The Hearts in Search of God Summer Newsletter

Phil McCarthy • July 22, 2024

Welcome to the Summer 2024 Hearts in Search of God project newsletter!

The project has reached an important moment as we prepare for the 2025 Jubilee Year with it’s motto ‘pilgrims of hope’. Pope Francis has written:


Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full.
(Spes non confundit, Bull of Indicition of the 2025 Jubilee) 


I hope the Hearts in Search of God  project will encourage many to walk as pilgrims of hope in 2025. 


Why we walk

I was delighted to be asked to take part in the discussion of pilgrimage on BBC Radio 4’s Beyond Belief programme, alongside members of the Sikh and Hare Krishna faiths. The edition was broadcast on 7th July and can be found on BBC Sounds: Read more


Walking as Pilgrims of Hope Conference 

On 20th May 2024 I chaired a conference to encourage and equip people, especially the young, to undertake group walking pilgrimage to mark the Holy Year. There was input from experts in walking pilgrimages and from dioceses and Catholic organisations. Read more


Hope does not disappoint 

I was delighted to take part in Clifton's Diocesan day to speak about walking as 'pilgrims of hope' during the 2025 Jubilee. I especially recommend Canon Chris Thomas’ talk on Christian hope. Videos of all the presentations can be found through this link: Read more


Pilgrim Ways
There are now GPX files available for routes in all the dioceses of England & Wales, and full walking directions in all dioceses except Plymouth, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury and Hexham & Newcastle. I plan that all dioceses will be complete by the end of September 2024. 

 

Resources
These include resources for group pilgrimage, pilgrim passports and certificates of completion. There is a 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. The latest is by: 

•  TJ Guile, Chairman of the English Catholic History Association, and asks which is more important: the journey or the destination, or is it both combined?

I am grateful to Tim and the others who have contributed their time and expertise which really adds to the resources on the website. 

 

News, Stories & Events
Thanks to all those who have contributed stories over the last few months. Topics include: 

•  Rowan Morton-Gledhill on walking as Pilgrims of Hope in Father Brown’s Footsteps. 

I have also written for Bible Alive on prayer and pilgrimage. 

 

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, especially of any changes to the route. Don’t forget 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, and buen camino! 


Phil McCarthy, Project Lead 

The Let Us Walk Pilgrimage is open for Registration

By Phil McCarthy • July 29, 2026
Let Us Walk is a walking pilgrimage for England & Wales from Maidstone to Southwark, London from October 5th to 9th 2026.

The 16th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage

By Phil McCarthy • July 27, 2026
The 16th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage will be held on Saturday 1st August 2026!

The Hearts in Search of God Summer Newsletter

By Phil McCarthy • July 10, 2026
The Hearts in Search of God project Summer 2026 newsletter is ready to read!

The Way of Mindfulness

By Eddie Gilmore • July 10, 2026
Eddie Gilmore found much to be grateful for on the 'Way of Mindfulness'!

BBC Radio 4 Sunday Programme

By Phil McCarthy • July 9, 2026
I was delighted to be interviewed for the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme about my recent pilgrimage along the Via di Francesco.

Leeds Walsingham Camino

By Rowan Gledhill-Morton • July 7, 2026
This September, a small band of pilgrims from Leeds and Hallam Dioceses will walk England’s longest way to Walsingham: the ‘Leeds Walsingham Way’!

A Franciscan Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Clifton

By Phil McCarthy • June 30, 2026
Join the walking pilgrimages to the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea to celebrate the Year of St Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi and Pope Leo XIV has declared a special Year to commemorate this. More about the Year can be found here . Francis was a pilgrim who undertook significant journeys to Rome, Santiago de Compostela and the Holy Land. He urged that all forms of hostility or conflict be avoided and that a humble and fraternal attitude be shown to those who did not share his faith. He had a great love of creation. Saturday 3rd Ocober 2026 is exactly 800 years since St Francis died, and the day before his feast day. To mark this a walking pilgrimage is planned in the Diocese of Clifton on Saturday 3rd October with two legs: The Bristol leg will start at Clifton Cathedral at 10.30am and end at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea (9 miles) The Clevedon leg will start at the Franciscan church of the Immaculate Conception in Clevedon at 1pm and end at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea (6.4 miles) The two legs will convene at 4.30pm at the church for refreshments and prayer. Those who wish can stay for the 6pm Saturday evening Vigil Mass for the Feast of St Francis. Pilgrims are welcome to register to join for one or other of the legs. Walkers do so at their own risk. Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Pilgrims will be responsible for carrying their own food and drink and for arranging their own transport to the start and finish. Nailsea is well served by trains to Bristol and buses to Bristol and Clevedon. More details about the walks and how to register can be found below. You can also be part of the pilgrimage by praying for the success of the event and for the safety of pilgims. You can find other ideas to mark the day here .

The Bristol to Nailsea Leg

By Phil McCarthy • June 30, 2026
A Pilgrimage to commemorate the Year of St Francis of Assisi Saturday 3rd October 2026

The Clevedon to Nailsea Leg

By Phil McCarthy • June 30, 2026
A Pilgrimage to commemorate the Year of St Francis of Assisi Saturday 3rd October 2026

Walk the Augustine Camino for Mary's Meals!

By Phil McCarthy • June 29, 2026
Charity Pilgrimage for Mary’s Meals – Saturday 5th – Friday 11th September! This popular pilgrimage is returning for a second year. It is great fun and all in the cause of providing school meals for children in poor countries Mary’s Meals UK Charity – Helping to Feed Hungry Children Living in Poverty Worldwide | Mary’s Meals UK . It is a full guided pilgrimage and we are usually accompanied by a Catholic priest so that there is Mass and prayers each day. The costs are inclusive of accommodation, baggage transfers (for one medium sized bag each) and the guide. There are three options, £427 for shared rooms and sleeping on church floors where available, £538 for shared accommodation and £718 for single occupancy. A day by day blog of the last Mary’s Meals charity pilgrimage is available here Walking the Augustine Camino – by Roy Peachey (keep pressing next at the bottom of the page for subsequent days). Contact Andrew at camino@augustinecamino.co.uk for further details.