Gypsies and Travellers
The Catholic Church has a Gypsy and Traveller Support Network.
This mutual network includes some fifty priests, sisters and lay people in the Catholic community who have a ministry to Gypsies and Travellers or are connected with agencies, parishes or schools which serve Gypsy and Traveller communities.
It also has a newsletter called Pilgrim Catholic.
Pilgrim Catholic
Published twice a year, Pilgrim Catholic is the newsletter of the Network.
Members of the network share ideas and experiences, reflect on public policy and respond to requests for support from across the Catholic community.
It's a useful publication for people who work closely with local travelling communities - people like Fr Michael Walsh who's Parish Priest of St Anthony’s in Henbury, Bristol.
"Pilgrim Catholic is a useful tool for me in my ministry. It informs me of what’s going on around the country and is indispensable as I minister to travellers’ particular needs.
“It helps me to have a reference point for issues such as housing and access. It is also gives me guidance when dealing with legal documents such as driving licences, passports as well as baptism and marriage papers.”
Read/download
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 7 - October 2009
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 6 - February 2009
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 5 - Summer/Autumn 2008
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 4 - Winter 2007/8
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 3 - Spring/Summer 2007
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 2 - Autumn 2006
Pilgrim Catholic: Issue 1 - Spring 2006
Both Pilgrim Catholic and the Network are supported by the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.