As the day’s lengthen and the sun begins to shine, we’re looking forward to the pilgrimage season. For us, a highlight is pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham – and we’re taking bookings NOW! Here, Fr Dean reflects on one particular aspect of pilgrimage, reminding us that it’s not just about the destination.
I don’t know what the staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn thought that day, when a convoy of six coaches called by. What number of casualties could they expect?
Fortunately, for them, there was just one. She had injured her hand whilst adjusting the skylight of her coach but Fr Graham, our pilgrimage leader, insisted that all pilgrims should stay together! From a practical perspective, it served little purpose, but the image of those coaches, nose to tail trundling towards the hospital doorway has remained with me on every pilgrimage since.
We were on our way to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Some years ago, before coaches had comfort, there were often problems along the way. An old coach could break down, or pilgrims bemoaned the unbearable heat, let down by the lack of adequate air conditioning. Some pilgrims, so keen to reach their destination, viewed the journey as an encumbrance, something to prevent them ever going again! They rarely kept their word.
So often, we have our sights so set on the destination, some significant holy place or another, that we forget that pilgrimage is as much about the journey as the arrival.
As we travel, we talk. On the move, we meet others. As we arrive, there is a shared and tangible sense of relief, a breathtaking moment which suddenly snaps us into a new way of being, as we dip in and out of each other’s Divine moments. It is, of course, short lived but it leaves its mark upon us.
After a few days away, the homeward journey becomes another pilgrimage back to the everyday to discover God in the matter of our lives, to seek out the Divine in what we had once dismissed as ordinary.
South Wales Walsingham Pilgrimage
Why not join us for the Pilgrimage from South Wales, from Monday July 22 to Thursday July 25?
If you’d like to be part of the group from South Cardiff Ministry then get in touch, either by email or by speaking to Liz at St Saviour’s Church, Georgina at St Mary’s Church, or any of the clergy.
In the meantime, you can find out more about the pilgrimage, including costs, here:
Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage
The Youth Pilgrimage is a week of lively worship, teaching, fellowship and fun for 11-18 year olds.
The traditional pilgrimage devotions are presented in an upbeat, lively and enjoyable way which makes them relevant for our young people in today’s world.
Over 500 young people gather in Walsingham for the week from all over the UK and internationally, giving them a chance to meet other Christians and explore their faith in a safe environment. Over the years it has changed the lives of countless young people who have never forgotten their week in Walsingham and many of them have come to love the Shrine and to make the pilgrimage ever since.
We’re now taking bookings for this year’s group travelling from South Wales. The cost is £150 but bursaries are available for anyone who can’t afford this!
To find out more about the Youth Pilgrimage check out the Shrine’s website
For more insight into how pilgrimage enriches our life together, and to discover more pilgrimage opportunities, check out our pilgrimage page:
South Cardiff Ministry Area 
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