On August 26 four people who were once homeless will begin a 450-mile trek from St David’s in west Wales to their home in Norfolk.
They now live in the Emmaus community in Ditchingham, near Bungay, and will walk the new pilgrim route Via Beata, or Way of Blessing. It runs from St David’s to Lowestoft, through the grounds of the former convent which is their home and the headquarters of homelessness charity Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney.
The six-week sponsored walk will raise money for Emmaus to help more people out of homelessness and is due to finish at Ditchingham on October 10, World Homeless Day,
Walkers include Emmaus residents (known as companions) Carlton, Jagger, Peter and Chloe, and Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney chief executive officer Cecile Roberts.
Jagger had been living on the streets since his teenage years and was addicted to gambling. He sees the chance to do the walk as a blessing, saying: “I’ve taken all my life: from food banks, charities, and night shelters, and I want to give something back.” Chloe was an alcoholic by the age of 11 but has now been sober for two years. Cecile was a chef in France and London and a catering college teacher before running an organic farm and then working for autism and music charities.
The Bishop of Norwich, who has written a book about pilgrimage and plans to join them at the end of the walk, said: “Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney is a most remarkable community. It is a community of care which displays daily the love of God in Jesus and so I wish all who are joining the pilgrimage every blessing on their steps as they travel with Saint David, across Wales and then across England and back home. It will be a journey that will change each person who’s on it, for the whole duration or just a day or a few hours, because a pilgrimage is not just about a destination, it’s about the stories we encounter and the places we go through on the way. A pilgrimage isn’t finished until we return home and look back and see how God has woven a web, a cloth of balm around us on the way.“
Artist, teacher, writer and wood-carver Steve Eggleton, of Banham, near Attleborough, had a vision of a 450-mile Christian pilgrimage route and art trail across England and Wales and for the past 15 years has been making the dream a reality. With a team of volunteers he is installing way-stations along the Via Beata – works of art and places to rest and pray.
The route takes in Hay-on-Wye, Stratford-upon-Avon, Ely, Thetford and Beccles.
The Emmaus Walk of Kindness is the final fundraising push for a £2.7million Bed and Breakfast project at the former convent in Ditchingham. One of 30 Emmaus communities around the country, it featured on the BBC1 show Interior Design Masters this spring, with talented interior designers revamping rooms as part of a competition.
The annual income from each B&B room will provide a home, work and therapeutic support for a Emmaus companion.
To support the pilgrimage visit www.emmaus.org.uk/norfolk-waveney
Bishop Graham talks about pilgrimage in a short film made by former BBC presenter Mike Liggins
Pictures: Chloe, Jagger, Cecile, Peter and Carlton will be walking the Via Beata to help homeless people supported by Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney. Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney from above.
