SUN WAY Pilgrimage – 9.21.25 – Boston
 
WHAT. Boston Interfaith Climate Allies invites you to join the SUN WAY Pilgrimage in downtown Boston on Sunday, September 21, 2025, as we gather to “pray with our feet” for deeper climate justice. This public, prayerful, peaceful, and joyful processional is a part of the wider international SUN-DAY action (sunday.earth) that celebrates solar & wind and the movement to free our world of fossil fuels. As too many people and parts of nature are being hurt by climate injustice, the fierce moral urgency of now impels us as people of faith and good will to act. In this “sacred action” we will take to the streets to boldly declare that there is more than enough alternative energy freely given by our Creator and available to all of us in ways that will not cause more harm, inequity or injustice.
 
This pilgrimage will originate from various houses of worship in the Back Bay, Central Boston, and other parts of the city and culminate with a multifaith outdoor service at the Boston Common. The main processional will be led by joyful music and colorful art and will include various prayerful proclamation stops as it winds its way through the streets and pathways to the Common where we will pass by Brewer Fountain (the home of common cathedral) and end at the north end of the Common (near Park and Beacon street intersection), in a spot intentionally located between St. Paul’s Cathedral and the State House. In this public square, we will raise our collective, non-violent, prayerful and bold interfaith voices to declare that all who hold positions of privilege and power in our nation must use them to honor the sun, wind, and earth.
 
WHEN. Sunday, September 21, 2025, 1:00pm-2:30pm.  The Sun Way Pilgrimage will have two "parts" - the processional from Old South Church to Boston Common, and the Multifaith Service on Boston Common. The processional will be led by joyful live brass band music interspersed between the prayer stops. Here is the general time frame:
1:00-1:10pm Welcome, Prayerful Proclamations at Old South Church with Trinity Church
1:20 Prayerful Proclamations at Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury Street with Central Reform Temple & Emmanuel Church
1:40 Prayerful Proclamation by Arlington Street Church at entrance to the Public Garden across from Newbury Street
1:50 Prayerful Proclamation by Paulist Center at The Embrace
1:55 Prayerful Proclamation by common cathedral, Brewer Fountain, Boston Common (Park Street MBTA stop)
2:00-2:30pm Multifaith Outdoor Service, North corner of Boston Common (close to steps that go up to state house, near Park and Beacon street intersection)

Honored Multi-faith voices: Rev. Mariama White-Hammond (New Roots AME), Elizabeth Solomon (Massachusett tribe), Rabbi Dr. Michael Shire (Central Reform Temple), Daryush Mehta (Zoroastrian Chaplain),  Gen Kelsang Khedrub, (Kadampa Meditation Center Boston), Rabbi Laura Bellows, Dayenu Jewish Climate Action, and others...
Joyful Music led by: Mercedes Escobar, Mamadou Diop (djembe), BVOCAL Justice Activist choir, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians (BABAM), and others...
 
WHERE. Central Downtown Boston, MA (ancestral, unceded lands and sacred waters of the Massachusett). Pilgrimage begins at Old South Church, 645 Boylston Street (Corner of Dartmouth and Boylston streets) and processes for 1 mile to the Boston Common, North corner (close to steps that go up to state house, near Park and Beacon street intersection) stopping briefly at various faith communities for brief Prayerful Proclamations. A smaller, shorter processional will leave from King's Chapel, and Saint Clement (email here with questions).
 
WHY. In these days of troubling rises in authoritarianism in this country and beyond, it is more important than ever for people of faith and good will to take public stands for the collective good (commons). In a democracy, we must claim the promises of freedom of assembly, freedom of religious expression, and freedom of speech to amplify the most critical moral issues of our day. Climate change is ravaging both our planet and its people while disproportionately hurting the most marginalized. Increasing the transition to a cleaner energy future through the abundant use of solar and wind is a profoundly ethical choice for which we wholeheartedly pray and advocate. As the psalmist sings out, “from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same”, we are to be about praise and giving thanks. As an expression of this praise, we will work together to ensure a healthy “island earth home” for all of creation now and for all who come after us.
 
WHO. All are welcome. All humans, companion animals, ancestors, and the rest of nature. This pilgrimage is intergenerational (kids welcome!), multipartisan, multifaith, and beyond faith. All abilities and identities are welcome. All who care about climate justice, a better future, a free world are welcome. Please join us!
 
HOW. The lead organizer of this pilgrimage is the Boston Interfaith Climate Allies (BICA). This is a grassroots collective of congregations originating from central Boston including (but not limited to): Arlington Street Church, Central Reform Temple, Church of the Covenant, Emmanuel Church, First Church Boston, King’s Chapel, Old North Church, Old South Church, Saint Cecilia Parish, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Paulist Center, Trinity Church. BICA is grateful for the close guidance of GreenFaith, Third Act Faith, and other climate justice partners. See https://tinyurl.com/sunway92125 to RSVP.   

PLEASE TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION or HUMAN POWER to event as you can. https://www.mbta.com/

PLEASE JOIN US and RSVP here: tinyurl.com/sunway92125
Most Updated info: bica.earth

QUESTIONS? Email [email protected]

*This event is deeply rooted in the long spiritual practice of peaceful, non-violence. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are not allowed at this pilgrimage.

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Pilgrimage Directions