THE
P RTAL
July 2016
Page 12
Ordinariate Pilgrimage to
Our Lady of Walsingham
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane recount a wonderful Pilgrimage
Most of
us who are members of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham have been
regular pilgrims to this wonderful Norfolk village for many years. When we became Catholics, it
was a bit of shock to discover that many Catholics had never been to Walsingham at all. They had been to
Lourdes, Fatima maybe, but never to our own English Shrine of Our Lady; England’s National Shrine of
Our Lady in fact.
It is a cause for rejoicing that the present Rector of the
Shrine, Mgr John Armitage, has set about rectifying
this sad state of affairs. Suddenly, the Catholic Shrine
at Walsingham has come to life. There is new work
going on everywhere. The whole place has come alive.
People are smiling.
The new ventures include a shop in the High Street
selling produce from monasteries all over the world.
There is stuff from Russia as well as nearer home.
Called “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work) the shop
is full of interesting items, all produced by various
religious groups. This is a brilliant idea and worth a
visit when you are next in the village.
This year was the fourth Ordinariate Pilgrimage to
Our Lady of Walsingham. It is always special because
we share the same holy patron - Our Blessed Lady.
For some reason this year was extra especially holy,
perhaps because it is the Extraordinary Year of Mercy.
Most people arrive on the Saturday morning, but a
few hardy, and keen, souls come for the Friday evening.
For them, at the suggestion of Janet Lungley, we held
Compline and Benediction in the Parish Church of the idea of something on the Friday evening may well be
Annunciation at 2130. Mgr Keith Newton, Jackie and extended next year. Watch this space!
Ronald thought that a dozen might turn up for this. As
it turned out there were thirty.
Would the rain hold off? This was the question on
everyone’s lips as we enjoyed our breakfast. The early
It was lovely kneeling in that beautiful modern morning brought bright sun and a clear blue sky, but
church – (now there is a phrase one does not often would it last?
read!) - reciting the ancient words of the even more
Gradually people gathered in the Anglican Shrine
ancient Office of Compline. Someone said, “It is what
we used to call Protestant”. Well, it is thoroughly Church for Sprinkling. At first, just a few people,
Catholic now. Another asked why we could not have then a few more, at 1145 it was packed. Were there
more folk than last year? It was hard to tell. Fr Philip
“proper” Night Prayer.
Barnes, the Acting Priest Administrator, a dear
The Office we used was straight from the Customary friend, led us in the Sprinkling. He did so in his own,
of the Ordinariate, surely the correct form for us when moderately paced way. He has a lovely way with him,
we meet together for prayer. Those lovely words, the and we are so grateful to him for his welcome, homily
wonder of Benediction; it was such a blessing. This and prayer.