This reflection on the St John's Way of the Pilgrimage of Hope was given by Anita Tozzi, a perpetual pilgrim, at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on 13th September 2025. A video of all four reflections can be found here.

A Reflection on a Season of Creation

Sunrise at St George’s Cathedral in Southwark, and after Mass we venerate the relic of St George before setting off on our pilgrimage to Nottingham.

As we pass through London, we stop at Tyburn Convent and then the Willesden Shrine where we are hosted by the lovely ladies of Harlesden.

Hedgerows bursting with luscious fruits as we pass on from Willesden on the canal. Canal walks with beautiful barges drifting by with subtle messages. One is called ‘Finally Here’. More wonderful hospitality at St Gregory’s, Ruislip.

As we reach Rickmansworth, we experience the sheer joy of a hot shower and a camp bed. Branching out into Bedfordshire, the morning prayer is accompanied by ‘Morning Has Broken’. Blue skies beam down on us once again as we are accompanied by flying kites on our way into Leighton Buzzard.

The canal becomes wider as we pass through the cathedral of trees reaching Newport Pagnell. Fields of golden sunflowers as we reach Northampton, and then further north fields of grain and wheat as we stretch into Rutland’s rolling countryside.

Greeted by cows, sheep and horses, we are drenched as we slide through soggy fields. God’s creation is everywhere, even in the muck-spreading!

We are rewarded with a stay at the Shepherds’ Huts in Belton in Rutland. God provides a refuge for all at the end of a long day.

Then onto Melton Mowbray and we are hosted by parishioners from St Francis’ Convent – the chapel windows display 800 years of the Canticle of Creation – Brother Sun and Sister Moon.

We pass on through the village of Willoughby on the Wold and into Keyworth where we are again treated to more kind hospitality from parishioners. And then our final leg into Nottingham, accompanied by Bishop Patrick.

God’s creation is evident in the beautiful places we’ve travelled through, the kindness of strangers and the warm welcome we’ve received everywhere.

Laudato Si: Praised be to God for a wonderful pilgrimage and for all the beautiful people we’ve met on the way. Friends for life and memories that I will cherish for ever. Laudato Si O Mi Signore.

Anita Tozzi 

Photos © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

More about the St John's Way route can be found below.