It was a misty morning as we set out on our pilgrimage trip to Walsingham, nineteen people not forgetting Angus the hearing dog as well headed to England’s Nazareth. We were greeted with a misty chilly start in Walsingham but this soon brightened up as the day went on so we could enjoy a day of fellowship and friendship.
Fr David Quilligotti lead us through the reconciliation service. He asked us to consider what clutter there is in our lives. What is getting in the way of our relationship with God? Fr Paul Fletcher SJ then lead us in an examination of our conscience, what have I done for Jesus Christ, what am I doing and what will I do. What do I want to change in my life, or the world around me. It reminded me of the serenity prayer: God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change what I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Wisdom to do that is something I sure many of us strive to achieve.
As we embarked on our walk of the Holy Mile we were treated to beautiful sunshine with the green fields of Norfolk unfolding in front of our eyes. Stopping to pray along the way we journeyed with Mary. “Mary walked with people in their journey because she too walked a journey with Jesus. She understands us and leads us to Jesus.”
After time at the Shrine for private prayer, lunch and a catch up with friends the day concluded with the vigil Mass for Pentecost, the feast day when the church celebrates it’s birthday.
Pentecost was the day when the apostles were given the gift of different languages. Like spoken languages, sign language is different in different countries. Signed or spoken, the message of the Good news of Jesus Christ is something that should be available in every language.
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and we shall be created, and you will renew the face of the Earth.”
We headed home with lots of great memories of time with friends. The day was summed up by one pilgrim experiencing Walsingham for the first time: “I had a wonderful day. It was totally new for me, it was a moving and powerful experience.”
