16. Aug 2025

Lo Reninge

Photo 1: "Ripped up rain cover"

The thrones on the by-ways in England showed no mercy on the rain cover for my backpack. Even through it did not rain almost the whole stretch from Belfast, Ireland to Dover, England, I still used the protective cover so that vehicle drivers I could see me better when I walked on roads. Rain is in the forecast for the coming week. I also must have left my poncho at a hostel in England. I will need to get something soon both for the backpack and me.

Photo 2: The Catholic Church was the only church in the town of Reninge, and it did not have a service this Sunday. It had taken place last night. As in most countries in Western Europe there is a shortage of priest, and many of them will be responsible for more than one parish. So there is a rotation of when and where a church service will take place.

Photo 3: Still doors to the church were open. I was the only one there when I went by this morning. I sang my pilgrim song and prayed for the community and Belgium.

Photo 4: I noticed this pilgrim display from last year, the special holy year in Rome when many pilgrims made their way to Rome. The sign says: "Year of Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope". Surrounding the sign were small yellow notelets with people's name on it. I do not know if these were people from the area who had traveled to Rome or had passed through the town of Reninge as pilgrims during the Year of Jubilee. There was no one I could ask.