22.11.2022
18th Walk of Light brings hope to city streets
As darkness began to fall in Dublin city centre on Sunday afternoon members of several south Dublin churches of various denominations gathered for an interchurch pilgrimage. This was the 18th Walk of Light, an event organised by Dublin Council of Churches which takes place annually on the Feast of Christ the King. This year, after a two year gap, the pilgrims returned to bring their message of hope to the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
This year’s theme was ‘Into Darkness, Great Light’ based on Isaiah 9:2 ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’. The theme was apt in these challenging times and as the pilgrims moved from station to station there were reflections on the issues of today – war, housing emergency and economic hardship, and climate collapse.
The interchurch pilgrimage began in Newman University Church on St Stephen’s Green where participants were greeted by Fr Gary Chamberland. He said that those walking in the pilgrimage would “stand in the midst of the modern world and announce that we come as witness to the light that drives out darkness”. He added that they were conscious of the struggles and difficulties faced by communities in Dublin and around the world.
The pilgrimage travelled through a busy St Stephen’s Green before coming to a stop outside Fusiliers Arch where the Revd Martin Sauter of St Finian’s Lutheran Church and chairperson of Dublin Council of Churches led the reflection on war and peace. They then travelled to the Molly Malone Statue where a representative of St Vincent de Paul spoke about the housing crisis and economic hardship focusing on what it means to have a secure place to live and the work of the charity which was the beneficiary of donations made during the Walk of Light.
They then travelled along Dame Street to the Front Square of Trinity College Dublin where the Revd Steve Brunn, Church of Ireland Chaplain and Dean of Residence, led the reflection on climate change and the ecological emergency facing the planet as well as providing food for thought on small changes each individual could make.
The Walk of Light concluded in the Trinity College Chapel where the Chapel Choir led the music.
At the stations throughout the walk a choir led the singing of the Taize chant ‘The Kingdom of God is Justice and Peace’.
