Our Lady’s Shrine in Walsingham was the venue for the 9th annual Grandparents Pilgrimage on July 23rd. Organised by the Catholic Grandparents Association the shrine is the inspiration for Grandparents Pilgrimages which now take place in Aylesford, Knock, Palm Beach, Carfin, Germany, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia and Australia.
Bishop Brain Noble was the Chief Celebrant. In his homily he spoke of the unique vocation of Grandparents, who are charged with passing on the faith. He acknowledged that Parents are the first educators of children in every respect with Grandparents there to support them in everything. He concluded by saying to pilgrims that their example has a huge influence on children at all times.
It was a day of faith and fun-filled events for all the family. Children enjoyed face-painting, bouncy castles, balloons, clowns and climbing walls. The Children’s Liturgy followed the Mass with the crowing of Our Lady’s Statue with flowers. CGA Founder, Catherine Wiley and CGA President, Máire Printer were both in attendance at the pilgrimage. Catherine Wiley gave the Communion Reflection and urged all Grandparents to support the work of the CGA in passing on the faith and in keeping prayer the heart of family retire. “The only job we can never retire from as Grandparents is passing on the faith. The legacy of the CGA is eternity. That’s how important our work is.”
Thanks to Anne Milton @ The National Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham for the photographs.
