In this article, first published in Bible Alive, Phil McCarthy shares some thoughts on becoming a pilgrim of prayer.

A Pilgrim Way for the Diocese of Menevia from the Cathedral of St Joseph in Swansea to St Anthony’s Well in Llansteffan. NB the route involves a summer only ferry crossing. St Anthony of Egypt (c251 - 356), was a Christian hermit who a powerful influence on the Celtic Church. According to local tradition a Welsh hermit, Antwn (Anthony), who had taken the name of the Egyptian hermit, settled near Llansteffan in the C6. The Way leaves Swansea heading north along the New Cut to reach the Shrine of Divine Mercy at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Morriston. The Way heads west to join and follow a disused railway line to reach the Wales Coast Path. The path reaches the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace at Llanelli and then the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea at Burry Port. The route passes Pembry Forest to reach the Church of Our Lady & St Cadoc at Kidwelly, and then continues along the coast to reach Ferryside where the River Towey is crossed by ferry.  St Anthony's Well is a short walk south of the village of Llansteffan.

This Sacred Land Pilgrimage Walk: Walk together. Talk together. Join us on the St Alban’s Way pilgrimage walk between St Paul’s and St Albans cathedrals over the course of five days. From Sunday 16th to Thursday 20th June, students of the School of Philosophy will be walking the St Alban’s Way, a 35 mile pilgrimage walk in five stages from London to St Albans. The walk takes in stunning parks, waterways and views and allows for reflections along the way, inspired by the life of Alban, Britain’s first saint and martyr. All are welcome to join us for one or more stages - representatives of other charities and non-profit organisations from in and around St Albans are especially invited. No charge. Let's walk together. Let's talk together. And maybe we'll discover for ourselves the amazing power of pilgrimage to transform our lives and our world. Read more here: https://schoolofphilosophystalbans.org/about-us/this-sacred-land-pilgrimage-walk 

What if representatives of different groups and communities in our city and county came together for an afternoon in a spirit of pilgrimage? What would be the result? What could they co-create? Might they find new ways of working together to make the world a better place? To put these questions to the test, we welcome back to St Albans the renowned environmentalist, religious historian, author and broadcaster, Martin Palmer. You’ll find Martin’s fascinating talk and subsequent discussion will help you explore: ● Reconnecting - the need to reconnect with this ‘sacred land’ if we’re to avert ecological and public health crises ● Pilgrimage - its value in today’s world; managing ecological footprints; living consciously - our own lives as a kind of pilgrimage ● ‘Walking together’ - networking and discussion, supporting one another in our efforts for a more compassionate, just and sustainable future This event is for YOU. Here’s why you must come! ● This is an event you won’t want to miss! Our speaker has deep, multi-decade experience as an environmentalist, and has worked with numerous faith groups around the world. His experience will inspire you to take your next step. ● Third sector, charity and volunteering organisations; education, local government and healthcare sectors; local businesses and individuals with a strong social purpose - if you like the idea of meeting, sharing ideas and working with others to make the world a better place, please join us! Only £10 Book now on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pilgrimage-seminar-tickets-902958381827 ● Two-for-one offer until 31 May ● Ongoing reductions for groups of two or more Organised by the School of Philosophy, St Albans. All proceeds go towards covering the costs of this not-for-profit event.

Rowan Morton-Gledhill describes the first pilgrimage for vocations in the Diocese of Leeds, in the footsteps of GK Chesterton and Fr Brown!

Gerard Bonner describes the first pilgrimage along the Three Altars Way in the Diocese of Hallam.

In this blog, originally published on the website of Together for the Common Good, Phil McCarthy argues for the importance of open church doors.

You are invited to join a pilgrimage taster day walk in Sussex for young people organised by the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage. NB This is not an event for existing A&B walking pilgrims. Rather we want existing pilgrims to encourage a younger generation to take part. The details are as follows: Walk for Young People aged 16 plus Saturday 25th May 2024 Start and finish at St Wilfred's Church, South Rd, Hailsham, BN27 3JG 09.30 Registration 10.00 Start walk 12.30 Prayers/lunch St Pancras, Arlington 14.00 Michelham Priory 16.00 Arrive St Wilfred’s Church Hall 16.30 Prayers and depart Please bring a packed lunch and wear suitable clothes and footwear. For more info email garyobrien4@yahoo.co.u

The Holywell Way is a Pilgrim Way for the Diocese of Wrexham from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows in Wrexham to the National Shrine of St Winefride at Holywell. St Winefride’s Well is believed to be the only British shrine that has a history of uninterrupted pilgrimage from the Middle Ages to the present day. The Way is north from the Cathedral to join the Wat's Dyke Way which then passes through a valley beside the River Alyn to the villages of Caergwrle and Hope. After 10 miles the Pilgrim Way diverges from the Wat's Dyke Way to visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Buckley, re-joining the Wat’s Dyke Way just over a mile after this. On leaving the village of Sychdyn the Wat's Dyke Way diverts from the line of the Dyke to take in a Celtic hill fort at Rhosesmor. The Pilgrim Way takes a more direct route, but the two paths coincide again shortly before crossing the A55 North Wales Expressway. After this the path follows an impressive section of the Dyke. The Way ends at the Shrine of St Winefride in Holywell, but pilgrims may wish to walk on to Basingwerk Abbey, the ruins of a C12 Cistercian monastery (1.0 miles). This is the start of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way.