R.I.S.E. Attends Sacred Journeys Network Conference 2026

R.I.S.E. attended the Sacred Journeys Network’s 13th annual conference in Quebec City, Canada. The conference, hosted at Laval University in Quebec City, welcomed attendees from around the globe, including professors, academics, teachers, clergy, and artists. Sayyid Sameer Ali presented a paper titled “Liminal Healing: Mental Wellness, Meaning-Making, and Narrative in the Arba’een Pilgrimage.” This paper focused on exploring the liminal space for believers in North America as they prepare for the walking pilgrimage or ziyarah during the days of Arba’een from Najaf to Karbala. The presentation included a history of the tragedy of Karbala, the suffering of Imam al-Husayn (p) and his family and companions, the sacred ritual of ziyarah, and the psycho-social and spiritual elements of the ziyarah experience for Muslims visiting from North America. A total of 70 presenters from various institutions and disciplines attended the conference. 

The conference included presentations from a variety of professionals on topics including pilgrimage, sacred space, faith and modernity,  belief, art, and spiritual wellness. Sayyid Sameer engaged with practitioners from other faith traditions and disciplines and attended various presentations, representing the Shia Muslim faith tradition. The conference aimed to bridge historical traditions with modern global realities. By engaging in these interdisciplinary discussions on sacred geographies and spiritual resilience, attendees gained unique insights into how identity, community connection, and healing intersect with faith-based journeys and pilgrimages. This immersive experience directly strengthened the collective capacity for culturally responsive advocacy and provided fresh, innovative perspectives to better support and enrich our community networks and represent our faith.