 |
Walsingham. The name had been popping up on
my screen over the years while working on the Holy
Family website, so when I noticed that our St Vincent De
Paul group were organising a coach to the shrine as part
of a National Pilgrimage day I though it was time to
investigate.
Four of us booked seats at the ludicrously low rate of
£12 per person. My paparazzi colleague, Ray Mengham, was
commissioned to ‘cover the mood of the day’ in pictures.
According to SVP member Anne Bannon, this was the 29th
consecutive trip their Slough branch had organised and
there had been many sporadic trips before that
We
assembled in the Holy Family car park at some God
forsaken hour on Sunday morning waiting for the
coach to arrive from St. Ethelbert’s. |
 |
|
|
|
A niggling feeling that this day would
reach
number one on my list of “Greatest Mistakes Of My Life”
was starting to eat into my consciousness. Not helped by
knowing that my alternative for the day could have been
lying back dunking digestives and watching Roger Federer
win at Wimbledon. I was starting to ‘fill up’ a little
when fortunately the coach arrived. |
|
And from that
moment things changed.
The atmosphere
of 50 enthusiastic pilgrims all greeting each other, trying to perm
people into groups for seats, poor Bill Bannon attempts to do a head
count amid the chaos and the general light banter of everyone was
electrifyingly brilliant. Even my own grumpiness was disintegrating
in the continuous repartee.
By the time we
hit the motorway we were all well settled into our seats for the
3hour+ journey. However, within ten minutes the leaders started to
recite the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. There were readings
from different people and hymns were sung at the end of each decade.
Surprisingly, I found the Hymns on the Highway a very inspiring and
– sorry – moving experience.
|
 |
|
|
|
And then from
rosary to repast as the food parcels were whipped
out and we all duly over ate – and it was only after
9.00a.m. |
| Eventually we rolled into
our comfort stop at Barton Mills where I was force fed again before
we set off on the final leg to Walsingham. |
|
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham nestles in a very secluded
part of a Norfolk valley, and has been a place of pilgrimage since
medieval times. |
|
|
Our coach meandered slowly down the world’s narrowest lane before
turning into a massive park where there were already 20 other
coaches.
We had a good hour to kill before Mass – time for another cup of tea
and a good look around the site.
The original Shrine was destroyed at the Reformation and many years
passed until the Slipper Chapel, a 14th century wayside
pilgrim chapel, was restored and pilgrimages to Walsingham began once
more.
In 1934, the English
Bishops named the Slipper Chapel the Roman Catholic National Shrine
of Our Lady. Many thousands of people have visited the Shrine and on
this visit I estimated there were about 1500 –2000 visitors.
|
|
 |
The Shrine’s theme
for the 2009
Pilgrimage season
is
”The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Queen of all Creation.”
"The Immaculate Virgin...
when she had completed
her earthly life, was taken up
body and soul into the
glory of heaven
and exalted as
the
queen of all creation".
(Lumen Gentium 59).
|
|
|
|
|
The Chapel of Reconciliation
|
|
|
|
In September 1980, building work began to replace the old open-air
altar with a chapel to accommodate the increasing number of
pilgrims. The Chapel of Reconciliation was blessed by the late
Cardinal Hume in 1981 and it was consecrated by the late Bishop Alan
Clark of East Anglia on 22nd May 1982. It can seat up to 400, but
when the number of people exceeds the capacity, the sanctuary can be
opened and the altar becomes the focal point for pilgrims’ outdoors.
The beautiful
polished Aberdeen granite Altar, which was part of the original
open-air sanctuary, was a gift from the Union of Catholic Mothers in
1973.
|
|
|
It was moved into the new Chapel and
re-consecrated, during which the relics of St Laurence of Rome, St
Thomas Becket and St Thomas More were sealed in the altar.
To the right hand side of the Altar is the silver tabernacle where
the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for silent prayer and adoration.
With its wheelchair access ramps and Loop System for the Deaf, the
Chapel of Reconciliation is comfortable for all visitors.
Sunday, 5th July
was the SVP’s National Pilgrimage For The Sick and to-day’s services
were led by the Right Reverend Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia. |
|
| It was a beautiful day and
the sanctuary doors were open, allowing Mass to be
seen and heard by pilgrimages outside the building. |
|
|
After a
procession of the oils,
a
team of priests then moved
through the congregation,
anointing the
forehead and
hands of the sick. |
|
 |
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, our
Redeemer,
by the grace of your Holy Spirit,
cure the weakness of
your servants.
