Report departure ceremony for pilgrims

Last Saturday was the second departure ceremony for pilgrims, in a beautiful room in the St. Stevens Church, also the starting point of the Walk of Wisdom. Master of ceremonies Manja Bente talked about how she and Damiaan once experienced a departure ceremony as special for a walking tour. They are happy to pass this experience on to Walk of Wisdom walkers.

This time it is up to me to share some of my own experiences, supplemented with a number of beautiful sentences and experiences that we have taken from the folder of the pilgrim log. The folder where all pilgrims who have completed the route can write something.

Musically, the ceremony was assisted by musicians Niek Edeling and Dineke de Velde Harsenhorst. Her song ‘small silence’ makes a deep impression on those present.

The 4 pilgrims who chose to start today were still thinking about the road they were going to take and were allowed to light a candle with the peace flame. After the registration, they were waved goodbye by the other attendees, while the pilgrim’s song was sung, reverberating beautifully in the church.

Everyone has the same route, everyone has their own story. This was reflected in the stories I read (and read), the music and the stories that were exchanged before and after the ceremony.The next departure ceremony is on August 20. Both people who want to walk the Walk of Walk of Wisdom then (or later) and people who want to wave goodbye are very welcome.