By Joe Burns, Commission member
The Northern Dioceses Environment Group (NDEG) organise at least one in-person event every year. This year they are doing a mini-pilgrimage from Leeds City Station to Kirkstall Abbey in celebration of 10 years since the publication of Laudato Si. A similar mini-pilgrimage, organised by the Diocesan Communications Director, took place at the end of May.
The pilgrimage itself will take place on Saturday 20 September, with everyone meeting in the main concourse of Leeds City Station (near the public toilets) at 12:45pm for a short briefing and for a prompt 1pm start. NDEG welcome everyone to come and join them and take part in this opportunity to meet with people from across the Northern Dioceses and to find out how Laudato Si has inspired people in different dioceses to act.
Today, I did a trial of the walk with Paul Kelly, from Our Lady and St Boniface parish covering Settle and Bentham. He will be the walk leader on the day. With a little detour at the start, because of the work to improve the entrance to Leeds City Station, we set off along the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool canal starting at the canal basin. The walking is on good paths throughout. The towpath is in good condition, which is more than can be said for the canal itself; if you come then don’t expect to see any narrowboats chugging along! There is a short stretch along roads when we leave the canal towpath at Hollybush farm in Kirkstall. However, after only a couple of hundred yards we join another good footpath that lead right into the grounds of the abbey itself.
The walk itself is just a little under 5 miles, on the level (apart from the locks) and along a good path. If you do not think you could walk that far then you would be very welcome to join us for a short prayer service in the abbey church itself. We will be setting off at 1pm promptly from the station, so we will probably arrive at the abbey church between 3pm and 3:15 pm.
There is a café at the abbey which stays open until 4pm and a good bus service back into Leeds to near the station from the main road outside the abbey.
If you think you might join us then please follow this link to give some contact details so we can send you a more detailed information leaflet and update you about any last minute changes.