Heal their sickness and forgive them their sins;
expel all afflictions of mind and body;
mercifully restore them to
full health,
and enable them to resume their former duties,
for you
are Lord for ever and ever. Amen |
 |
|
| After Mass there was
time for more tea, sandwiches and other goodies that our
ladies had prepared, followed by a quick chat with
the others. |
|
An air of undemanding peace hangs over the grounds and there is a
beautiful, well-kept garden to stroll through,
or to sit in for
private meditation. |
|
|
Many stalls are dotted throughout
the gardens offering varieties of nibbles at very fair
prices and a well stocked shop that allows you to browse
through it’s wares without the usual sales pressure to
buy.
Money was definitely kept low key here.
There was one collection taken at the offertory and
apart from spending a few pence should you wish to light
a candle - that was it. |
|
|
|
|
My only gripe about
Walsingham was the sound system – or the quality of it outside.
The words spoken at the services were well signed by experienced
signers but for those of us outside the church acoustics who are
slightly audibly challenged it was a strain to hear the dialogue.
If only they would update their external
amplification it would make
such a difference.
|
|
|
|
And
finally at 4.00 p.m, Bishop Michael led us
in
Benediction
and the final recessional
hymn was sung. |
|
Lady of Walsingham, Lady of England,
Look with love on this our land.
Grant us your aid, your prayers and your
blessing,
True to our faith we will
ever stand. |
|
Then with perfect
celestial timing the sun slipped behind a cloud and a few spits and
spots of rain encouraged us to quickly scurry back to our coaches.
The atmosphere in the coach on the journey home was so different to
the morning one. That had been full of excitement and anticipation
while this was sheer satisfaction and joy that it had been such a
successful day. The regulars were happy that once again it had lived
up to their expectations and to us newcomers there was the pleasant
surprise that we had all got a higher buzz from it than we had been
expecting. |
|
|
 |
Our SVP are to be
congratulated on organizing such a memorable day. Coach organizer,
Jim McErlean couldn’t go with us on the day because of a family
illness but he still managed to turn up to see us off and to welcome
us back. An incredible man. Many thanks, Jim.
And yes, God willing we
will certainly go back next year – only with fewer sandwiches.
|
|
|
I went on the trip with a slightly blasé attitude of bland
interest.
But as I sat at the shrine and watched my fellow human
beings, some with incredibly obvious physical disabilities actually
smiling and enjoying life;
I asked myself that same old question:
“Why?” and “There but for the grace of God…..” What a horrible
selfish attitude to have.
These special people don’t need or want our sympathy. They may need our help to survive physically,
but inside in their head and their very soul lurks a colossal
strength that will carry them onwards and upwards –
the STRENGTH OF FAITH. |
|
|
|
Dear Bernard, as always I mostly
look at the Holy Family Web page
before closng down my computer -
what a wonderful surprise to-day to
see your article on the SVP annual
trip to Walsingham.
I had the privilege NEVER to miss
this Annual pilgrimage, followed by
the UCM Annual Pilgrimage the
Tuesday after - both so meaningful
and not to be missed when one is in
full, 'bouncing' health and of
course YOUNG-er!! And committed to
most Church Organisations.
Usually the SVP was WET, very WET
and I can remember our 'gang' being
drenched as there were very few
facilities in those days. We were
shameless but well protected with
binliners and having great fun, we
believed prayer combined with fun
went hand in hand. |
 |
Sometimes we stayed overnight in
Hostels to make it easier for the
UCM Pilgrimage on Tuesday.
When it was wet on the Sundays we
warned the 'Mums' to be prepared for
WET weather, so of course everyone
was well prepared - BUT of course
when we got there the sun was
brilliant and it was HOT!
so we lost several friends. The UCM
Pilgrimage is very touching
and 'prayer in action' - Long
procession to the remains of the
actual Priory grounds where we had
Benediction about 5 o'clock in the
evenings and then got our
coach/transport back.
Those were my unforgettable memories
and it is so sad when one just can't
be a part of it anymore ... so
Bernard do try to make this the
beginning of a very fulfilling part
of your life.
Thanks for my trip down 'memory'
lane!. Gemma Meik |
|
| Many thanks to
Ray Mengham for his location photography |
|
|
©
B.
Stanley: Holy Family Langley, 07/09 |
|
