The Winter Hearts in Search of God Newsletter

Phil McCarthy • February 19, 2025

Dear Friend

 

Welcome to the Winter 2025 Hearts in Search of God Project newsletter.

 

The 2025 Jubilee

In the Catholic Church, Jubilees or Holy Years are special years of grace, forgiveness and reconciliation. The first was declared by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300. The 2025 Jubilee marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. It has especial significance in England & Wales as it also commemorates 175 years since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy after the penal centuries that followed the English Reformation. The Jubilee has the theme 'pilgrims of hope' and the logo shows people coming from the four corners of the earth in solidarity. 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 Indiction of the 2025 Jubilee, p5)

 

The Pilgrimage of Hope

One way to ‘experience the Jubilee to the full’ is by joining the Pilgrimage of Hope, a national walking pilgrimage with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, for shared prayer and celebration. The Pilgrimage will culminate with Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. The Pilgrimage will embody the values of the Sisters of the Holy Cross of compassion, faith, prayer and community.

 

The four main Ways start at the Catholic cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London, and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross and with the Gospels. The routes use established hiking routes and are off road as much as possible. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, and day pilgrims will be able to join for stages. Stretches which are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies will be identified. There will be opportunities for non-walkers to provide enroute support, hospitality and prayer. There are also possible feeder routes to the four main Ways from all the other Catholic cathedrals of England & Wales for keen long-distance walkers, so people from every diocese can participate. 

 

If you could help with trailblazing the routes over the next 6 weeks, or would like to consider becoming a perpetual pilgrim, you can find more details here. Registration for day pilgrims will open in April.


Diocesan Pilgrim Ways during the 2025 Jubilee

If the Pilgrimage of Hope is not for you, then you can become a ‘pilgrim of hope’ by walking one of the Pilgrim Ways in England & Wales. There is one for every Catholic diocese, the Ukrainian and Syro-Malabar eparchies, the Bishopric of the Armed Forces and the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Details of the inner and outer journeys, walking guidance, maps and GPX files for all the Ways can be downloaded for free here.


All the Ways start at the cathedral of the diocese and end at a shrine in the same diocese. Many of the cathedrals and shrines will be Jubilee sacred sites, ‘sacred places of welcome and privileged spaces for the rebirth of hope’ (Spes non confundit, 24). Details of the Jubilee churches and shrines near you can be found on your diocese’s website.

 

Resources

There are resources on the website for pilgrimage including a new one on:

 

Going deeper

Articles on the ‘Going Deeper’ webpages provide context and expert background to pilgrimage. The latest is by:

  • Fleur Dorrell, the Biblical Apostolate Manager at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, and the national co-ordinator of the ‘God who Speaks’ project. She explores the nature of travel and some key journeys in the Bible to help us navigate our own lives.
  • Arran M Kearney describes his pilgrimage along the St Philomena Way in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, and explains why it was important to his faith journey. He shares the poetry he wrote enroute and reflects on how Christianity underpins the culture of England.

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

 

News, Stories & Events

Thanks as well to all those who have contributed stories over the last few months. Topics include

  • Another Day in Paradise - the magic of the Camino: pilgrim and writer Eddie Gilmore reflects on his recent journey with his wife along the Camino to Finisterre.
  • Help wanted to develop the Camino Inglés in England: Keith Taylor describes the development of the Camino Inglés from Finchale Priory to join the St James Way at Reading.
  • Walking to Walsingham: Between March 2023 and May 2024, Karen Lawrence walked the 180 miles from London to the National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham. She has recently published a wonderful book to share her story and to encourage other pilgrims.
  • In Praise of the Useless Life: Eddie Gilmore explains how a pilgrimage along a forbidden track to Thomas Merton's hermitage helped him to understand monastic life.
  • Peace Pilgrimage: Richard Smart reflects on walking for peace for the Awareness Foundation.
  • CAFOD webinar: it was a wonderful to be asked to contribute to CAFOD’s webinar introducing the Jubilee year.
  • Hexham & Newcastle webinar: I was delighted to take part in this webinar organised by the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle on pilgrimage in the Jubilee.

 

Feedback on 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 as we start the Jubilee year, during which we can become ‘pilgrims of hope’.

 

Buen camino!

 

Phil McCarthy, Project Lead

To Walk Takes Courage

By Joe Northam • September 17, 2025
Joe Northam decribes her experience of the first six days walking along the St Matthew's Way, the western Pilgrimage of Hope route to Nottingham.
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Pilgrimage of Hope Podcast

By Phil McCarthy • September 17, 2025
In this special edition of the All Knds of Catholic podcast Theresa Alessandro speaks with pilgrims walking the Pilgrimage of Hope.

Food for the Body; Food for the Soul

By Eddie Gilmore • September 17, 2025
They say that an army marches on its stomach. Eddie Gilmore thinks the same must be true of pilgrims!
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England

In Search of the 'Apostle to England'

By Mario Mancini • September 16, 2025
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England, came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England'!

