Parish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Augustine at Ramsgate

A few days ago we set off on a rather grey morning for a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Augustine.

I think this was a first visit for all of us although some of us knew a little of the story of this beautiful shrine in Ramsgate.

We received a warm welcome by Fr Marcus Holden, Parish Priest and Custodian of the Shrine and members of the Friends of St Augustine who looked after us very well.

On the advice of our coach driver, we had allowed plenty of time for the journey from Banstead and so arrived with time to spare and were able to have a brief look around the church before we gathered for Mass at midday.

As we entered the Shrine and were directed left into the building, the first thing that we noticed was the very colourful and unusual Stations of the Cross.

On the opposite side of this corridor we passed St Joseph's Chapel containing the Blessed Sacrament.

And close by, another beautiful chapel with this wonderful Pietà.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Marcus and it was lovely to hear the parts of the Mass sung.  Our pilgrims responded well in singing the hymns and the parts of the Mass.  It was very moving to be able to celebrate Mass in this beautiful Church built by the well-known architect Augustus Pugin.  It was also interesting to see how people easily accommodated themselves to the reception of Holy Communion, under one kind, receiving in a line horizontally in front of the altar rail, many taking advantage of the opportunity to receive kneeling at the communion rail.

And the beautiful altar frontal . . .

After Mass we  had a break for lunch and went off in separate directions, some had brought packed lunches whilst others investigated the local cafés and pubs.  Judging by the numbers at the local pub, I think many of us had opted for this - and delicious food it was too!

We watched an excellent video, produced by Fr Marcus Holden and some of his family, on the history of the Shrine and some very helpful background information on St Augustine.  We also had time to watch a short video on Pugin's home, The Grange.   Maybe we'll keep that for another parish outing . . . 

We finished our pilgrimage with a very reverent Benediction conferred by Fr Marcus.  It was wonderful to hear everyone join in the O Salutaris, Tantum Ergo and the Adoremus in Aeternum. 

We were very privileged to be able to venerate the relic of St Augustine.  I must say, full credit to Fr Marcus, it can't be easy to remain dignified whilst climbing a step-ladder and wearing a cope!  He managed it superbly.

And the relic . . . 

Just before we finished our devotions and had a tour of the church, we joined in a rousing rendition of the Salve Regina.

All in all, a marvellous day and everyone seemed to get a lot out of our visit.

More photos from Cofton Park . . .

A little cold and damp but definitely happy pilgrims! Thank you Flick for sharing your photos with us.

Happy, Smiling Pilgrims . . .

You'd never guess these pictures were taken at about 1.30 in the morning, would you? Here you see some of our parish pilgrims heading off to Cofton Park in the early hours.

I look forward to talking to them when they get back and hearing about their personal experiences and their impressions of this momentous occasion - the Beatification of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman.

By the way, if any pilgrims have any photos they'd like to share, do please email them to the parish office and we'll try to post them in the next few days. Thank you.

(Click on the photos above to enlarge)

A & B Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes . . .

On Thursday pilgrims from across our diocese will be making their way to Lourdes for our annual Diocesan Pilgrimage led by Bishop Kieran and accompanied by many of our clergy. Among the group will be able-bodied and sick pilgrims, doctors, nurses, blue-shirted helpers and their slightly younger counterparts the 'Red Shirts' and including a number from our own parish.

Please keep them all in your prayers at this time that they will experience God's healing love in a special way during their time of pilgrimage together.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

It's here!

Finally, after many weeks of anticipation, before Mass this morning, our musical director Flick handed me a copy of our choir's first CD. I'm sure you'll agree it looks very professional . . . and sounds equally so.

Copies will be available very soon. I think that the choir are suggesting a 'silent' donation (and I hope we all know what that means!) if you would like your own copy. Monies raised will go towards sending a pilgrim to Lourdes on our Diocesan Pilgrimage this year.

Meanwhile, Cindy has added the soundtrack to a slide show of photos taken during rehearsals for the recording of the CD. I hope you enjoy listening and watching our choir in action.

Aylesford and the Relics of St Thérèse . .

What a wonderful day we had at Aylesford!


About 40 parishioners travelled by coach to The Friars at Aylesford. It's good to have these parish outings from time to time and it was lovely today to be able to celebrate Cathy's 80th birthday - We hope she had an enjoyable day.

It was also good to see many children and young people from the local schools who were a credit to their schools - and their families.

We had plenty of time to eat our lunch, explore the Friary, take part in the service of welcome and, the main purpose of our visit, to venerate the relics of St Thérèse.

People queued patiently to venerate the relics after the service of welcome, even when it began to rain.

These are just a few photos but you can see a lot more in this slideshow:

It was a bit chilly but I think all were happy to put up with the cool weather and were warmed by the experience - after all it's not every day we get the opportunity to welcome the relics of a saint to these shores.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes . . .

Today is the beginning of our Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Let us pray for Bishop Kieran and all those joining the pilgrimage, about 800 in total; sick and able-bodied pilgrims, doctors, nurses and helpers, including several pilgrims from our own parish.

We ask the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes:

O Holy Virgin, in the midst of your days of glory,

do not forget the sorrows of this earth.

Cast a merciful glance upon those who are suffering,

struggling against difficulties,

with their lips constantly pressed against life's bitter cup.

Have pity on our rebellious hearts.

Have pity on our weak faith.

Have pity on those we love.

Have pity on those who weep,

on those who pray, on those who fear.

Grant hope and peace to all.

Amen.

Parish Pilgrimage - Final Day . . .

There is not much time for blogging today. After breakfast we set off for the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls once more for our final Mass together in Rome in St Benedict's Chapel and from there on to the airport for our flight home.

