As members of the Catholic Missionary Union, the Columban Missionaries in Britain are invited each year to give the annual Mission Appeal in dioceses across England and Wales. This year, we are delighted to be visiting the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Throughout 2026, Columban priests are visiting parishes and sharing stories of mission, faith and solidarity from communities around the world. Mission Appeals are an important opportunity for Columbans to connect with parishes and to thank supporters, whose prayers and generosity sustain our missionary work.
This June, members of the Columban Mission Appeals Team will take part in a pilgrimage to Holy Island, organised by CAFOD in partnership with the Archbishop Romero Trust. They will join pilgrims from across the diocese, including Columban supporters, as they journey to one of the North East’s most sacred Christian sites, following in the footsteps of St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert.
Also known as Lindisfarne, Holy Island has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage for centuries. St. Aidan founded a monastery there in 635AD, helping spread Christianity throughout Northumbria, while St. Cuthbert’s life and witness continue to inspire pilgrims today. Alongside its rich spiritual heritage, the island is known for its striking natural beauty, wildlife and coastal landscapes that create a peaceful haven for prayer, reflection and contemplation.
For the Columbans, the pilgrimage is a meaningful opportunity to journey together with the people and communities they are visiting during the year. Speaking of the event, Fr. John Boles, Columban Director in Britain, says: “Beyond preaching at weekend Masses, occasions such as this pilgrimage to Holy Island allow us to walk alongside supporters in a more personal way. It gives us the opportunity to speak with them, listen to their experiences, and share in prayer and reflection together.”
Fr. John will be joined on the pilgrimage by James Trewby, Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Co-ordinator in Britain, and fellow Columban priests Fr. Tim Mulroy and Fr. Kevin McDonagh. Fr. Kevin adds: “Supporting CAFOD’s pilgrimage to the Holy Island in this way is a chance to celebrate our shared commitment to mission. CAFOD is a valued partner of the Columbans in Britain and we work closely together in many areas, particularly in responding to injustice, supporting vulnerable communities, and caring for our common home.”
The Columban Missionaries participate in God’s mission to establish a world of peace with justice and care for the integrity of creation in solidarity with poor, exploited and marginalised communities. We have long encouraged people to deepen their understanding of global mission and to respond to “the cry of the Earth, the cry of the poor.” Through the annual Mission Appeal , we hope to strengthen relationships with parishes in Hexham and Newcastle diocese and to inspire parishioners to see mission as a shared calling rooted in faith, encounter and solidarity.
The Holy Island pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 20th June 2026. Walkers will meet and depart from the first refuge on the Holy Island causeway at 11:30am. Non-walkers are welcome to join a service in St. Mary’s Church at 12 noon and Mass for all the pilgrims will be celebrated at 3pm, also in St. Mary’s Church.
For more information, please contact Rachel Blaylock, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, via email at rblaylock@cafod.org.uk or by phone on 07779 804243.
