Pilgrimages for the Planet

Inspired both by Christian Climate Action and the Laudato Si Movement, on Saturday 9 September we had a 'Pilgrimage for the Planet' along the Thames Path. Over 50 people came. Some of us started at Kate's parish in Bow where there was a prayer and blessing from parish priest Fr Howard James.

They then joined the rest of the group at the Cutty Sark and we all began our pilgrimage to the Thames Barrier.

We were pilgrims from various local parishes: a big contingent from the Chinese Catholic Community, nine religious Sisters from different Congregations (Columban Sisters, Little Company of Mary Sisters, Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa, Sister of the Holy Cross, Carmelite Sister), Fr Richard Nesbitt and parishioners from White City, including a visiting seminarian from Nigeria, Laudato Si animators and members of Christian Climate Action.

We hadn't asked God for an extreme weather event, but we were given one anyway! It was the hottest day of the year and the sixth day in a row when it was over 30C in London in September!

We began our pilgrimage at the Cutty Sark with a prayer and an invitation to walk the pilgrimage with our five senses wide open to what God may want to show us. And as we walked we paused to reflect on Creation's Song, Creation's Cry and Creation's Call and the message of Pope Francis for the Season of Creation.

We also paused at significant places such as:

-Crowley's Wharf - where ironworks made ankle-irons, manacles and collars used in the enslavement of African people
-Greenwich Power Station
-The tidal terraces/reed beds - an innovation in flood defence providing a habitat for plants and animals
-'Tribe and Tribulation/Totemic Sculpture' by Serge Attukwei Clottey on the meridian line, with its sound recordings from three former slave forts on the Gold Coast. At this point we reflected on Creation's Cry and also listened to a moving recording of Rev Jon Swales prayer for COP 27
-The beautiful Ecology Park which mimics the original marshland of Greenwich Peninsula.

At this point we reflected on Creation's Call at this critical time in human history, and also invited all to enter into an imaginative dialogue with an other than human member of creation.

We passed the wharfs where boats arrive daily with sand and gravel aggregates found on the sea bed.

We finally reached the Thames Barrier, where we had the great joy of being joined by another pilgrimage group, coordinated by Barbara Wilson, a parishioner of Corpus Christi, Brixton, and member of Christian Climate Action. This group had walked 17km from the Shell HQ on the Southbank.

It included several Medical Mission Sisters and five Buddhists who found the pilgrimage experience very moving. The group had been reflecting on Pope Francis words: "How can we contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation? ... We must do this by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies." These words inspired reflections at their stopping points.

It was wonderful for both groups to join together to share reflections and pray for people of all continents, especially those most impacted by climate change in the global south. We then listened to a powerful recording of Ben Okri reading 'Broken' from his book 'Tiger Work'. Our final song was 'Let Justice and Peace flow like a Mighty River.'

Sr Kate Midgley is a Missionary Sister of St Columban. Cecilia Bullock is a Laudato Si Animator, a member of Christian Climate Action, and a parishioner of St Paul's, Harefield