Pilgrimage general information and regulations
1. Who can participate?
Anyone can participate in the pilgrimage, given your health permits you to walk about 20km a 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 in each day of the pilgrimage the following:
- 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.
The rest of your belongings can be packed in a bigger rucksack or luggage including tents, sleeping bags and mats. These belongings must be labelled with the full name of the owner and the chapter name the owner is part of. We recommend to wrap your belongings in a plastic bag to prevent them from getting wet if it rains. Every morning of the pilgrimage these belongings can be put to a designated lorry before the pilgrimage begins. The lorry will take the rest of your belongings directly to the campsite for the first day of the pilgrimage and to Evesham on the second day of the pilgrimage.
UK pilgrims must bring tents, please communicate within your chapter to share a tent. Foreign pilgrims do not need to bring tents, big shared tents will be provided.
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, dinner and breakfast. Pilgrims are expected to bring their own food that they can eat during breaks, lunch, dinner and breakfast. Soup will be provided during dinner. Tea, coffee, milk and hot water will be provided during breakfast with bread and jam.
Please make sure to pack food that will not be spoiled unrefrigerated for a couple of days.
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 days 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 and colder night whilst sleeping.
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.
The day will be ordered to a timetable – this will be emailed to everyone before the pilgrimage, and your chapter leaders will be informed as to the day’s events.
8. Camp
The campsite will be basic, UK pilgrims will bring their own tents and foreign pilgrims will have tents provided. There will be toilets available and basic washing facilities. There won’t be any showers. Please be respectful at the campsite and leave it in the state it was found. Fires are not permitted at the campsite.
9. 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 wont be tolerated, and those pilgrims will be asked to leave the pilgrimage.