THE
P RTAL
June 2016
Page 12
Ordinariate Pilgrimage
to Saint Winefride
at Holywell
The first of a series of pilgrimages to commemorate the Year
of Mercy reported for us by Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane
His Holiness
Pope Francis has, as you will all know, designed the Year of Mercy. Pilgrimage
and confession are important elements in the celebration of this very special “Year”. To help members of
the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham keep this “Year”, several pilgrimages have been arranged. They
are all around England, Scotland and Wales, as well as one to Rome and Loreto.
The first of these pilgrimages was to
Saint Winefride’s Well at Holywell, North Wales. We
arrived at the church in good time and were pleasantly
surprised to find a goodly number of people already
there. They had travelled from Sheffield, Coventry,
Birmingham, Manchester and Hemel Hempstead about fifty of them. There were children, adults and
those who were not so mobile; a true cross-section of
the Ordinariate. Fathers Starkie, Burch and Stafford
assisted Mgr Keith Newton as our leaders.
been to the priest. It has been said that confession is the
Catholic Church’s forgotten sacrament.
It was not forgotten on this pilgrimage! Most of
those present availed themselves of the chance to wipe
the slate clean. There is indeed a resurgence of the
sacrament during this “Year of Mercy”. Having been
“shriven” we sang Psalm 136 as we made our way
into church for mass. Saint Winefride’s Parish Church
at Holywell is an interesting building with rather lovely
Stations of the Cross and some beautiful stained glass
The day started with a short liturgy of penitence. This windows. It has an eastern or Mid-European feel to
led quite naturally to a time of silence during which we it. The mass was beautifully celebrated, using our very
all had the opportunity to make our confession. We own Divine Worship.
sat in our seat wondering if anyone would actually
During his homily, our Ordinary reminded us
have the courage to get up in front of everyone and
go to the place where the priests sat waiting to hear that pilgrimages represent our Christian journey
from baptism to heaven. Like the prodigal son, we
our confessions.
arise and go to the Father. “I am not worthy to be called
One brave soul made the journey and was immediately your son”. Mgr Keith told us that St Winefride lived
followed by others. We had worried needlessly. There was about 660 AD and was restored to life. (See below.)
no courage needed, and no embarrassment at all. Those Holywell has been a place of pilgrimage for hundreds
who were making their confession were supported in of years. Because of its well, it has been called the
prayer by those who were still waiting, or who had already Welsh Lourdes.
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