South Wales Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham | Monday July 24 – Thursday July 27, 2023
Welcome to our Pilgrimage Home (from Home) Page for 2023. Here you’ll find loads of information to help you get the most out of our pilgrimage together!
Daily, daily
Whether you’re here at Walsingham with us or taking part from a distance, you can find out what’s happening each day through the pilgrimage. Just click on each day below.
MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
The Shrine
For information about the Shrine please visit their website: www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk
‘God has gladdened my heart with joy’ – our pilgrimage theme
This journey we make is a familiar one for many of you. You may have made pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham each year, over many decades. For others this may be your first time on pilgrimage to ‘England’s Nazareth’ or perhaps you are returning to pilgrimage after many years away from the Shrine.
Whatever the case, we never make pilgrimage alone. We have the company of one another, and so many others with whom we make the Christian journey through life. So importantly, we also have Mary, Mother of the Church, as a travelling companion along the way.
Mary is the first Christian Pilgrim. As she travelled from her home in Nazareth, she carried within her the presence of Jesus. She made her way to the hill country of Judah to be with her cousin Elizabeth in her need. Those two women shared in each other’s joy, and all that God was doing for them and, through them, for the whole world, and every generation.
It is in the hill country of Judah, at her journey’s end, that Mary sang her song of hope and joy. It is a canticle of praise which sends shudders to the powerful and brings hope to those who are poor. It is a song which turns some away empty whilst others, after years of waiting, now have their fill.
Mary’s Magnificat is a song of God’s justice, of fulfilled promises, of marvels and mercy. Her words are the first words we will sing in the Shrine Church tonight as we move from the Holy House to the summit and source of our Christian life, as we celebrate the Mass.
During this pilgrimage and our days together, as we humbly claim a share in Mary’s prayers, may her song ring in our ears and be embedded in our hearts, for it is a song of comfort and challenge. It offers reassurance and stirs us on to seek God’s Kingdom of Love.
As Elizabeth and John the Baptist rejoiced at the presence of Jesus within the womb of Mary, so may we be attentive and alert to his presence in our lives. May our days together bring a renewed and revived faith, and give us a new sense of humility and trust in God so that, on our return home, the song of Mary and all it celebrates will be woven into the fabric of our lives.
Timetable
Monday 24 July
5.00pm
'Welcome to Walsingham' - an introductory session planned for first time pilgrims
6.30 pm
Supper
7.45 pm
First Visit to the Holy House, Sung Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham, Torchlight Procession of Our Lady, and Benediction
Tuesday 25 July
8.00 am
Breakfast
9.30 am
Rite of Sprinkling followed by Intercessions in (and around) the Holy House (Shrine Church)
11.30 am
Concelebrated Sung Mass of St James, Apostle (Shrine Church)
12.30 pm
Lunch
3.00 pm
Divine Mercy Chaplet, Rosary and Benediction at the Chapel of Reconciliation (RC Shrine) (Exposition of Blessed Sacrament from 2pm)
6.30 pm
Supper
8.00 pm
Liturgy of Healing (Shrine Church)
Wednesday 27 July
8.00 am
Breakfast
9.00 am onwards
Stations of the Cross (Shrine Church)
11.30 am
Concelebrated Sung Mass of Ss Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Parish Church)
12.30pm
Lunch, followed by free afternoon
5.45 pm
‘Enter the Mystery’ Drinks Reception (Orangery)
6.30 pm
Supper
8.00 pm
Eucharistic Adoration, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction (Shrine Church)
Thursday 28 July
8.00 am
Breakfast
9.30 am
Concelebrated Sung Mass of St David and All the Saints of Wales and Last Visit to the Holy House (Shrine Church)
Optional Daily Devotions at the Shrine
7.45 am
Angelus and Morning Prayer (All Souls’ Chapel)
5.30 pm
Evening Prayer
6.00 pm
Shrine Prayers (Angelus & Rosary with thanksgivings and Intercessions)
Pilgrimage Booklet
Here’s our Walsingham Manual for the 2023 Pilgrimage which also includes our timetable, notes for use throughout the week, and all you need to participate in the worship.
Printed copies will be available to pilgrims on the coaches or when you arrive:
Intercessions Sheet
An Intercessions Sheet for Intercessions in the Holy House on Tuesday morning following the Rite of Sprinkling at the Holy Well
Shrine Map
Social Media
Check out our Twitter account, and be sure to tag us in any posts you make during the pilgrimage!
Coach Schedule
COACH A
0700hrs
St David’s Church, Neath SA11 3AA
0715hrs
St Thedore's Church, Port Talbot SA13 1LE
0730hrs
Sarn Park Services M4
0800hrs
St Mary’s Church, Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5HB
Onwards to Walsingham via M4 (NR22 6EE)
COACH B
0700hrs
St Winifred’s Church, Penrhiwceiber CF45 3YF
0715hrs
Nelson Bus Station
0730hrs
Martin’s Farm Bus Stop Nantgarw Road
O800hrs
St Mary the Virgin Cardiff
Onwards to Walsingham via M4 (NR22 6EE)
Enter the Mystery 