Next Monday, 27 February, over 70 pilgrims will join Bishop Christopher and Bishop Paul Hendricks at Heathrow airport ready to board the plane to Tel Aviv as they begin the second Ecumenical Pilgrimage between the Diocese of Southwark and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. They will lead the Pilgrimage alongside Fr Michael Branch, the Dean of St George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Southwark and The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, the Dean of Southwark.
The first Ecumenical Pilgrimage, which took place in 2020, was a great success, although the beginning of the worldwide COVID-19 meant that we were unable to visit Bethlehem and we had to leave a little early. We hope to make it there this year and be able to visit the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity.
The Pilgrimage will last eight days and during that time the pilgrims will visit holy sites around Jerusalem, walking the Way of the Cross, visiting the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There will be visits to the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall as well as Abu Ghosh, one of the possible sites of Emmaus.
The group will also spend time in Galilee, staying by the Lake and sailing on it. We will also visit the Mount of the Beatitudes and the ruins of Capernaum, Jesus’ Galilean base. We will Renew our Baptismal Vows at Banias. It is a full programme and we will also have the chance to visit the Latin Patriarchate and see the work of L’Arche, Jerusalem and St Martha’s House, the first day care centre for elderly women in Bethlehem.
During the time that the Pilgrims are away there will be blog posts on the Diocesan website by members of the group and there will also be tweets on the Diocesan Twitter feed. Do follow along and find out how the Pilgrimage is going and experience some of the sights for yourself.
