Welcome to the Summer 2026 Hearts in Search of God project newsletter.

Let Us Walk

At the Hearts in Search of God Spring Gathering a proposal was made for a national walking pilgrimage in the week before the Adoremus Eucharistic Celebration in October 2026.  

The pilgrimage will reflect the Year of St Francis of Assisi and will embody his values of joy, simplicity, humility, peace and love of creation. A small group of perpetual pilgrims will walk the full distance, joined by day pilgrims who will register for each day. The route is currently being finalised, but the plan is as follows:

• Monday 5th October 2026: From the Church of St Francis in Maidstone to Aylesford Priory
• Tuesday 6th October 2026: From Aylesford Priory to the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Otford
• Wednesday 7th October 2026: From the Church of the Most Holy Trinity Otford to the Church of St Vincent, Dartford
• Thursday 8th October 2026: From the Church of St Vincent, Dartford to the Church of Our Ladye Star of the Sea, Greenwich
• Friday 9th October 2026: From the Church of Our Ladye Star of the Sea, Greenwich to the Metropolitan Cathedral of St George, Southwark.

More information, details of the day stages and how to register can be found here. 

The Year of St Francis of Assisi

At the Spring Gathering we shared ideas for pilgrimages for peace in this 800^th anniversary year of the death of St Francis. All the ideas as well as a map and database of churches dedicated to St Francis and Franciscan communities can be found here.

In the Diocese of Clifton, we are organising two pilgrim walks to the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea on Saturday 3^rd October, the anniversary of his death and eve of his feast day. Details of the Clifton walk can be found here. Why not organise one in your own diocese or parish?

Events

At the Spring Gathering a proposal was made for a shared walking pilgrimage calendar on www.pilgrimways.org.uk so that people can find events more easily and we can avoid clashes. This can now be found here. Upcoming events include:

• The Pilgrimage for Life to Walsingham: 1st August 2026
• The Arundel & Brighton Ecumenical Pilgrimage: 15^th – 30^th August 2026
• The Latin Mass Society Walsingham Pilgrimage: 27^th – 30^th August 2026
• The Augustine Camino for Mary’s Meals: 5^th – 11^th September 2026
• The Leeds Walsingham Camino: 12^th – 20^th September 2026
• The Augustine Camino with Catholic People’s Weeks: 13^th to 20^th September
• A Pilgrimage to Assisi with Eddie Gilmore: 18^th to 26^th September 2026  
• The Diocese of Clifton Franciscan pilgrimage: 3^rd October 2025
• Let Us Walk national pilgrimage to Adoremus: 5^th to 9^th October 2026

If you are organising a group walking pilgrimage in England & Wales or a related event and would like it to be included, please contact me.

Practical Resources

The practical resources for individual pilgrims and for groups have been extended and improved and can be found here.

Inspiration  

Thanks to all those who have contributed news and stories over the last few months. Topics include:

• Walking to Assisi with L’Arche Grenoble Eddie Gilmore relates the joys of walking in Italy with a group of people with and without learning disability.
• St Cuthbert: his medieval cult and pilgrimage: St Cuthbert is one of England's greatest saints, but who was he? Dr Anne E Bailey tells the story of his life and his posthumous travels.
• The English Camino: Stockport, Ampleforth and Cambridge. Stephen Gallagher describes how three groups of pilgrims set out on foot to Our Lady’s Shrine in Walsingham — sharing hardship, prayer and friendship, and reviving an ancient English tradition.
• Walking the Via di Francesco: on 27^th April I set off with two friends to walk a 322 miles long trail from Florence to Assisi and on to Rome to mark the 800^th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.
• A Musical Pilgrimage along the Augustine Camino: Eddie Gilmore describes how people can be moved by pilgrimage and music and relates is own experiences on the Way of Mindfulness.

The Diocesan Ways

I would be grateful for any feedback you have about the Ways, and especially any route updates and changes. After your pilgrimage remember to download your certificate of completion.

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

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

Wishing you every blessing and joy of Summer as we continue to walk as ‘pilgrims of hope’.

Buen camino!

Phil McCarthy, Project Lead