Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham Set to Hold

June 21, 2023190 views0

Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham Set to Hold

2023-06-21T09:32:16+01:00

By Marie

According to the Latin Mass Society (LMS) of England and Wales, “Record-breaking attendance” is expected for the upcoming annual pilgrimage to England’s famous Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in August.Known as “England’s Nazareth,” the popular shrine is located on the north coast of East Anglia and was established around 1061.Inspired by the famous walking pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres, pilgrims will meet in Ely, East Cambridgeshire, on Thursday, Aug. 24, and walk roughly 59 miles to Walsingham, where their journey will conclude with Mass in Walsingham’s Chapel of Reconciliation followed by devotions on Sunday, Aug. 27.Joseph Shaw, chairman of the Latin Mass Society, said: “Last year we had 160 pilgrims, including the volunteers; this was a big jump from the previous year, which itself was a big increase on the pre-COVID level … Early indications are that we will have another record-breaking year this year, as they had on the Chartres pilgrimage.”During the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham, there will be singing, praying of the rosary, daily sung Mass, and confession on the road.When asked what made the LMS pilgrimage different to other pilgrimages to Walsingham, Shaw said: “Lots of pilgrims arrive in Walsingham each year, some walking, some in groups. What is special about ours is that it is open to everyone unlike, say, a parish outing and the spirit of the pilgrimage, which is inspired by Chartres: singing, praying the rosary, daily sung Mass, confession on the road, increasingly large scale, and physically demanding.ALSO READ: Bishop Kaigama Commends KSM’s Contribution to Church