Western Pomeranian initiative invites you to the St. James Church in Stralsund on July 14

Stralsund. On Sunday, July 14, an ecumenical pilgrimage service will take place at 3 p.m. in the pilgrims' chapel of the St. James Church in Stralsund, followed by a regulars' table for pilgrims. Bishop Tilman Jeremias will lead the service together with Pastor Ellen Nemitz, Marion von Brechan (Catholic Tourism Ministry, Archdiocese of Berlin) and Pastor Johannes Schaan (St. Bernhard Parish, Stralsund-Demmin-Rügen) from the Vorpommern Pilgrimage Initiative. The Ecumenical Pilgrim Initiative Vorpommern, which warmly invites you to the pilgrim service, is a non-profit association that promotes and spiritually deepens the work of pilgrims in Vorpommern.

Generating interest in Pomeranian pilgrimage routes

“During the get-together after the service, we would like to talk to people interested in pilgrimage topics over snacks and drinks in a cozy atmosphere,“ says Sabine Petters of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Initiative Vorpommern. The initiative is committed to further expanding the Stralsund Pilgrim Center, reviving the pilgrims' chapel in St. Jakobi and promoting training for pilgrim guides. One focus is on strengthening the pilgrim networks, which rely on the great and indispensable commitment of numerous volunteers who, among other things, look after pilgrims' hostels or maintain and preserve the signposting of the pilgrim routes. “We also want to raise awareness of the pilgrimage routes that pass through Pomerania, the Griffin Trail, the Birgitten Trail and the Via Baltica, and spark widespread interest in going on a pilgrimage along these routes.” In addition, the association organizes pilgrimages, for example to pilgrimage routes in Sweden and Italy, according to Sabine Petters. But the local calendar of events is also well filled.

In the footsteps of Saint Bridget 

In addition to the pilgrimage services and get-togethers, a guided day pilgrimage through the Hanseatic city of Stralsund takes place regularly. Every Friday during the summer season at 11:30 a.m., the city pilgrimage begins with a midday impulse in the pilgrimage chapel of the Kulturkirche St. Jakobi. Participants make a pilgrimage through the old town of Stralsund, visit the churches, get a stamp in their specially issued pilgrim pass and get to know Saint Birgitta from Sweden. To round off the day, there is coffee and pastries. “We are pleased not only to have many participants in the day-long pilgrimages, but also to meet people who are interested in getting involved in the Vorpommern Pilgrimage Initiative. New members are always welcome,“ invites Sabine Petters.

Umbrella brand for spiritual offers 

The pilgrimage initiative is one of the partners of the series of events “Time for You - Spiritual Summer in the North”. Under this umbrella brand, the Pomeranian Evangelical Church District and the Evangelical Lutheran Church District of Mecklenburg are bundling offers for inner reflection that are aimed at holidaymakers and locals alike in the period from May to October. A calendar of events can be found at the following link: https://www.kirche-mv.de/spiritueller-sommer-im-norden/veranstaltungen

More information:

• Pilgrimage initiative:pilgerinitiative-vorpommern.de
• Spiritual Summer:spiritueller-sommer-norden.de