A Pilgrimage for Peace Through Justice

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A Pilgrimage for Peace Through Justice

David Richardson • October 6, 2023

On Tuesday, 5th September, Faith Justice, who are members of the Passionist community, along with other faith denominations, embarked on a six-day Peace Pilgrimage from Oxford to the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair in London.

The pilgrims relied on the generosity of others to feed and house them during their pilgrimage. Upon reaching the arms fair, they participated in a candlelit vigil with other peace protesters to protest against the DSEi arms fair and promote peace.

Oxford, with its rich spiritual past reaching back to the Middle Ages, was an appropriate starting point to begin the pilgrimage. From Oxford, the pilgrims were treated to a picturesque walk through the idyllic English countryside. The journey took them through serene fields, quaint villages, ancient woodlands, and alongside the river Thames. The route, which is a mix of ancient pathways and modern footpaths, offered them stunning landscapes and made for a rewarding start to the pilgrimage.

Every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the pilgrimage, they walked silently, on a journey of self-discovery, reflection and quiet contemplation. The act of walking, combined with the intentional nature of a pilgrimage, provided the perfect setting for personal contemplation, which concluded with them praying Mother Teresa's Peace Prayer.

As the pilgrims walked from High Wycombe. The journey took them through suburban areas before transitioning into a more rural terrain of, tree-lined country roads, footpaths, and bridleways that wind through the rolling Chiltern Hills. The walking was tiring due to the hot weather, with a mixture of inclines and uneven ground. Regular breaks were welcomed with lots of water to quench their thirst, it was here where they learned the power of perseverance, self-care and mindfulness.

After a long walk, they stopped at the Royal Standard of England pub for refreshments. The pub was established in 1213 and is now considered a historic landmark and a symbol of British heritage. Set amidst charming landscapes, the pub whispered tales of the past and provided our weary travellers with a much-needed break.

After lunch, they proceeded on their journey, which included a stop at Jordan's Quaker Meeting House, accessed by a small winding road and sitting among ancient woodland in Beaconsfield. The Meeting House was constructed in just three months during the autumn of 1688, one of the earliest Quaker Meeting House built after James II issued his Declaration of Indulgence in 1687. This declaration allowed Quakers and other non-conformist groups to worship legally for the first time. The Meeting House holds great historical significance as it is the final resting place of the Quaker William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

During their time at the Meeting House, they had the opportunity for physical and spiritual refreshment. They were invited to sit in meditative silence in the original meeting hall, with its oak beams and centuries-old tiled floor. The plain wooden seats they occupied were the same ones that had been used by many others before them, each with their own story to tell.

On Thursday evening, the pilgrims' journey concluded for the day at the Catholic Worker Farm, which was birthed from the Catholic Worker movement. The property spans two acres of land in idyllic countryside, with a large grassed garden to the rear, which on a hot day is soothed by the cool lapping waters of the large lake that adjoins it. The hospitality shown to our pilgrims was, attentive, generous and welcoming, with the peace and charm of the farm enshrouding.

The Catholic Worker Farm has provided shelter for vulnerable women and children since it opened in August 2006. Over 600 women have been accommodated. The women have faced difficult circumstances, including torture, rape and the loss of loved ones. More often than not, these women and their children's experiences, either directly or indirectly, are a result of war. It is here that they are offered free accommodation, food, English classes, counselling, and other vital services. The Catholic Worker Farm relies on generous donations from others to operate, more can be found on their website.

As the pilgrimage progressed on their journey, a transformation unfolded. The horizon gradually traded its wild contours for the rigid, orderly lines of urban architecture. The earth beneath them gave way to the unyielding embrace of tarmac pavements, busy with people going about their business, and the pilgrims weaving between them. The scent of damp earth and vegetation was replaced by a mix of city aromas: exhaust, fast food, and the indefinable energy of London life.

As the pilgrims passed through London, they stopped at the headquarters of several arms companies based in the city of London to offer prayers of peace.

On Monday evening, the pilgrimage concluded outside the gates of the DSEI arms fair. About 170 peacemakers of various faiths and denominations attended the vigil.

The peaceful demonstration of unity was evident as the peacemakers held candles and embraced the silence. In this setting, words were not necessary for the peacemakers to convey their intentions. Instead, their presence and collective energy spoke volumes. It was a time of reflection and connection with their God. Through this simple act of sitting in silence, there was hope.

Satish Kumar, an Indian-British activist, speaker, author, and pilgrim, completed a peace pilgrimage of over 8,000 miles. In the inaugural Peace Pilgrimage Podcast, he reminded us that with a world population of over 7 billion people, there are also 7 billion unique paths to becoming catalysts for positive change. For our pilgrims, it was walking the Peace Pilgrimage. What is it for you?

Throughout the peace pilgrimage, regular podcasts were made with prominent guest speakers who spoke on various subjects, including pilgrimage, global warming, the environment, arms trade and the inspiring story about the Catholic Worker Farm. These podcasts can be found through the following link. The Peace Pilgrimage was sponsored by the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.

David Richardson, Peace through Justice Worker for the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.

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New St Matthew's Way (West)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 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 John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove. 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: 215.6 miles Ascent: 11,178 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft Average walk day length: 14.5 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025 Number of walking days: 14.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. See the route below.

New St Mark's Way (North)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Leeds to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the 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 Mickletown. Here the path veers SW to continue on 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 Elscar, 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 E, 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: 107.6 miles Ascent 3,615 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft Average walk day length: 13.5 miles Average walk duration: 5-6 hours First walking day Sat 6 September 2025 Number of walking days: 8 Number of rest days: 0 Last walking day: Saturday 13 September: arrival at St Barnabas' Cathedral Nottingham for evening prayer and social celebration Sunday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: pilgrims are invited to join the 11.15 Solemn Mass at St Barnabas' Cathedral Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St Luke's Way (East)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 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 The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 158.7 miles Ascent: 1,886 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) Average walk day length: 15.8 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025 Number of walking days: 10 Number of rest days: 1 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St John's Way (South)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 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: 173.3 miles Ascent: 4,931 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft Average walk day length: 14.9 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours Number of walking days: 11.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 Start date: Monday 1st September at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.