A new collection of Catholic walking pilgrimages has been launched online, encouraging people of all faiths and none to explore some of the holiest sites within Catholic dioceses in England and Wales.
“Hearts in Search of God” is a three-year project mapping out 22 pilgrimages, with each route starting at one of the 22 Catholic cathedrals in England and Wales, before going on to at least one of the local shrines, with the shortest route being 10 miles.
A website listing the new routes is offered and can be found at pilgrimways.org.uk, providing walking guides, GPX files, prayers and other resources, including a downloadable “pilgrim passport” and a certificate at the end of the walk.
Routes include St Wilfrid’s Way in the Diocese of Leeds, walking from Leeds Cathedral to Ripon via Our Lady of the Crag, Knaresborough and also, St Mary’s Way in the Diocese of Lancaster, walking from Lancaster Cathedral to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at Cleator.
The project has been organised by Phil McCarthy, a retired GP and former chief executive of Caritas Social Action Network, who has so far walked seven of the ways and intends to finish the rest in the next two years.
He hopes the new pilgrim ways “will be an opportunity for Christians to deepen their faith, but also for people of all faiths and none to experience a pilgrimage in a Catholic context and with the minimum of financial and environmental cost”.
He said the ways might be useful to Catholic charities for fundraising walks: “You don’t have to be formally religious or be walking as a part of a big group to follow these ways.”
The idea was inspired by Pope Francis’ words about pilgrims, when he said: “Whoever they may be…in every person there is a heart in search of God.”
Dr McCarthy said: “To go on pilgrimage is to participate in a practice which is ancient and universal. Walking pilgrimages are slow, humble journeys in constant contact with the Earth and they encourage awe at the magnificence of creation. Walking allows us all to pay attention, to notice small things and to enjoy ordinary places.”
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