I feel/felt that the pilgrimage I had recently attended was the time for me...

[kohyoongliat]

I feel/felt that the pilgrimage I had recently attended was the time for me to strengthen my faith and exert myself in the propagation of the religion.

Is the sentence natural? And which bold word should I use?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

I feel/felt that the pilgrimage I had recently attended was the time for me to strengthen my faith and exert myself in the propagation of the religion.

Is the sentence natural? And which bold word should I use?

Thanks.

"Felt" because it precedes "I had recently attended".

I feel that the pilgrimage I recently attended ...
I feel that the pilgrimage I have recently attended ...
I felt that the pilgrimage I had recently attended ...

 

[Tdol]

exert myself in the propagation of the religion

This doesn't sound very natural to me. How about something like make greater efforts to spread my religion?

 

[Rover_KE]

I'd be more likely to make or go on a pilgrimage rather than attend one.