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UNITED KINGDOM: Pilgrims gather at Marian shrines to pray for persecuted Christians
By John Newton
Pilgrims to Carfin Grotto pray for the persecuted Church
Aid to the Church in Need supporters turned out in force at the weekend for pilgrimages to the national Marian shrines of both Scotland and England to pray for suffering Christians around the world.
The Pilgrimage of Hope events at Carfin Grotto, Motherwell, and Walsingham, Norfolk, on Saturday 30th April followed reports of violence and intimidation against Christians in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan.
Lorraine McMahon, the charity's Head of Operations in Scotland, described how members of the Knights of Saint Columba opened the pilgrimage by carrying the Madonna in a Rosary procession around Carfin grotto.
She explained: "We prayed for every continent in the world and the work we do in various countries."
This was followed by Mass in Saint Francis Xavier's Church.
Ms McMahon said: "The Mass was focused on hope in the suffering Church and the new rector of Carfin shrine, Father McGachey, spoke very well about events in China."
After Mass the charity's UK Director, Neville Kyrke-Smith, reflected on the words of the Pope John Paul II's inaugural homily: "Be not afraid – open the doors to Christ."
Speaking the day before the former pontiff's beatification, Mr Kyrke-Smith said John Paul II's message was "still relevant today for Christians enduring so much for their faith".
Ms McMahon added that the pilgrimage was attended by "a mixture of age groups, which in itself brings hope".
The pilgrimage to Walsingham also attracted a wide range of ages, with the youngest pilgrim being under two and the oldest being more than 80 years of age.
Walsingham pilgrimage organiser Michael Cowie said: "We were blessed by a lovely group of pilgrims, and a profound spirit of prayer, as we met together to commend the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters to Our Lady."
On the coach to Walsingham, Catholic writer and Aid to the Church in Need trustee Joanna Bogle gave a talk on the history of Walsingham.
After Mass in the Catholic Shrine to Our Lady at 1.30pm, Father Phillip-Michael Tangorra from New Jersey, USA, led a Rosary procession from the English national shrine of Our Lady to the Church of the Annunciation in Walsingham village, where Benediction was held.
Aid to the Church in Need first held events for the persecuted Church at Walsingham and Carfin in the 1970s.
For more information on forthcoming Aid to the Church in Need events, including the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman in Birmingham, on Saturday, 25th June 2011, please see our Events page.