On Pilgrimage for Life… Along the St James Way
On April 29th, the Crime and Policing Act received final approval in England and Wales. By decriminalizing abortion for women for any reason and at any stage of pregnancy, it effectively made abortion up to birth lawful, exposing unborn children to death and women to abandonment and harm.
Immediately following the parliamentary vote in late March, the Right Reverend Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth, issued a poignant statement:
“As Catholics, we know that every human being has been created and willed by God. This is why we must calmly but insistently work to protect the unborn child in the womb and to protect women from abortion. We must continue to witness to the truth about human life and campaign to change people’s hearts and minds. We must also support and pray for women who have had abortions and for those who find finds themselves in a difficult situation. I ask: Have we really done everything we can to make our voices heard above the clamour for death?”
Bishop Philip’s powerful appeal did not fall on deaf ears.
Livia Tossici-Bolt, leader of 40 Days for Life – Bournemouth, immediately took the Bishop’s message to heart, sensing in her conscience that something more needed to be done. She reached out to Fr. Thomas Hiney — a journalist and priest at Sacred Heart Parish in Waterlooville — and to myself. Currently based in Portsmouth within the local Missio ad Gentes of the Neocatechumenal Way (established 10 years ago by Bishop Philip), I serve as President of FederVita Lombardia-APS and have been involved for many years with the Italian Movimento per la Vita.
Livia felt a strong inner calling to “walk” — to journey on foot to London to awaken consciences and raise public awareness regarding the far-reaching impact of this new legislation. That shared conviction gave birth to a true pilgrimage.
It is a penitential pilgrimage for life in all its dimensions: for those deprived of life, for those who take it, and particularly for women who, alongside their unborn children, are victims. Prayers will be offered for the conversion of those promoting anti-life policies, for the tireless volunteers working in the pro-life movement, and for society as a whole. It is also a pilgrimage for peace, recalling the words of Pope St. Paul VI for the 10th World Day of Peace in 1977: “If you want peace, defend life.”
Accompanying our journey is a special hymn, the “Canticle for Life”, which explains the reasons behind our walk. Developed by the organizing team, it features a decisive contribution from Fr. Thomas Hiney and is paired with a video created by pro-life activist Christian Hacking.
In the Footsteps of St. James
The pilgrimage will take place on foot along the route of the English St. James Way, walking in reverse: from Winchester to London, reaching Tyburn Convent — a symbol of Catholic Martyrs — before joining the national March for Life UK on September 5th.
This year’s March for Life will see an extraordinary episcopal presence: 14 Catholic Bishops, including Bishop Philip Egan and Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster, will attend after concelebrating Mass at Westminster Cathedral.
Four women will undertake the entire 9-stage journey: alongside Livia and myself, we will be joined by Luisa from Holy Trinity Parish in Brescia (Italy) and Carolyn from the Missio ad Gentes in Portsmouth. Other pilgrims will join for individual legs along the way.
Guided by the principle that “life unites”, the pilgrimage also embraces a meaningful ecumenical dimension: Anglican parishes along the path have been contacted alongside Catholic communities, testifying that the defence of human life is a shared ground for prayer and fraternity among Christians.
Throughout the walk, we will be sustained by the prayers of local parishes along the route, the Monastery of the Visitation in Salò (Italy), the Monasteries for Life in Lombardy, the Carmelite women’s monastery in Ivory Coast, as well as numerous pregnancy support centers (Centri di Aiuto alla Vita) and international movements.
The Camino of Santiago and European Conscience
We embark on this journey fully aware of the steep uphill battle facing the protection of life. Recently, Massachusetts enacted the “Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act”, removing the 24-week gestational limit on abortion. Ten US states now have no gestational limits at all, while France and Luxembourg have enshrined abortion as a “right”.
Yet, amid this somber landscape, we remain steadfast in hope (non praevalebunt).
The Way of St. James played a fundamental role in shaping Europe’s identity. As St. John Paul II declared during his historic European Act at Santiago de Compostela on November 9, 1982:
“European identity is incomprehensible without Christianity… It is precisely in Christianity that we find those common roots from which the civilization of the old continent blossomed… Everything that constitutes its glory.”
The Polish Pope warned that Europe could only remain true to itself if it upheld “authentic Christian and human values, such as the dignity of the human person, love for the family, and respect for life.” He famously cried out: “Ancient Europe: Find yourself again. Be yourself. Rediscover your origins. Revive your roots.”
Through our modest walk, we hope to contribute to reawakening Europe’s conscience for life. As Goethe once remarked, “The consciousness of Europe was born on pilgrimage.”
We must also remember August 19, 1989, when St. John Paul II asked young people gathered at World Youth Day in Santiago: “Are you willing to defend human life with the utmost care at all times, even the most difficult?” Countless voices answered “Yes!” — and just three months later, the Berlin Wall fell.
Today, there is a new wall that must fall: the wall of abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and the culture of death.
Key Dates & Stages:
- August 26th: Commissioning Mass and blessing at Sacred Heart Church, Waterlooville (12:00 PM) with Fr. Thomas Hiney.
- August 27th (Official Start): Departure from St. Peter’s Church, Winchester (9:30 AM) with a blessing from Fr. Pedro.
- Stage 1 (Aug 27): Winchester – Upper Wield
- Stage 2 (Aug 28): Upper Wield – Worting (Basingstoke)
- Stage 3 (Aug 29): Worting (Basingstoke) – Silchester
- Stage 4 (Aug 30): Silchester – Reading
- Stage 5 (Aug 31): Reading – Henley-on-Thames
- Stage 6 (Sep 1): Henley-on-Thames – Cookham
- Stage 7 (Sep 2): Cookham – Burnham Beeches
- Stage 8 (Sep 3): Burnham Beeches – Grand Union Canal (Northolt)
- Stage 9 (Sep 4): St. Benedict’s Abbey (Ealing) – Tyburn Convent (London)
- September 5th: Participation in March for Life UK following 10:30 AM Mass at Westminster Cathedral.