Luckily I was able to set up this video before we left Banstead. It really is the ideal way to finish this little pilgrimage report. For those of you who would prefer to hear it in Italian please follow the link here.

More on Day 5 . . .

It was a great joy and privilege to be able to offer Holy Mass in St Peter's Basilica and to be given permission to do so in the Crypt Chapel near the the tomb of Pope John Paul II is even more special.

Of course one can't just stroll in and begin to say Mass. Here is the letter requesting permission to do so which thankfully was given. Many thanks to our tour leader, Anthony Coles, for arranging this for us.

I know you need good eyesight to read it but I thought you might find it interesting anyway.

UPDATE: This video was meant to appear today. I hope you enjoy it now although it is a bit late.

Just a shot showing the crowds queuing to get into St Peter's.

Parish Pilgrimage - Day 5 . . .

What joy! We prayed for you all at Mass in the Crypt Chapel at St Peter's this morning. Some of the bravest then climbed the 323 steps to the dome!

The day is free for sightseeing today although our guide has made a few suggestions such as the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Also, possibly a walk to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

More later if I manage to take any interesting photos . . .

Parish Pilgrimage - Day 4 . . .

Today our pilgrimage took us to Subiaco and the Benedictine Monastery of Sacro Speco.

Here you can get an impression of the inaccessibility of the monastery built on the slopes of Mount Taleo above Subiaco. This is Fr Francis, an American Benedictine, who gave us an excellent tour.

Looking down from the Monastery into the valley below.

Another view showing the approach to the monastery.

The beautiful Chapel of Our Lady.

The Secred Cave (Sacro Speco) of St Benedict. A cave on the slopes of Mount Taleo where St Benedict lived unknown for four years. He survived thanks to a monk called Romanus who protected his seclusion and life of prayer and brought him food secretly.

We fared much better than St Benedict as we had lunch together at the Ristorante Aniene.

Today was our 'day in the country'. Now we have a visit to San Clemente, a Basilica cared for by the Irish Dominicans..

More on Day 3 . . .

Just before I tell you what we've been doing this afternoon, I must also let you know that St Ann's were presented to the Holy Father at the General Audience this morning. We all stood up to great applause. It was very moving.

Here you can see most of our group outside the 5th century Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. At the front on the left is Mr Anthony Coles, our Tour Leader, who has been doing an excellent job of looking after us.

After visiting the Basilica we moved on to the church of San Alfonso, the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, where we had a beautiful Mass.

Another lovely day and the time is passing all too quickly.

Parish Pilgrimage - Day 3 . . .

Up early again today. Here we are waiting in St Peter's Square for the General Audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict. It's 80 degrees Fahrenheit this morning at 9.30am (27 degrees Celsius). The beautiful floral umbrellas are for protection from the sun, not that we're expecting rain!

Great excitement as we wait for the Holy Father . . .

Thousands in St Peter's Square as we are entertained by a band.

More later . . .

Parish Pilgrimage - Day 1 . . .

Well, we made it. After a good flight and having settled into our hotel, we started in earnest straight after breakfast this morning. Here you can see our group just gathering ready for our visit to St Peter's Basilica.

Later in the day there was a visit to the Catacombs of San Callisto where I celebrated Mass today for our parish and our school.

For those of us who still have any energy left by this evening it has been suggested by our tour guide that a visit to the Trevi Fountain would be a good idea after dinner.

I hope you enjoy today's musical offering. Sing along if you like! I expect we'll be having a sing-along ourselves at some point.

All Roads Lead to Rome . . .

Well, here we are 'at the 11th hour'; all packed and ready to go. I'm very much looking forward to our parish pilgrimage to Rome beginning tomorrow.

I'm always delighted to pay a visit to my 'old stamping ground' and it will be good to be in the company of parishioners some of whom will be making their first visit to the Eternal City.

Please be assured of our prayers for all at St Ann's as we visit the various sites on our pilgrimage. I trust that you will also keep us in your prayers.

I hope to be able to send you a brief message now and again throughout the week to let you know how we're getting on so do please keep 'popping by' the blog to see.

A Walsingham Prayer Book . . .

I am very grateful to Family Publications for asking me to review this lovely book.

For about a thousand years people have been making their journey to England’s National Shrine of Our Lady.

This beautiful prayer book is suitable for personal use, for a family or for pilgrimage groups. In it you will find popular prayers, litanies and hymns which are associated with devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham.

John Paul II writing on Our Lady said, ‘We need to live as she did, in the presence of God, raising our minds and hearts to him in our daily activities and worries.’

I believe it will inspire devotion to Our Lady who always leads us to her Son.

Lourdes

This week many parishioners from across the Diocese are in Lourdes on the annual Arundel and Brighton Pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims are quite a few from our own parish, both sick pilgrims and helpers. Please remember them in your prayers as I'm sure they will be praying for all in our parish whilst they are in Lourdes.

This year is a special year as it is the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Our Lady to St Bernadette. Because of the anniversary the numbers of pilgrims has been increased from the usual 800 to 1,000 people to accommodate all those wishing to attend.

Pilgrimage

We've received these lovely photos from one of our parishioners, Danny Thomas, who is currently on a pilgrimage walking part of the Pilgrims Way to Santiago de Compostela (from Lodeve to Toulouse). Here you see a statue of a windswept St Jacques (St James, Sant' Iago) which is to be found in Castres.


A photo of a cross taken along the route with the sunlight behind it makes a beautiful focus for the pilgrim on his journey. The route is full of similarly inspiring images and must be very uplifting at the end of weary day's walking.