The idea of a pilgrimage is rooted in the bible as the Jews who has dispersed all over the known world were required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year to attend the three major festivals in the Jewish yearly worship. Pilgrimage therefore to a major religious site is a spiritual journey of renewal.

These three major festivals were the feast of Passover, the feast of weeks (Pentecost) and the feast of Shelters. The Acts of the apostles teaches us that at the feast of Pentecost, there were pilgrims from all over the known world which included both Jews and converts to Judaism from the gentile world.

The pilgrimage journey from Bristol to Glastonbury only takes about two or three days. I couldn’t find a group going from Bristol, but I did link up with a group from the Catholic Church in Wells for the final 6 miles of the journey to Glastonbury arriving on the Sunday for a feast in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

There were several hundred people there from all over the Diocese where we met to celebrate mass together. The gospel reading of the day, from Mark, was about how Jesus sent out his disciples with staff in hand on a spiritual journey to teach the Good News and to trust in the Providence of God to meet our needs.

My experience on the day was encouraging when the pilgrims from Wells shared their food and drink with me so I did not lack anything.

Pilgrimage therefore is an offering to God and an experience of sharing which grows community within the Church.

Andrew Kieran, parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood, Bristol

Photos below from the 2023 walking pilgrimage to Glastonbury