​We will be celebrating Fr David’s 80th birthday in Brighton on the evening of Saturday 21st January, 2017. Save the date and join the celebrations to give thanks for Fr David’s long service to the pilgrimage. Further details to follow in the autumn.

​Our 2016 Pilgrimage from Winchester to Canterbury is almost halfway through, the pilgrims are at Worth Abbey after 6 walking days.

All the details, including the crowd-sourced diary, are on the 2016 sub-site – you can find out where/when to meet the pilgrims and maybe walk a while with us, or follow the diary as we make our way towards Canterbury.

The GPX files have made a late appearance, if you want to track down the pilgrims. Apologies for the delay in uploading these.

Our 2016 Pilgrimage from Winchester to Canterbury is less than 24 hours away; all the preparation work by so many people (especially the core planning team) is complete and tomorrow morning pilgrims will gather in Winchester and pray before setting off on the journey after lunch.

All the details are on the 2016 sub-site – you can find out where/when to meet the pilgrims and maybe walk a while with us, or follow the diary as we make our way towards Canterbury.

There’s also lots of useful information in Ceri’s letter in the August Newsletter.

The start of this year’s pilgrimage is less than a week away, and coordinator Ceri has written our latest newsletter with lots of information. Read the newsletter here.

Ceri refers to a number if additional items, which you can access through the links below:

• The Route Cards: full information on each day’s walking route and other events, which pilgrims will carry with them as they walk
• Come and Join us for a Day: a short summary of the route cards to give to potential ‘day pilgrims’ who may walk with us for a day or part day
• The Pilgrim Code: guidance for pilgrimage community life
• The Equipment List: guidance on what you need to bring.
• The Alternative Transport Guide: a document listing possible alternative transport (buses or trains) for each day
• ‘Who we are’ leaflet to give to interested passers-by

The Mercy Pilgrimage is happening this weekend. Follow the action at http://thepilgrims.org.uk/2016/mercy.php .

Saturday 16^th July to Sunday 17^th July 2016

A walking pilgrimage in the beautiful South Downs, a journey through the Holy Door at West Grinstead and a chance to join the Diocesan gathering & mass celebrated by Bishop Richard.

Have you ever thought what it might be like to make a pilgrimage as our medieval forbears did, walking the journey in prayer, fun and fellowship? Come and discover the Father’s mercy in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The Cost £30*. (Includes food, overnight sleeping in halls and luggage transported by van.  *Priests go free. Concessions can be discussed).

Places are limited! Book early. See the poster below, then complete and return the application form.

Mercy Pilgrimage Poster

Mercy Pilgrimage Application Form

Another pilgrim has reached his destination: Peter Storrow, who walked with us every year from 1990 to 2004. His brother-in-law, Phil Neal, writes:

Peter passed away at the Sussex County Hospital last
Saturday (16th April)  at 3pm. He had been in care for just over 6 months.
The cause of death was heart failure, leading to multiple organ breakdown. Basically, the heart itself had ceased to function properly, for which there is no treatment, apart from a heart transplant. At 77 years of age that was not going to happen, especially under under the NHS. Considering he had his first heart attack at the age of 49, he hasn’t done too badly, I would say.
The funeral will be on Wednesday 4th May at 12 o`clock at St. Joseph`s, Brighton, followed by burial just up the road at the Brighton & Preston (Downs) cemetery. There will be a “do” after, likely to be at the Garden Centre on the Race Hill.
It would be great to see some pilgrims there

Peter’s funeral will be at St Joseph’s, Elm Grove, Brighton at 12 noon on Wednesday 4th May. Patrick tells me it’s about 20 minutes walk from Brighton Station.

I’ve dug out a few pictures from the archives.

Joan, Mandy, Sarah & Ben would like to thank all pilgrims for all their messages of support and prayers.

(Apologies for the delay in posting this, Easter got in the way! )

It is my sad task to share the news that Peter Doran passed away this evening; he has been fighting prostate cancer for some time.

Peter’s time with the pilgrims was relatively short: I remember him meeting us (with Sarah) on the top of the Malvern Hills in 2004 after which he was a regular for several years, before illness hit, but he made a big impact. He was an inspirational leader and as a relatively novice pilgrim was selected as coordinator, leading in 2007 and 2008, the first passing close to his home on the Isle of Wight, the latter his once-and-future home in Gloucestershire. In 2007 Peter kept the pilgrimage show on the road when his good friend Mgr Pat Olivier suffered a heart attack and died whilst walking with us.

I personally remember Peter as a very supportive deputy when I became coordinator in 2009 (although I did have to tell him for being disruptive during notices – there is a certain pleasure in telling a retired headteacher to “SHUT UP DORAN”). Even after he actively walked with us, Peter was an ambassador for the pilgrimage.

Peter leaves behind a pilgrim family: his wife Joan walked with us in the 1970s; Mandy in the 1980s; Sarah in the 90s and since; Ben has put in an appearance from time to time too; and the many grandchildren he loved have also joined us along the way.

Peter will be sadly missed, but I can see him even now, at the pearly gates, saying to St Peter “you see these pilgrims, wearing crosses like this, I know they’re a bit grubby, but let them in”.

Rest in peace, Peter.