Walsingham Pilgrimage 2015

Each year the Dominican brethren, sisters, laity, and faithful, who are associated with our communities, make pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. This year was no exception. Events like this annual pilgrimage are a wonderful opportunity for the Dominican family from across the country to meet together in prayer and fellowship.

The day began with Mass of the Ascension at midday, with the main celebrant being the recently appointed shrine director, Mgr John Armitage, a priest of the diocese of Brentwood. Our Fr Thomas Skeats, O.P., Prior of London, preached the homily. 

After the picnic there was an opportunity to offer prayers and leave petitions in the Slipper Chapel before beginning the procession with the statue of Our Lady to the Catholic parish church in Walsingham. Along the way we sang hymns and offered up in prayer the various Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, led by our pilgrimage coordinator, Fr David Rocks, O.P., Prior of Leicester.

After a spot of tea, a brief visit to the local shops, and the Anglican shrine, we ended our pilgrimage with Vespers and Benediction in the Catholic parish church before we all headed back to our respective homes.

If you were unable to join us this year, please do consider coming next year, which will be particularly special as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Dominican Order.

A special thanks to Br Matthew Jarvis, O.P., who kindly organised the Oxford-leg of the pilgrimage.

For more photographs of the pilgrimage, please visit Br Joseph Bailham’s Flickr page.