“I was lucky enough to attend this year’s National Pilgrimage to Walsingham. It was a very spiritual and uplifting time for many reasons. We were blessed with gorgeous weather and the company of many members as well as our National President Siobhan and our Spiritual Advisor, Bishop Phillip Moger.
Our weekend started when we arrived at Eltham House, the Pilgrim accommodation. In front of this building, there is a very small area for cars to be parked (Friday Market) and finding a spot meant we wouldn’t have to walk very far with our cases! Always a bonus.
Although we had to wait a while for some of our rooms to be ready, when we did get them, they were fine. Not luxurious, but everything we would need for our 2 nights stay.
We enjoyed a Talk and Reflections by Bishop Philip on the Friday evening followed by a candle-lit procession around the garden of Eltham House.
On Saturday we walked the Pilgrim Mile to the Chapel of Reconciliation where we had a very devout mass at 12:00. The church was very full due to many pilgrims, mainly from the Northampton Diocese. We walked back along the same Pilgrim mile walk (I am sure it was longer than in the morning! Benediction was in the church of the Annunciation, next door to Eltham House and Father Shrayne gave a wonderful Talk.
Dinner was followed by a fun quiz and on Sunday we had another lovely Mass (next door). What a joyful occasion as 3 local children were making their First Holy Communion.
All in all, we had a fantastic time, talking and meeting up with members from as far afield as Morpeth and Dorset. Thank you, Siobhan and all the Executive members who organised, both before and during the Pilgrimage. I was so pleased I had participated in the National Pilgrimage, but I thought it was a shame that more members were unable to join in this really special occasion.”
Vee Comparini, Westminster Branch President