Dear friend

Welcome to the Advent 2023 Hearts in Search of God Project newsletter. I was enchanted by the bus shelter Nativity scene above, near the Northampton Pilgrim Way when I walked it last year! 

The first year of this three-year project to promote walking pilgrimage in England & Wales is complete. I am grateful to the Sisters of the Holy Cross for their continued support for the Project over the coming year, and to CAFOD for their collaboration. 2024 will be a year of preparation for the Holy Year of 2025 with its motto 'Pilgrims of Hope'. I am planning an onsite and online conference to encourage people to undertake walking pilgrimage to mark the Holy Year. More news soon!

Pilgrim Ways

There are now GPX files available for routes in all the dioceses of England & Wales and full walking directions in the dioceses of Arundel & Brighton, Birmingham, Brentwood, Cardiff, Clifton, Hallam, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Southwark and Westminster. The Cornish Celtic Catholic Way has been contributed by Frans Vossenberg and family from the USA. The Pilgrim Way for the Diocese of East Anglia will be the next to be published.

Resources

These include resources for group pilgrimage, pilgrim passports and certificates of completion. There is a new webpage for people who would like to add to the significance of their pilgrimage by raising money to help others.

Going deeper

Articles on the 'Going Deeper' webpages provide context and expert background to pilgrimage. Over the last few months the following contributions have been published:

• Fleur Dorrell, the Catholic Scripture Engagement Manager for the Catholic Bishops' Conference and Bible Society has written an article on what makes a religious journey
• Professor John Eade has written an article about the thought of anthropologists Victor & Edith Turner and pilgrimage as 'communitas'
• Fr Andre Brouillette SJ has written a piece on the theology of pilgrimage

I am grateful for these experts for the gift of their time and expertise which really adds to the resources on the website.

News, Stories & Events

I am grateful to all those who have contributed stories over the last few months. Topics include:

• Artist Liz Garnet on what makes a creative pilgrimage
• Therese & Patrick Cawley describe walking the Way of Our Lady of Guadalupe how a hymn composed in Olney brought back memories
• American pilgrim Frans A Vossenberg writes on reclaiming the religious heart of Britain
• Author Leigh Hatts describes the inspiration for his book on the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury
• David Richardson, Peace through Justice Worker for the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, describes a recent pilgrimage for peace to protest an arms fair in London
• Writer Andy Bull describes an autumn day pilgrimage from Arundel and his project to rediscover pilgrimages to Walsingham
• Retired headteacher Martin Rainsford walked the Westminster Way and reflects on the universality of the Church and how art serves its mission
• Academic Anne E. Bailey recounts the extraordinary life of medieval pilgrim Margery Kempe
• Therese Cawley on how the Padley Martyrs Way reminded her of those who have gone before marked with the sign of faith
• John Ashdown on a group pilgrimage on the Cornish Saints Way

I have also written on pilgrimage during the 2025 Jubilee, with its motto 'Pilgrims of Hope', on the life of Blessed Cyprian Tansi and on shrines as places of consolation.

Feedback on the Ways

I would be grateful for any feedback you have about the proposed Ways, and to hear of your experience of walking them. Don't forget to download your pilgrim passport before you set off and your certificate of completion when you come home. 

If you have a story or a pilgrim resource to share, please contact me through the website.

Please share this newsletter with people who may be interested. I hope you enjoy the website, designed by the wonderful team at Everyday Christian Marketing.

Wishing you every Advent blessing and a merry Christmas when it arrives. 

Phil McCarthy, Project Lead