On 3 April the Revd Jon Swales, MBE, led 36 people on a 4 hours pilgrimage walk through the streets of Leeds. Seven stations of reflection were held, drawing on the Passion narrative of Mark’s Gospel.
Organised by the Lighthouse Community, and supported by Leeds Church Institute, Jon spoke about the intersection of the Gospel and contemporary issues facing the city. As Lighthouse meets in the crypt of St George’s Leeds, which for 95 years has served the homeless and people overwhelmed by issues including addiction, the needs and dignity of people often ignored in the city was a key theme.
The pilgrimage began at Leeds Minster and involved a variety of landmark settings, such as the Corn Exchange; the Briggate shopping and business area; St John’s Church; and the war memorial in front of the Henry Moore Institute. Here reflections and prayers were offered for hostages and the civilian victims of conflict, as well as for those who act in breach of international law.
Speaking about the event Mr Swales commented:
“As we walked the streets of Leeds, we reflected on the life of Jesus and the wounds of the city. At each station, we stood in the tension of lament and hope, longing for a world where love and justice embrace.”
Director of Leeds Church Institute, Revd Chris Swift, reflected on the pilgrimage on his blog:
In the pilgrimage through Lent, we reminded ourselves and anyone who cared to listen, that God is present in the city. That the Church is (or should be) a shelter from the storms of life and a community that is restless and longing for the Kingdom. Where people who have been rejected find a home, and where earthly power is reminded of its place.
You can find Chris’s full reflection here
