he leads tours and facilitates virtual programs. He has long felt a strong spiritual connection with art and contemplative practice. Visio Divina, a practice he loves to share, employs art to help us connect to the conversations we already hold in our hearts. In the mid 1980’s, he relinquished his role as a practicing artist to follow a calling to do AIDS work. During those years there were moments when, completely depleted, he was filled with an ineffable love. The writing of Angela of Foligno helped him put those experiences into a larger context. Walking in the footsteps of Francis and Clare these many years continues to offer him lessons in simplicity, faithfulness, and prayer.
Next Steps
Details about the program cost and payment schedule are outlined in the application. Once your application is submitted, Margaret and Chuck will respond promptly and help you arrange for deposits. The tour can handle a maximum of 22 people, and the rooms with the beautiful views are first-come, first-served. They will be assigned in the order that deposits are received.
For More Insights
Our guides, Margaret Benefiel and Chuck McCorkle, and two recent pilgrims held an information session via Zoom on June 3. To view the recorded session, and to see a sample of the itinerary for the trip that was held this year, click below.
June 3 Information Session Recording
NOTE: The recording began slightly after the session started.
