We are very proud to be the hosts this year of the 2025 Conference (and AGM) for the CVTA
This year’s reunion, AGM and conference is being hosted by the Carmelite Shrine of Saint Jude in Faversham, Kent (34 Tanners Street, ME13 7JW / www.stjudeshrine.org.uk) - a proud member of the CVTA for over 10 years.
Do you welcome walkers and ramblers, occasional worshippers who stop by to think and pray, or open your church for casual visitors? Have you ever wondered how to enhance your welcome, or ensure the tourists who arrive at your church or sacred space leave as pilgrims? Might pilgrimage be a way to reach out with the Gospel or deepen the discipleship of your congregation? And what defines a pilgrimage anyway?
All are welcome to come to both days or one of the days - please just let us know. We suggest a donation of £12 per person to attend any (or both) of the two days which will go towards the cost of the event during the two days / lunch on Saturday. You can either pay via eventbrite or on the day. Please indicate which day (or the two) that you will be attending. Thank you.
Faversham
After the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket, Faversham became a place of pause in pilgrimages before the last stretch to Canterbury, and the town grew to be an important centre of faith. King Stephen of England lived here for a while and founded Faversham Abbey (mostly gone). Over the years, Faversham remained an important centre of pilgrimage until the Reformation. In recent times with the resurgence of pilgrimage, Faversham once more finds itself the centre of several routes. Seventy years ago, the Shrine of Saint Jude (Apostle of Hope) continued this tradition when the Carmelites returned to Kent. You can find out more, here: https://stjudeshrine.org.uk/faversham
In 2020, the Shrine was given five stars by the new guide 'Britain's Pilgrim Places' produced by the British Pilgrimage Trust. The authors particularly emphasised that.."the Shrine is a common meeting ground between Anglicans and Catholics since there was little historical and cultural interest in Jude during Christianity's most difficult years. He is certainly a more productive figure to contemplate than the Reformation martyrs of either side. For that reason alone, this Shrine deserves the highest recommendation".
The two days
Friday 10 October 2025
2pm Refreshments and Registration – Shrine of Saint Jude Welcome Centre
2.30pm: Welcome from Chair
2.45pm: Tour of Shrine of Saint Jude and Carmelite church, followed by walk to Almshouses and Parish church – tour by Matt Betts (Development Manager of the National Shrine of Saint Jude)
5pm: Check in to your hotels/rest
6.30pm: Evening Meal (Sun Inn, Faversham) https://www.sunfaversham.co.uk/
A small donation will be sent to each place after the weekend. A separate collection will be made on the day for this purpose.
Saturday 11 October 2025
Shrine of Saint Jude Welcome Centre
9.30am: Teas and Coffees
10.00am: Welcome from Richard Tulloch, CVTA Chair
10.05 - 10.20am: Mr Andrew Kelly: how to attract pilgrims to your church
10.25 - 10.45am: Mr Brendan and Joanna Roche: why going on pilgrimage to Lourdes is important and how the good values gained from the CA Pilgrimage can be brought home to our parishes/dioceses/homes/friendship groups, etc.
10.50am - 11.15am: Teas and Coffees / Discussion
11.15am - 12.25pm: Dr Matt Valler, PhD: Pilgrimage in unexpected places
12.30 - 1.00pm: Discussion in groups
1.00pm: Lunch
1.45pm: Ms Rosie Bradshaw: iconography
2.30pm: Bishop Paul Hendricks (Catholic auxiliary bishop in Southwark Archdiocese)
2.55pm: Mr Torin Brown (Canterbury Cathedral) - the contemporary motivation for pilgrimage
3.15pm: AGM
3.30pm: Concluding prayer from Chaplain of the Shrine of Saint Jude, Br. Paul de Groot, O.Carm
4pm: Close - tea/coffee
The event is FREE, but we ask for a suggested donation of £12 please. All are welcome.
Saturday lunch provision Please let us know any dietary requirements you have so we can cater for you.
