Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham

Inside the Slipper Chapel

Outside the Slipper Chapel

Last Thursday a merry band of parishioners set off at 7am for the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, known also as England's Nazareth. You can find full details about the shrine here. We got stuck in a traffic jam caused by an accident on the A2 so although we did not make it for confessions at 11am, we still managed to arrive in good time for the 12noon Mass.

After Mass, people had their packed lunches or availed of the very good canteen in the grounds of the Catholic shrine.

Walking the Holy Mile

There followed a walk along the 'holy mile' up to the village of Little Walsingham praying the Rosary as we walked along. For those who were less able, the coach took them up the road.

Inside the Holy House at the Anglican Shrine

Inside the Holy House at the Anglican Shrine

Statue of St Jean Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars, at the Anglican Shrine

The journey back was without incident and we were back before 9pm.

Outside the new Catholic Church in Walsingham

Inside the new Catholic Church in Walsingham

It was a great day of fun in one another's company and prayer. Pilgrimages really do bring people together. It is so true that it's less about the destination and more about the journey. But the destination was wonderful. It was worth travelling so far to have a few hours of peace in such a beautiful place.

Inside the Russian Orthodox Church in Walsingham

A slide show of our Fatima pilgrimage.

Compressed

Fatima: A parishioner writes on meeting Francisco's nephew

The parish pilgrimage to Fatima was a wonderful, spiritual and uplifting experience, enjoyed by all who went. We attended mass, made the Stations of the Cross, visited shrines, basilicas and cathedrals and apart from the first day, all in warm sunshine.

We had a free day and a small group decided to visit the home of Francisco and Jacinta, as it had been closed on the day we visited the home of Lucia.

We went into the living room where there was an old gentleman sitting quietly in a corner. We said "hello" and shook his hand. He showed us the family portrait, hanging on the wall, and explained who everyone was. He told us that his own father was Francisco's brother. He was so gracious and patient answering all our questions, even though he must have been asked the same questions thousands of times before. We were allowed to take photographs, so now we have a lovely reminder of that amazing meeting.

We felt so very happy as we came away. Not only had we seen the home of Francisco and Jacinta we had also met their nephew.

Maureen

Greetings from Fatima

A group of 24 of us from the parish are on pilgrimage in Fatima. We arrived on Monday evening and will depart tomorrow.

Fatima is a place of great peace but also one to which one cannot come without taking seriously the message of prayer and reparation that the Angel of Peace and Our Lady transmitted to the three shepherd children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

Here's the group by the sculpture of Pope John Paul II outside the new church of the Holy Trinity.



We are staying in a very nice Casa da N. S. das Doras, a house dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, where we have the use of a chapel for Mass and the Office, and excellent meals, all at a very reasonable price.

After morning prayer and Mass on Tuesday, we went to the museum Fatima Light and Peace for a very enlightening tour led by an American sister who managed to sum up in a very appealing and moving way the message that the three children had received, recalling that the apparitions took place in a time of darkness and war.

Our pilgrims were amazed to see the many precious objects - ranging from jewellery to a bicycle - that had been donated by pilgrims in thanksgiving for favours received. The most precious relic, of course, is the bullet which would have taken Pope John Paul's life on 13th May 1989 had Our Lady not protected him. It is contained in a precious crown that is kept in the museum.

In the afternoon we took the minitrain to Aljustrel to do the Way of the Cross and to visit the houses of the shepherd children. Unfortunately the house of Jacinta and Francisco was closed but we were able get into Lucia's house. The weather had by this time turned very very cold, and wet.





In the evening, we went to the international Rosary and procession.





Wednesday was a lighter day in the morning and the afternoon saw us on an excursion to the World Heritage monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaca, and to the lovely seaside town of Nazare.

Today is Thursday. We had Mass in the Capelhina this morning and generally a free day for all to go to Confession, do some shopping, make their own pilgrimage ... or share a drink in a very hospitable cafe-bar just near the shrine and our Casa. It is one of our pilgrim's - Peter Runciman's - 75th birthday!

I hope to up load some more photos soon.

Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes

We all arrived home safe and sound last night after an event-free train journey from Lourdes to Ashford International. The spirit amongst the pilgrims was tremendous - I can't wait for our next pilgrimage. Punters have suggested Fatima, the Holy Land or Medjugorje. We shall see...

To read more about our pilgrimage, click here.

Parish trip to Rome/Lourdes?

In the parish newsletter last week, I included a notice about a possible pilgrimage in October. Parishioners might be interested in viewing Fr Tim Finigan's regular posts on his blog The Hermeneutic of Continuity from his parish pilgrimage to Lourdes which is taking place this week. Here are some links:

Two views of Lourdes
Finding St Bernadette
International Mass
Mass in the Crypt
Straws in the wind
Rue du Bourg