The 2005 Pilgrimage/ Lent Retreat to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk, was a great success with 25 people in total staying or visiting during the week.
The Vicar General led the pilgrimage and celebrated the main Pilgrimage Masses on Thursday 17th and Saturday 19th. An unexpected highlight during the Week was the permission granted by the Manager of the Sue Ryder Retreat House (where most of the pilgrims stayed) to allow our party to have Mass in the recently opened Martyrs Chapel in the cellar. the Revd Dom Philip-James French OSB (Priest-in-Charge ACC St Ninians Whitby) celebrated the Mass and the occasion was deeply moving and uplifting.
On Saturday 19th, braving snow, ice and cold winds, the Mission of our Lady and St Francis, Rochester, travelled by car to join the pilgrimage for the day and Father Raymond Thompson, their priest in charge, preached at the 12 noon Mass. Afterwards Fr Thompson also led the group around the Stations of the Cross.