Hallam pilgrimage (21 Jul 2008)

A small band of young people in the diocese of Hallam went on a livesimply pilgrimage in July.

Carrying a large bucket of water with them (sometimes on their heads!) to remind them of the long distances many people in the developing world have to travel and the journey to justice we are all walking,.

Their walk took them to an important local shrine: Padley Chapel near the house where local martyrs Robert Ludlam and Nicholas Garlick were hidden by the Firzherbert family.  The two were later discovered and hanged at Derby.

The pilgrimage was co-led by CAFOD Hallam and the In:Reality youth team. CAFOD's Helen Desforges said, "We used prayers from the livesimply anthology, which worked really well - particularly the '6 directions of prayer' by Sophie Stanes, which helped us to remember we are pilgrims together on the Earth. We stood round the directions of the compass which we had marked out with stones.

"At Longshore Pond we filled the bucket - it lost a lot of water on the way round! We refilled it from the river at lunchtime and reflected again, with Stephen Davies' prayer, which helps us to remember that we are one of six billion. The person with the bucket represented the poor who we try and walk in solidarity with."

"At Padley Gorge we prayed the 'Walk Lightly' prayer.

"The pilgrimage was really easy to organise - you don't need a local shrine! You could replicate it by walking through the parish."

At Padley Chapel, the group met the main diocesan pilgrimage, and bishop John Arnold preached.

'One of the six billion'
by Stephen Davies

Here and now, Lord,
I hold before you simply one
of the six billion people
whom I share this world with.

Although I may never meet them
nor even know their name,
I place them in your loving care.

Guide them.
Support them.
Be with them.

May they be full of your love,
and share it with those they meet,
as I, once more, commit myself
to do the same.

Amen

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