Sevenoaks Ordinariate visit to Walsingham

The Walsingham Pilgrimage from Sevenoaks

 

Photo: Frances Smith

Mrs Janice Williams writes:
Friday April 29^th

39 Pilgrims from the Sevenoaks Ordinariate; St. Johns Sevenoaks and St. Thomas Sevenoaks journeyed to the National Shine of Our Lady of Walsingham, after prayers led by Fr James.

Fr Ivan could not join us this year as he was in Rome for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.

As we arrived at Walsingham we all sung the Walsingham Pilgrim Hymn.

The first visit to the shrine was led by Roy Cavey, after which a group of us went to Vespers, the Rosary and Shrine prayers before supper.                          

Saturday 

At 9:30 the group attended Stations of the Cross which were led by Michael Payne and John Robinson from St. Johns. We then made our way on foot to the Slipper chapel a mile away for Mass and lunch. After lunch we joined with another group of pilgrims and walked back to the village along the old railway track saying the Rosary.

We arrived back in Walsingham in time for the 15.30 Benediction in the church of the Annunciation.

Members of St. Johns attended the 6pm Mass at the shrine church where Bishop Lindsay welcomed and said how good it was to have the first group from the Ordinariate visit Walsingham. After Supper, we joined with fellow pilgrims in the shrine church for the Procession of Our Lady of Walsingham in the garden.

Sunday

After breakfast the group split, with the Ordinariate group going to Mass at the church of the Annunciation and the group from St. John’s going to the Parish Church. Both groups rejoined for lunch and after lunch we all attended the service of Sprinkling at the Holy Well. It was really good to do this as one large group just like one big happy family. Later we attended the final visit to the Holy House.

So after a weekend of good food, souvenir buying, praying and refreshing the mind body and spirit it was time to say goodbye to Walsingham for another year.

We finally arrived back in Sevenoaks at 9:30 pm.

Please note that next year’s pilgrimage to Walsingham has already been booked for Friday 13^th April – Sunday 15^th April 2012.

Everyone is welcome to join us for next year’s pilgrimage to Walsingham from the Ordinariate, St. Thomas’, St. Johns, new friends, old friends and children, bookings are now being taken.

For more information you can contact me, Janice Williams, or see me after 11:15am Mass at St. Thomas’ most Sundays.