Some days stand out in a person’s memory more than others. Friday June 27th 2025 is just such a day. On this day the two parish schools from St John Boste West Durham celebrated a Jubilee Pledge Day by becoming, literally, Pilgrims of Hope. A group of approximately 50 each from both of the primary schools set off shortly after school registration and made the mile and a half pilgrimage walk to Ushaw Historic House and Chapels.
The Pilgrimage Pledge Day was the success that had been prayed for. The group of school children from St Michael’s Primary School took the pleasant walk across the fields and entered the Ushaw estate using College Road. In contrast, the party from Our Lady and Saint Joseph’s in Ushaw Moor made their pilgrimage through the street and up the hill to reach the East Drive of Ushaw. Both groups of pilgrims were greeted by a group of red-fleeced Ushaw volunteers.
The number of children setting up camp on the Bounds field numbered just short of 100. In days gone by it would have been the Ushaw game of Cat that would have kept the students occupied but on this day the newly-mown vast expanse of grass seemed to be content to accommodate the happy pilgrims playing a game of Rounders!
The heart of the day was always planned to be the Jubilee Pledge Day Mass and so it turned out to be. The congregation (made up of Friday regulars, St. John Boste West Durham parishioners and friends and family of the school children) saw Canon Bob, Father Greg Price and Deacon Peter Smith lead the children from the West Door through the ante-chapel and into the magnificent St. Cuthbert’s Chapel. The children had gathered outside of the West Door entrance where the doors had been symbolically opened and the pilgrims welcomed in: through Ushaw’s Holy Door. In his homily Canon Bob referred to the fact that Rome had Holy Doors, Hexham and Newcastle had theirs but so too did this corner of West Durham.
Organist Bill Gray played the children into the chapel with ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ as the opening hymn, thus setting the scene. Father Greg read out some of the pledges being made by both schools and thus the Mass began. There was a sense of excitement, a feeling of God’s presence, the Chapel was alive: the children and a representative from the parish LiveSimply group took the Readings of the Day: the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
After Father Greg’s reading of the Gospel it was Canon Bob’s turn to say his always powerful few words. He talked about the bravery of the deceased Yaqeen Hammad of Gaza, a non-Christian young girl who had been a beacon of hope in Gaza. Canon Bob, always a champion of the youth.
“It was very heartening to see the children engaged, listening, praying and singing,” was the comment made by one person.
It was especially heartening to hear the pledges made by the young people. Pledges encapsulating the ideals of living simply, living sustainably, living in solidarity. They are our future, they are our hope. On this day they were truly our pilgrims of hope.
This day of pilgrimage came about through the collaboration between the two schools in St. John Boste parish and the LiveSimply group. All agreed that the event was something to be thankful for, something to build upon and something to be encouraged.
Canon Bob was a huge supporter of this event, despite being very unwell he made enormous efforts to join us on the day. We have been amazed at his courage. We now pray for the repose of his soul.
