Font Size: 

Pilgrimage is a universal human movement. The habit of pilgrimage is carried out by humans at all times and places. The tradition of pilgrimage belongs to all mankind, regardless of nation, tribe, race and religion. People perform pilgrimage activities with spiritual motivation. On the other hand, the arrival of people at pilgrimage sites also has an influence on improving the economic welfare of the community. Using the framework of Interpretative phenomenological Analysis, the focus of this research is to explore the experiences of the community around the pilgrimage site of the Jesus face of mercy about the meaning of the pilgrimage in faith development and community welfare. The five respondents interviewed were local residents. Two of them were Muslims and the other three were Catholics. The interviews focused on their impressions of the pilgrimage site, the meaning of pilgrimage activities and the contribution of pilgrimage activities to the economic development of the local community. The research yielded data that the presence of pilgrims made the place more sacred and widely known. They found the meaning that pilgrimage activities in the place helped the community to live in harmony, recognize each other and appreciate diversity.  The existence of a pilgrimage place invites many people from various places so that the economic activities of the community become more developed. The existence of pilgrimage activities has an influence on improving the economic welfare of the community. Pilgrimage activities on the Face of Jesus' Mercy in Bantul contribute both to the deepening of the faith of Catholics and to the development of community welfare.

encounter, faith development, mutual respect, well-being