Next Year's Pilgrimage
          Sunday 11th July 2010

Father Kevin, Parish Priest:

A shrine is traditionally a place of pilgrimage and reminds us, in an earthly way, of our spiritual journey of faith. 
Through baptism we embark on a road that is sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, but we do not journey alone. 
As Christians we have our eyes firmly fixed upon the Kingdom of God as revealed to us in Scripture and Tradition by Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The message of Our Lady, His Mother, is a simple one. In John 2:5 she points to her Son and says, "Do whatever He tells you". And so, it is in this shrine that we worship God and give honour to the Theotokos, the God-Bearer. She is a prototype of the Church in that she gives us an example of discipleship unparalleled in the history of salvation. She is humble and courageous, obedient and strong, maternal and virginal, constantly directing us towards her Son.

The Statue of Our Lady of Glastonbury is carried at the head of the procession of pilgrims, from the Tor through the ancient town centre to Glastonbury Abbey for the great Mass	The procession of clergy from the ancient Lady Chapel, at the start of Mass
from Glastonbury Pilgrimage 2002 Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton and guest preacher Bishop Mark Jabale of Menevia celebrating Mass in Glastonbury Abbey	Pilgrims gather for Mass in the Abbey

The Pilgrimage has two starts :

1. A procession through the town centre behind the statue of Our Lady, during which the Rosary is prayed 
   and hymns are sung
   In some years this has been preceded by a Liturgy of the Word in the Tor Field, commemorating the martyrdom of
   Blesséd Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, and his fellow martyrs, Blesséd Roger James and 
   Blesséd John Thorne, 
   In 2010, this liturgy takes place in the Abbey Grounds, followed by the start of the procession, exiting the Abbey 
   grounds the top of town, it proceeds through the town centre via the High Street, returning to the Abbey at the 
   main gate at approximately 3pm.

2. For those who do not wish to walk in the procession, in St Mary's church, the Shrine of Our Lady, the holy Rosary is
    prayed, followed by Exposition of the Blesséd Sacrament during which Confessions will be heard and private healing 
    prayer is being given by the Shrine's Healing Ministry for those who would like to receive it, finishing with Benediction 
    at about 2pm 
    
The two groups of pilgrims, from the procession and from the church meet at the Main Abbey Gate for the pilgrimage Mass which will be celebrated by Bishop Declan Lang at 3.30pm in the Abbey Grounds

For more information on the 2010 Pilgrimage programme and attendance details please press HERE