Pilgrimage general information and regulations
1. Who can participate?
Anyone can participate in the pilgrimage, given your health permits you to walk about 20km in one day.
2. Spiritual preparation for the pilgrimage
A novena will be sent to everyone registered to join the pilgrimage and will begin 9 days before the pilgrimage.
Priests will be available to hear confessions, give spiritual direction and meditations during the pilgrimage, please make the most of this. Make sure anyone receiving Our Lord during Mass is in the state of grace and ideally have been to confession prior to the pilgrimage or during the pilgrimage.
As much as we would like for everyone to have a great time and create new friendships during this pilgrimage, we would encourage for each chapter to do the following on the day of the pilgrimage:
- Pray 3 mysteries of the Rosary
- Meditations
- Singing of hymns
3. What to bring to the pilgrimage?
It is advisable to only carry essentials during the walking pilgrimage in a small backpack.
What to bring?
An extensive list of what to bring to the pilgrimage and during the walking pilgrimage.
4. Food
Water will be provided during breaks, lunch, dinner and breakfast expect at the beginning of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims are expected to bring water with them in the morning of the beginning of the pilgrimage, water will be provided at the first break and thereafter.
Bread will also be provided during lunch. Pilgrims are expected to bring their own food that they can eat during breaks and lunch.
5. Modest clothing
Both men and women are expected to observe wearing modest clothing.
Ideally for men:
- T-shirt with elbow-length sleeve and not tank top
- Shorts that goes up to the knee or trouser
Ideally for women:
- Dress that goes down to the knees or longer with elbow-length sleeve and not sleeveless
- T-shirt with elbow-length sleeve and not tank top
- Skirt that goes down to the knee or longer and not to wear shorts or trousers
6. Weather
Even though the pilgrimage is during the summer, please make sure to be prepared to bring raincoats, umbrella and waterproof footwear.
Please check the weather forecast at least a couple days prior to the pilgrimage to get a more accurate estimation of what the weather would be like on the day of the pilgrimage to prepare appropriate clothing to bring. Regardless, be prepared to bring clothing for warmer or raining or cooler weather during the day of the pilgrimage.
7. Safety and organisation
Whilst the pilgrimage is on the best route available, please bear in mind that we may sometimes be walking on roads, fields, and over styles. Please use your common sense to avoid injury or accidents. The pilgrimage will provide basic first aid and communication with emergency services should the need arise. The pilgrimage will not accept any liability for injury or accidents on the pilgrimage.
It is important for all pilgrims to walk within the chapter they are registered in to maintain the order during the pilgrimage.
Please be mindful and careful about where you dispose of your rubbish and waste during the pilgrimage walk and throughout the pilgrimage.
It is not permitted for pets to brought along during the pilgrimage.
Volunteer transport support cars will be available all throughout the pilgrimage to help collect pilgrims who are unable to continue walking. However, due to the route of the pilgrimage via fields for instance, these transport support cars may not be able to come very close to the pilgrims and would still require some walking to get to.
Any political symbols that are not permitted during the pilgrimage in flags, banners, chants, clothing, etc., will be removed or pilgrims will be asked to leave the pilgrimage.
In the spirit of the growing in holiness and virtues, please be charitable, respectful and look after each other during the pilgrimage.
Practical Information
The day will be ordered to a timetable - this will be available in this page closer to the date of the pilgrimage and will also be emailed to everyone before the pilgrimage, and your chapter leaders will be informed as to the day’s events.
8. Registration and compliance
You must be registered within a chapter on the pilgrimage to attend. Please enter into the pilgrimage in the spirit it is intended. Any anti-social behaviour, aggression, or nefarious activities will not be tolerated, and those pilgrims will be asked to leave the pilgrimage.
All registration fees are considered as donation for the pilgrimage and would not be refunded. Please read the pilgrimage Privacy Policy of Our Lady of Christendom – UK before submitting the registration form.
Once registration is complete, Our Lady of Christendom – UK assumes the pilgrim’s compliance with all content.