Journey to Walsingham
Wednesday 8th May 2019Last weekend over 400 pilgrims journeyed from across our diocese to join our Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham. This year the pilgrimage was led by Canon Michael Cooke VG and coaches traveled south from Salford, Bolton, Manchester, Rochdale and Bury.
The number of pilgrims on this years pilgrimage is evidence of what an important date the pilgrimage is in our diocesan calendar. The sun even shone for the second year running!
The pilgrimage included a procession and rosary along the Holy Mile, a visit around the shrine and slipper chapel and concluded with a service of reconciliation and the celebration of Mass.
The theme of this years pilgrimage was “Preparing for the Rededication – This is your Mother”. The theme is taken from the preparations for the re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary in 2020. As part of the spiritual preparation for the re-dedication, the Statue of Our Lady of Walsingham is visiting every Catholic English Cathedral, we were delighted to host the statute in October of last year. You can find a list of the full tour here.
The shrine of Walsingham is known as ‘England’s Nazareth’, was established in the reign of Saint Edward the Confessor in 1061. Richeldis de Faverches, lady of the manor of Walsingham, had a vision in which the Mother of God took her in spirit to Nazareth and showed her the holy house of the Annunciation and the home of the Holy Family. Our Lady requested that a replica of the holy house of Nazareth be built in Walsingham, that would serve as a perpetual memorial of the Annunciation. In December 2015 the Shrine was named a minor Basilica by Pope Francis, one of three minor Basilica’s in this country.
Thank you to all those who helped organise and went on the pilgrimage. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
Tagged | Catholic Church
