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UNITED KINGDOM: Remembering the persecuted Church in Walsingham
By John Newton
Pilgrims walking towards Walsingham
Supporters of Aid to the Church in Need gathered at the ancient shrine of Walsingham on Saturday, 22nd May to show their prayerful solidarity with suffering Christians around the world.
The charity’s annual pilgrimage to Walsingham followed reports of continuing violence and intimidation of Christians, especially in parts of the Middle East, Sudan and Pakistan.
The event began with Mass at the Roman Catholic National Shrine to Our Lady, celebrated by Aid to the Church in Need UK’s chaplain, Father Martin Edwards.
During his homily he said the pilgrimage was a way of showing prayerful solidarity with the millions of persecuted Christians around the world.
Afterwards Father Edwards led pilgrims along the holy mile to Walsingham, following the route of the old railway line.
Pilgrims prayed the Rosary on the way – and Father Edwards heard confessions – as a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was carried to the Catholic Church of the Annunciation.
Upon arriving in Walsingham Benediction took place in the church.
Pilgrimage organiser Margaret Regan said: “At England’s Nazareth we sought the Queen of Heaven’s intercession for the persecuted Church.”
Aid to the Church in Need first started Walsingham pilgrimages for the persecuted Church in the 1970s, with this year’s being the fourth consecutive event since its revival in 2007.
This year for the first time the charity also organised a pilgrimage to Carfin Grotto, Motherwell – Scotland’s national shrine to Our Lady – on the same day.