Are You Lost Yet?

Joe Northam • September 17, 2025

“ARE YOU LOST YET?” asked the foot high letters painted under Spaghetti Junction.


If you pass this way often you might be aware of a space underneath one of the bridges, on which unknown hands have painted this message. Until recently it read “Winning is for Losers” but today’s message was amusingly relevant to us as Perpetual Pilgrims on the St Matthew’s Way. We were not lost, but anxiety about losing both ourselves and the day pilgrims is something most of us have expressed at some point. Leading others is a responsibility, and the fear of leading people astray, who have put their trust in you, is understandable. The reason we haven’t had any serious wanderings from our path is simple; each day there is a group leader, but one of us is also a backmarker. This person checks that we don’t leave anyone behind and also makes sure we are following the map. Occasionally, if the leader is confused, they might consult with the backmarker or with Phil, who is always keeping an eye on the route he has planned. So, disaster has been averted even when I, at one point, set off confidently in the wrong direction. Working together, acknowledging our weaknesses and using our skills to the benefit of the group has been the key. 


There is something frightening about getting lost, but for me there is also an appeal about being far off the beaten track yet finding a way. There have been several points along our journey when we have felt miles from anywhere and our reliance on each other, and on God, has been palpable. Being lost enough to feel vulnerable and to know our need of God is part of the Christian experience. Most of us have had moments when we have been completely ‘at sea’. At its best the Church is the vessel into which we are scooped up in our confusion. However, an unmanned boat is hardly going to help a person who is struggling in the water. Without a person reaching out a hand, throwing a lifeline, calling encouragement, a boat would be more of a hindrance than a help. This is where we come in. In our parish communities and in our daily lives we are uniquely placed to encounter those who are trying to find their way home. We may not always recognize or feel equal to these opportunities, but the Holy Spirit is just waiting to be invited to change that. 


Our personal experiences of being ‘lost’ are vital to how God can reach others through us. Our doubts, disappointments and shameful mistakes often weigh heavily on us, but through the forgiveness and healing of Christ they become the means by which we can understand and help others. Healing moves us from dragging these ‘crosses’ around, to accepting that they are our history, and a history from which we can unearth great treasure. They teach us humility and reliance on God. This can help us to support others who may seem beyond help: “Evangelisation is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread” D T Niles said. So, when we next find ourselves taking a wrong turn and feeling a fool, perhaps we need to open ourselves to learning from the experience, accepting the help of others and embracing the mercy of God. His power is made perfect in our weakness after all!


Appropriately, D T Niles also wrote these words, which speak of the experience of pilgrimage and the lessons it has taught me:


“HURRY means that we gather impressions but have no experiences, that we collect acquaintances but make no friends, that we attend meetings but experience no encounter. We must recover eternity if we are to find time, and eternity is what Jesus came to restore. For without it, there can be no charity.”


Joe Northam is a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Gregory the Great, Bearwood, Birmingham. This article was first published on the website of the Archdiocese of Birmingham

The Grace of Pilgrimage

By Anna Larkin • September 17, 2025
This reflection on the St Mark's Way was given by Anna Larkin, a perpetual pilgrim, at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on 13th September 2025.

To Walk Takes Courage

By Joe Northam • September 17, 2025
Joe Northam decribes her experience of the first six days walking along the St Matthew's Way, the western Pilgrimage of Hope route to Nottingham.
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Pilgrimage of Hope Podcast

By Phil McCarthy • September 17, 2025
In this special edition of the All Knds of Catholic podcast Theresa Alessandro speaks with pilgrims walking the Pilgrimage of Hope.

Food for the Body; Food for the Soul

By Eddie Gilmore • September 17, 2025
They say that an army marches on its stomach. Eddie Gilmore thinks the same must be true of pilgrims!
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England

In Search of the 'Apostle to England'

By Mario Mancini • September 16, 2025
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England, came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England'!

St Luke's Way (East) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview St Luke's Way starts at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, leaving the city along the Marriotts Way, crossing the River Wensum towards Cawston, then taking the Pilgrim Cross route to Walsingham along country lanes to the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles. From Walsingham the Way follows tracks and lanes to Dersingham and then crosses the Sandringham estate to King's Lynn. The Way continues alongside the Great Ouse to Wisbech, then across fenland to Spalding and Bourne. The Way uses roads and footpaths to navigate the rolling countryside of Kesteven to Grantham, then follows the Grantham canal near Belvoir Castle across farmland to Bingham, joining the Trent Valley Way at Radcliffe, to arrive at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 155.4 miles Ascent: 1,883 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below).

