In 2025 Jubilee year, Holy Name parish in Jesmond, taking to heart Pope Francis’ exhortation, undertook three pilgrimages to follow the Northern Saints and visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Jesmond; each of them was a joyful occasion with the opportunity for reflection, prayer and celebration of community.
The first event involved the preschool children from the children’s liturgy group with their parents. They went in April, to the Shrine of Our Lady, for prayer, a litter pick and a picnic in Jesmond Dene. They were blessed with good weather and gifted organisation. It was a memorable, happy afternoon.
Our pilgrimage to Holy Island in July involved over 50 of the congregation with friends most of whom walked the three miles across the sand following in the steps of St Cuthbert to the priory on Lindisfarne. It was an exhilarating experience and great fun for all. There was a shorter walk organised on the island itself and for those who wished simply to experience the gentle atmosphere of this holy place were under no pressure to engage in either. The photographs of the day confirm the happiness of the pilgrims, and everyone met, before leaving, in the Gospel Garden for a short prayer of thanksgiving.
In October when the days were shorter and the weather dubious over forty of us were taken to Finchale Priory, the site of the hermitage and grave of Saint Godric. We all spent time in the ruins which are beautifully situated in a meander of the River Wear. Most of us then walked to Durham Cathedral on the Camino Ingles and met up with the rest of the group for whom a shorter walk had been organised. Several of us had taken the opportunity to see the exhibition of the Magna Carta; this deeply significant document alone deserves a pilgrimage. In the afternoon guides took us on pre-arranged tours of the cathedral to visit the tombs of Saints Cuthbert with Oswald and the Galilee Chapel of Saint Bede. The Anglican Vicar guiding us was delighted to join us noting that on this very day, 23 October 2025, the King was meeting the Pope in the Vatican for prayer for the first time since the Reformation. The day was completed with prayer in the Galilee Chapel led by Deacon Jeremy and joined with the Vicar who had so kindly welcomed us. On leaving the city each pilgrim was given a summary of the lives of the four Saints, written by a member of our congregation.
Since completing the pilgrimages, collages of the images taken on these memorable days have been created for permanent exhibition in our Church Hall.
