Sister Elizabeth Carr setting off on Ash Wednesday to walk the Francigena pilgrimage from Canterbury through France, Switzerland, and Italy to finish at the Holy Door of St Peter’s tomb in aid of the Newark Emmaus Trust

A Carmelite nun is set to walk a pilgrimage of over a thousand miles throughout Lent and beyond to raise funds for one of Newark’s vital charities.

Starting today on Ash Wednesday (Wednesday March 5), Sister Elizabeth Carr is walking from Canterbury through France, Switzerland, and Italy to finish at the Holy Door of St Peter’s tomb at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome on July 16, a total of 1,200 miles (1,950km).

Sister Elizabeth, who attended sixth form at Southwell’s Minster School, is taking on the challenge, known as the Francigena pilgrimage, in aid of the Newark Emmaus Trust, which helps homeless young people with accommodation and support.

She was inspired to raise money for the charity after hearing about the good work that the Emmaus Trust does at an event in Sheffield, and wanting to raise funds for a charity near to where she spent some of her childhood.

This is also a cause close to her heart, having been in a similar position herself and having to seek help to get an address in order to open a bank account.

The Holy Door is only open during a Holy Year, which occur every 25 years, with the last one taking place in 2000.

On the first day of a holy year, the Pope strikes the brick wall with a silver hammer and opens it to the pilgrims.

The Francigena was one of the three major pilgrimage routes in the Middle Ages, together with the Holy Land and Santiago de Compostella.

The oldest report from a pilgrim was written by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, who made the journey to Rome in 990AD to see Pope John XV.

“In this Jubilee Year of Hope, I thought of helping those who need help the most — those on the brink of existence on the streets who can’t get out of the trap that they are in,” she said.

Sister Elizabeth initially trained as a nurse in Leicester, but ill health saw her early exit from medicine and she then entered the Wood Hall Carmelite Monastery in Wetherby, Yorkshire at the age of 21.

She is now setting off today on the first leg on the pilgrimage, and said that she is hoping to finding somewhere to hear Mass each day.

“There’s going to be lots of hills, I’m not as young as I used to be so there’s no short cuts! she said.

“I pray these steps will join yours to keep making a difference to many lives. Just as every step is blessed so is every penny given in love,” she added, “Above all, please pray for the success of this pilgrimage, and that there be abundant spiritual fruits too.”

You can make a donation to Sister Elizabeth’s fundraiser for the Newark Emmaus Trust at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/elizabeth-carr-2

Anyone who would like to have their name carried in Sister Elizabeth’s rucksack which she will then carry through the door to the tomb of St. Peter can email her at elizabethannemaria@mail.com