St John's Way (South) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 169.4 miles Ascent: 4,669 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below)

St Matthew's Way (West) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St Matthew's Way The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess. According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May. Overview: The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the Wychavon Way and John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove Spa. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way , at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas. Essential facts: Route length: 210.2 miles Ascent: 10,955 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download button below).

St Mark's Way (North) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Leeds Cathedral to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. Patron: St Hilda of Whitby (c. 614 – 680) abbess and key figure in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Hilda founded and was the first abbess of the monastery at Whitby which was the venue for the Synod of Whitby in 664. She was widely recognised for her wisdom and learning and trained five bishops. Her feast is celebrated on 17th November. Overview: The Way starts at Leeds Cathedral and follows the Transpennine Trail (TPT) SE beside the Aire & Calder Navigation to Woodlesford. Here the path veers SW to re-join the TPT along a disused railway line and then the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way follows the TPT again beside the former Barnsley Canal and then along a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW along the Barnsley Boundary Walk to Elsecar, and then across farmland to briefly join the Old Salt Rd, beside the A629. The Way soon joins the Sheffield Country Walk and follows this beside the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. From here the Way joins the Padley Martyrs Way , leaving the city through Endcliffe Park and then climbing Houndkirk Moor to arrive at the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path then follows the River Derwent to Matlock. The Way leaves the Derwent at Ambergate and turns east, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley where the Way veers E to Kingsbury and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 105.9 miles Ascent 3,750 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below).

The National Pilgrimage of Hope is starting!

By Joe Northam • August 27, 2025
Joe Northam explains how she came to be involved in the Pilgrimage of Hope. She is walking the St Matthew's Way from Cardiff to Nottingham. When I heard about the Pilgrimage of Hope, a walking Pilgrimage which will mark England and Wales with the sign of the cross, I really wanted to get involved. At that time, I didn’t imagine that I would end up being a perpetual pilgrim walking (nearly) all 210 miles of the Western route. I offered to help recce the planned route. I love walking and I was looking for an opportunity to spend time alone with God, and checking the route seemed to bring those things together. However, as soon as I met with Phil, who has planned the Pilgrimage , and voiced my enthusiasm for the project I felt that, perhaps, I could do more. I just needed a bit of flexibility to accommodate the needs of my family, and being assured of that I began to discuss with my husband just how involved I could get! The first of my preparatory walks along the route began from my neighbouring parish in Harborne back in December 2024. Nine months later we prepare to embark from Cardiff. The journey ahead feels just daunting enough that we know that God needs to lead us. By we, I mean both the team of perpetual pilgrims - Phil, Faith, Jim, Dave, Catherine and myself - and the many day pilgrims who will join us for part of the way. Our ‘ St Matthew’s Way ’ takes us from the coastal paths of Wales, through the Wye Valley and across the Malvern Hills to Worcester. Then to Birmingham and from there to Lichfield and along the canals to Nottingham. It will be beautiful, varied and deeply ingrained with Christian heritage. When we met in London in May, we as a team shared our desire to meet God on the journey, not just in the glorious cathedrals and the splendour of nature, but in other people. For myself the opportunity of spending two weeks in community with the perpetual pilgrims is a challenge and a privilege. I began my Catholic life as a part of a youth community in the Nottingham Diocese and I know that the formation and growth of a shared life is not like anything else. Each day pilgrim will become a part of this sharing, bringing a unique life experience. Some may bring a testimony of God’s call on their life, others may arrive simply interested by the concept of pilgrimage and unaware of the hand of God in their life. My prayer is that each of us finishes our journey more hopeful than we began. Something I learned at the start of this liturgical year, this year of Jubilee , is that hope is a theological virtue. My understanding is that this means that it is a ‘supernatural’ virtue rather than a ‘natural’ one, something imparted by God, rather than something we attain by a muscular effort. So when we feel hopeless, it seems to me, all that we can do is to create the conditions in which God can give us his gift. For me, openness to God never seems more possible than when I am walking. A combination of being in wild spaces, knowing that I am part of the creation and the rhythm of walking, putting one foot in front of the other strips away what distracts me like so much dross. At the start of this Jubilee Year Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to consider undertaking a pilgrimage. For me there is something special about making a pilgrimage on foot but for some people that will not be possible. However, the intentional following of God to a place of prayer is something which is open to everyone. May our encounters with him on the way give us hope and allow us to bring hope to others. Joe Northam is a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Gregory the Great, Bearwood, Birmingham. This blog was first published on the website of the Archdiocese of Birmingham . In the Archdiocese of Birmingham the Pilgrimage will include visits to St Joseph, Malvern; St George, Worcester; St Peter, Bromsgrove; St Mary, Harborne; Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield; Holy Cross, Lichfield and SS Mary & Modwen, Burton on Trent (between Thursday 4 and Thursday 11 September). Please pray for all those taking part.