Glastonbury Pilgrimage 2025 - “Mary, Woman of Hope”
This year’s diocesan pilgrimage took place on Sunday 7th September, the eve of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was centred on the theme Mary, Woman of Hope, in harmony with the Jubilee Year’s call to be Pilgrims of Hope. Despite a wet start, the weather soon brightened as pilgrims gathered from near and far to share in this grace-filled day.
The pilgrimage began at the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury with the Rosary at 11.00am, the Shrine Church filled to capacity. Although the planned procession to Glastonbury Tor was cancelled due to the weather, around 50 pilgrims were led on a guided tour of the Abbey grounds. Most of these pilgrims then joined others in the Abbot’s Kitchen to hear Dr Tim Hopkinson-Ball’s engaging talk Our Lady of Glastonbury: A Simple Chronology of Devotion, repeated later in the afternoon and attended by nearly 100 pilgrims. Meanwhile, the Statue of Our Lady of Glastonbury was carried into the Abbey grounds for veneration, while in the Shrine Church the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for silent adoration, and confessions were heard.
In the Abbey grounds, pilgrims visited the tented Chapel of Healing Prayer and the repository stalls, while the refreshments tent, stocked with parishioners’ homemade cakes, provided welcome hospitality.
At 1.30pm, the Rosary Procession set out through the Abbey and along the High Street before returning to the Abbey grounds. Among those in procession, alongside Bishop Bosco, clergy, and pilgrims, were civic dignitaries, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Glastonbury, the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre, the Knights of St Columba, and representatives of ecumenical partners. The Rosary was recited, and hymns were sung during the procession as onlookers lined the route.
Over 1,000 pilgrims attended the Pilgrimage Mass in the Abbey Nave, celebrated by the Bishop of Clifton, Rt Rev Bosco MacDonald. In his homily, Bishop Bosco reminded us that true discipleship means putting Christ first, even above family, possessions, or comfort. Far from diminishing our love, this deepens it, as shown in the joyful witness of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, canonised in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Honouring Our Lady of Glastonbury, he invited pilgrims to renew their “yes” to Jesus and find in Him true freedom, peace, and hope.
After Mass, many pilgrims stayed to enjoy the sacred atmosphere of the Abbey grounds and to meet with friends. We extend heartfelt thanks to Glastonbury Abbey for their warm hospitality in hosting this blessed annual celebration. The date of next year’s pilgrimage will be announced in due course.
