SVP Sponsored Pilgrims

The St Vincent De Paul Society or SVP is a nationwide front-line charity, dedicated to tackling poverty and supporting individuals and families facing loneliness, hardship, and the many challenges that life can bring.  In St Edmund’s Parish Godalming we have an active SVP conference of about 12 members.  The members visit people who are lonely and isolated due to their age or other challenges.  Sometimes it is for a cup of tea and a chat, on other occasions it may be to take holy communion.  They provide practical help such as shopping, gardening, and lifts to mass.  The conference has supported families and individuals through supermarket vouchers to funding necessary white goods.  And there is also the monthly afternoon tea where people come together to chat, share tea, and fellowship.  All this takes money as well as time from the members and other volunteers.

In spring 2025 the National SVP came up with a project to assist with fundraising  - a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  Why Santiago de Compostela?  Tradition says that this is where the apostle James’ body was buried.  It had been a site for pilgrimage since the 9th century peaking in the Middle Ages.  There is a network of pilgrim routes leading to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela from across Europe.  Whilst the practice died down in subsequent centuries it has been revived in the 20th century, walking to seek enlightenment, spiritual fulfilment and for adventure is popular. 

However it is also an opportunity to raise awareness of a cause and to fund raise.  For the SVP Camino each pilgrim is required to raise £1,500 of which 50% will go to their conference and 50% to the National office.  There are three routes, each about 100kms.  The pilgrimage will take place from 12th April to 17th April 2026.

St Edmunds have two pilgrims on the pilgrimage - Nick de Caestecker and Mary Waight.  They will be walking the Camino Ingles which is the route traditionally preferred by pilgrims from the UK and Ireland.  They will start their pilgrimage in Ferrol in northern Spain and walk the full length of this route down to Santiago de Compostela, walking in the footsteps of many, many pilgrims from our country and with members of other SVP conferences from across England and Wales. 

Right now in autumn 2025 they are starting their preparations, improving fitness and asking for support especially with the fundraising but prayers are also welcome, and much needed!

Mary’s Just Giving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/mary-waight-1

You can also sponsor them using our parish online giving platform at: https://givealittle.co/c/7loXcKmlGI8yOL5u5qbp2E