Pilgrim project started by GP Sweden
Michael Moberg, Grand Prior III GP Sweden
In October 2020, Corona had held the world in its grip for about 10 months and it seemed that it would be a long time before we in the Order could meet again. But for us in Sweden, we were allowed to leave our homes and be out in nature, but only if we keep 1.5-2m distance. How could this be a benefit for us?
When I studied GP Sweden's law book, it says that we should promote our members to carry out a Pilgrim walk. It made me think that I had some members with this interest. I contacted them and we started a working group in December 2020.
The working group was given the goal of creating a business that will be a bridge builder and show the way to trails, holy places and churches. The project leader became our Grand Chaplain, who worked within the Church of Sweden for a long time and is well versed in the pilgrim organisation in Sweden, where he is an instructor for training new leaders. The course started with five members as students.
During the training, thoughts were also raised about how to reach pilgrims and how we should show the way. Since I was already involved in creating our new website, the answer was simple. During the collection of all links to trails within Sweden, a comprehensive map image and list of links was provided. In total, we now have links to 69 websites and detailed maps gathered in one place. These pages have been developed by local associations, churches and municipalities around Sweden.
Through this work, we also saw that some trails continued to our neighboring countries and there is also the idea that the project had the potential to grow. The projects could be started by other Grand Priory who see the opportunity to participate in the support for the Pilgrim by linking pilgrim routes between countries. As we have good contact with OSMTH in Finland, an interest was created to start this project there as well. And the interest has now also reached GP USA and GP Greece.
To create memories of the hike, we have developed our own ”OSMTH GP Sweden Pilgrim Passport”. There the pilgrim can collect stamps from churches and other places they pass. The passport also contains a short description of OSMTH and GP Sweden. Together with the passport, we also have a small folder that describes our activities in Sweden, the UN and international involvement, which we distribute to those who travel with us.
In the spring of 2021, we have now completed four pilgrimages, of which I, as Grand Prior, have been the leader of the walk in July and I will lead one more this autumn.
During the hike, I plan to have a number of short presentations with connections to the importance of water for Jesus' life, Christianity and the people of today. But I also had time to present the purpose of a modern Order of the Knights Templar and the projects GP Sweden runs and our role within the UN and the support we have in UN. During all the walks, many have been fascinated by how it comes that Muslim countries support and sometimes help in our activities.
For those who want, both members and pilgrims, they can buy GP Sweden Pilgrim Diploma or our pilgrim medal. All profits go to the charity projects we run in the future.
If there is interest in starting this pilgrim project, I look forward to be contacted by the Grand Prior for an introduction. All documentation is now available in English and it is free to adapt it to each country's conditions. This allows GP to develop the project integrated with the pilgrim organisation, the church and the religious sites and people that exist within your own country.
Through this collaboration between Grand Priories within OSMTH, we establish ourselves as the guide for pilgrims who want to travel to different countries. We strengthen our relationships with our own church and the religious sites in our vicinity. We link our websites so that the pilgrim can easily find the sights that are in the pilgrim's interest with the support of OSMTH.
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