THE
P RTAL
September 2012
“He who
would valiant be...” - the popular hymn raised
the rafters at Walsingham as we sang it at the noon Mass on a hot
August morning ... we sang it with all our hearts, and meant every
word. We had just arrived after a Walking Pilgrimage, covering
20 miles a day, celebrating Masses in Norfolk’s ruined abbeys,
sleeping on floors - and having a wonderful time!
JPII Walking Pilgrimage
This was the John Paul II Walking
Pilgrimage for the New Evangelisation,
supported by the Ordinariate and with two
Ordinariate priests, Fathers Christopher
Pearson and Simon Hean.
The pilgrimage began at Bury St
Edmunds, with a beautiful open-air
Mass in the ruined Abbey. The pilgrims,
mostly young but with some older people
including your correspondent, gathered on
the soft green lawns in evening sunshine.
Be valiant!
Page 6
na
wri tes
lush with sugar-beet. Thick trees
gave us glorious shade. At one point
we forded a stream – there was a
bridge, but your correspondent
found it much, much more delicious
to wade straight into the water. Bliss
for hot dusty feet, and sandal and
skirt soon dried in the sun.
The Ordinariate’s unofficial Anthem New Evangelisation
We sang “Praise to the Holiest” – the Ordinariate’s
unofficial Anthem – and “For all the saints” (In honour
of St Edmund, boy-king and martyr), and we chanted
the Kyrie and the Sanctus. After Mass, we gathered
in the crypt of the Church of St Edmund and there
was much lively talk, and then an excellent supper.
This was a foretaste of what was to come, because
each evening Sister Julie – the Pilgrimage is run by the
excellent Dominican Sisters of St Joseph – produced a
hearty meal. The theme of the pilgrimage was the New
Evangelisation. Launched by Blessed John Paul, and
promoted by Pope Benedict, this is the urgent mission
of our day. It needs prayer – lots of it – and love and
enthusiasm. Britain so badly needs the message of
Christ in all its fullness.
Some of the young people on the pilgrimage had
come from the Joshua Camp at the Olympics – a
Christian initiative to evangelise and celebrate the
Faith. Others were due to take part in the Youth
The pilgrims rose at 6am, and began with Morning 2000 event at Walsingham. There is a sense of real
Prayer. At Brandon, we were made welcome by commitment here. Prayer was central to the whole
the local Catholic parish, had Mass and a splendid pilgrimage: we used the Dominican Office and there
breakfast. At Castleacre, we had Mass in the ruined was also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before
abbey, concelebrated by our two priests and with Night Prayer.
deacon Henry Whisenant.
twenty decades, everyday
Thames Walk
Pilgrimages like this stay with you: the talk and the
As we walked, we said the Rosary – all twenty laughter and the friendships, the singing at Mass and
decades, everyday – and had some superb talks on the deep exhausted silence as we sank into slumber.
Scripture, given by Sister Hyacinthe. At night, we slept We plan a reunion walk along the Thames. Prayer is
on the floor – the Sacred Heart School at Swaffham has needed for our country.
two large halls, which were ideal for this, and we also
made use of the school’s washrooms and showers and
The New Evangelisation is our project. Will you
said night prayer in the church, with Benediction.
join us for the Thames Walk? Or for part of it? Or
support us with prayer? Or join us for Benediction as
mellow sunshine
we complete it? You’ll be hearing about it all soon.
Norfolk is enchanting in the mellow sunshine of the
Joanna Bogle
harvest season. The fields were golden with wheat or