Interfaith Paths to Peace plans Gandhi-Merton Pilgrimage for Peace Sept. 7-11

To commemorate the centennial of Mahatma Gandhi’s first non-violent campaign on Sept. 11, 1906 in South Africa, Interfaith Paths to Peace, an independent non-profit group in Louisville, Kentucky, is sponsoring a five-day, 52-mile “Gandhi-Merton Pilgrimage for Peace and Non-Violence” Sept. 7-11. Its purpose is to draw attention to the urgent need to find non-violent solutions to conflicts throughout the world.

Leading the pilgrimage will be noted peace activist Roman Catholic priest, Fr. John Dear, SJ, and Phil Cousineau, award-winning author of The Art of Pilgrimage.


The event is designed to bring together pilgrims representing all of the world’s great religions who are commited to non-violent work for peace and justice. The number of pilgrims for the full five-day journey is limited to 50 (however, it is possible to walk only a portion of the 52-mile distance.) The pilgrims will stay in churches and retreat houses. Meals will be provided by local religious or civic groups. While there is no fee for taking part in the pilgrimage, it is hoped that all participants will make a contribution (according to their means) to help offset expenses.

The pilgrims will begin their journey on Sept. 7 with a retreat at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky. They will spend the night at the Abbey of Gethsemane and begin their journey at Thomas Merton’s hermitage on September 8.

The pilgrimage will conclude on Sept. 11 in downtown Louisville at a site where, on March 18, 1958, Merton had the famous realization of his connectedness to all humanity. That realization symbolically marked the beginning of Merton’s work for peace and justice, work that earned him the title of “Conscience of the Peace Movement” in the 1960’s.

For further information, call Terry Taylor, executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace, at (502) 214-7322 or e-mail him at Terry@InterfaithPathsToPeace.org