Pilgrimage of Hope

The Pilgrimage of Hope is 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 at 11.15 am on 14 September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral.

The four main Ways, named after the Evangelists, Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, start at the Catholic cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London, and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way and they will be joined by ‘day pilgrims’ as they journey from one parish to the next.

Our own David Blake will be walking St Matthew’s Way which starts at the Cathedral of St David in Cardiff to Nottingham Cathedral via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham, a distance of 210 miles. During his journey he will be carrying on his backpack a large cross from St Osmund’s School and you can support him by helping to raise funds for our ‘Parish Centre’ or by joining him for a day or two along the way. Donations can be made via the GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/a065c344 or direct to the Parish Office.