Diocese of East Anglia

During our pilgrimage to Walsingham, we received a visit from Bishop Alan Hopes.  In fact, he joined the 80 weary walkers for an evening meal at Great Massingham on the second day.  The bishop took great trouble to to speak to everyone, which was much appreciated.

Bishop Hopes seemed particularly happy to announce that the Diocese of East Anglia was taking on six new candidates for the priesthood in October, bringing the total number of seminarians in the diocese to twelve.  I suspect that this will be the greatest number of seminarians for any diocese in Britain, and probably the greatest number of seminarians that the Diocese of East Anglia has ever had.  I believe it is only a few years ago that there was only one seminarian in the diocese.

Ever since the Diocese of East Anglia was created in 1976, it has been recognised as a diocese with an acute shortage of priests.  Bishop Hopes seems to be rectifying this problem.  Other dioceses would do well to take note of how East Anglia attracts so many seminarians.

Walsingham Pilgrimage was Great Success

I have just returned from the Latin Mass Society's  Pilgrimage to Walsingham.  Around 80 pilgrims walked the 57 miles from Ely to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.  This took two and a half days.  They arrived in time to join about 100 day pilgrims for a Solemn Mass in the Chapel of Reconciliation on Sunday afternoon.  This was followed by a procession along the Holy Mile to the Abbey grounds, where there were further devotions.

At the end of the pilgrimage, Fr Michael Rowe, who was chaplain to the pilgrimage, and had travelled from Australia for the event, said that, "of the 50 walking pilgrimage that he had attended in different parts of the world, this one was the best".

Remember to book into next year's Walsingham Pilgrimage, which will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend as usual.

Masses at Hedon

Correction
I have been informed that Sunday Latin Masses at Hedon will start next January, and not in December as previously indicated.

Latin Masses in Hedon

Starting on 10th December 2017, there will be a monthly Sunday Mass at the Church of St Mary and St Joseph in Hedon, to the East of hull.  It will be at 5pm on the second Sunday of each month, with Fr Mark Drew as celebrant.

This has been made possible because Fr Drew will be moving to Hedon in October.

It is to be hoped that this new venture will be sufficiently well supported to justify an increase in the frequency.

It has been my ambition for a long time to to have regular Sunday Masses in the Hull area, but the lack of priests willing and able to say Mass in the extraordinary form has prevented this up until now. We must be very grateful to Fr Drew for providing this opportunity.

Walsingham Pilgrimage

The Latin Mass Society's annual pilgrimage to Walsingham will be taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.  Those intending to walk from Ely to Walsingham (58 miles) will assemble at Ely on the evening of Thursday 24th August, where overnight accommodation is provided.  The walk takes two and a half days, with pilgrims arriving at the shrine in Walsingham at about noon on the Sunday.

There will be Solemn Mass at 2pm in the Chapel of Reconciliation, followed by a procession along the Holy Mile to the Abbey grounds where there will be further devotions, which will end at about 5pm.

Bookings for the walking pilgrimage are made on line via the Latin Mass Society website.  There is no need for anyone wishing to attend only the Solemn Mass and Procession in Walsingham to book.

Supporters of the Latin Mass are encouraged to make their own way to Walsingham on the Sunday.