St Luke's Way (East) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 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 St Luke's Way starts at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, leaving the city along the Marriotts Way, crossing the River Wensum towards Cawston, then taking the Pilgrim Cross route to Walsingham along country lanes to the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles. From Walsingham the Way follows tracks and lanes to Dersingham and then crosses the Sandringham estate to King's Lynn. The Way continues alongside the Great Ouse to Wisbech, then across fenland to Spalding and Bourne. The Way uses roads and footpaths to navigate the rolling countryside of Kesteven to Grantham, then follows the Grantham canal near Belvoir Castle across farmland to Bingham, joining the Trent Valley Way at Radcliffe, to arrive at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 155.4 miles Ascent: 1,883 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below).

St John's Way (South) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 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: 169.4 miles Ascent: 4,669 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below)

St Matthew's Way (West) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 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 Wychavon Way and John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove Spa. 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: 210.2 miles Ascent: 10,955 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download button below).

St Mark's Way (North) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Leeds Cathedral to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via 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 Woodlesford. Here the path veers SW to re-join 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 Elsecar, 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 east, 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: 105.9 miles Ascent 3,750 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below).

The National Pilgrimage of Hope is starting!

By Joe Northam • August 27, 2025
Joe Northam explains how she came to be involved in the Pilgrimage of Hope. She is walking the St Matthew's Way from Cardiff to Nottingham. When I heard about the Pilgrimage of Hope, a walking Pilgrimage which will mark England and Wales with the sign of the cross, I really wanted to get involved. At that time, I didn’t imagine that I would end up being a perpetual pilgrim walking (nearly) all 210 miles of the Western route. I offered to help recce the planned route. I love walking and I was looking for an opportunity to spend time alone with God, and checking the route seemed to bring those things together. However, as soon as I met with Phil, who has planned the Pilgrimage , and voiced my enthusiasm for the project I felt that, perhaps, I could do more. I just needed a bit of flexibility to accommodate the needs of my family, and being assured of that I began to discuss with my husband just how involved I could get! The first of my preparatory walks along the route began from my neighbouring parish in Harborne back in December 2024. Nine months later we prepare to embark from Cardiff. The journey ahead feels just daunting enough that we know that God needs to lead us. By we, I mean both the team of perpetual pilgrims - Phil, Faith, Jim, Dave, Catherine and myself - and the many day pilgrims who will join us for part of the way. Our ‘ St Matthew’s Way ’ takes us from the coastal paths of Wales, through the Wye Valley and across the Malvern Hills to Worcester. Then to Birmingham and from there to Lichfield and along the canals to Nottingham. It will be beautiful, varied and deeply ingrained with Christian heritage. When we met in London in May, we as a team shared our desire to meet God on the journey, not just in the glorious cathedrals and the splendour of nature, but in other people. For myself the opportunity of spending two weeks in community with the perpetual pilgrims is a challenge and a privilege. I began my Catholic life as a part of a youth community in the Nottingham Diocese and I know that the formation and growth of a shared life is not like anything else. Each day pilgrim will become a part of this sharing, bringing a unique life experience. Some may bring a testimony of God’s call on their life, others may arrive simply interested by the concept of pilgrimage and unaware of the hand of God in their life. My prayer is that each of us finishes our journey more hopeful than we began. Something I learned at the start of this liturgical year, this year of Jubilee , is that hope is a theological virtue. My understanding is that this means that it is a ‘supernatural’ virtue rather than a ‘natural’ one, something imparted by God, rather than something we attain by a muscular effort. So when we feel hopeless, it seems to me, all that we can do is to create the conditions in which God can give us his gift. For me, openness to God never seems more possible than when I am walking. A combination of being in wild spaces, knowing that I am part of the creation and the rhythm of walking, putting one foot in front of the other strips away what distracts me like so much dross. At the start of this Jubilee Year Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to consider undertaking a pilgrimage. For me there is something special about making a pilgrimage on foot but for some people that will not be possible. However, the intentional following of God to a place of prayer is something which is open to everyone. May our encounters with him on the way give us hope and allow us to bring hope to others. Joe Northam is a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Gregory the Great, Bearwood, Birmingham. This blog was first published on the website of the Archdiocese of Birmingham . In the Archdiocese of Birmingham the Pilgrimage will include visits to St Joseph, Malvern; St George, Worcester; St Peter, Bromsgrove; St Mary, Harborne; Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield; Holy Cross, Lichfield and SS Mary & Modwen, Burton on Trent (between Thursday 4 and Thursday 11 September). Please pray for all those taking part.

Join the Pilgrimage of Hope final celebrations in Nottingham!

By Phil McCarthy • August 20, 2025
Join the Welcoming Liturgy and concluding Solemn Mass Whether you walk or not, come to the Cathedral on 13th September and enjoy a fitting celebration of the Jubilee Year. Meet pilgrims who arrive throughout the afternoon from 3.00 p.m. The Cathedral will be hosting Heritage Open Days with tours, a mini-pilgrimage of the building, and CAFOD’s Jubilee Icon on display. At 5.00 p.m. join Bishop Patrick in a welcoming liturgy to give thanks for the safe arrival of those who have travelled far. Having spent two weeks walking from different corners England and Wales, the four groups of pilgrims will have completed their ‘Sign of the Cross’ over the country. The Pilgrimage will culminate at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday 14 September with Solemn Mass in the Cathedral for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Refreshments are available afterwards in the Cathedral Hall. All are welcome. The Welcoming Liturgy and concluding Mass will be livestreamed here .