Schhol Walsingham Pilgrimage 2nd July 2009

Peterite children, from the school looking hot and grumpy a short time after their arrival at Walsingham yesterday. They has endured a three hour coach journey and were in need of a run around.
However, tempers soon returned to normal sunny disposition. We made our first visit and then found some shade for drinks and fruit, of which Wapping Mums had provided an abundance.

Mass was in the Barn chapel, the Norwich Mothers Union having taken over the nave of the shrine at 12noon. We began with the Angelus and offered a Mass of the Holy House. Andy Bartus, our Fort Worth ordinand in the back ground, on his third visit to the shrine during his stay in England.

Communion at the Barn Chapel Mass. The School Walsingham pilgrimage dates back to 2006, the 15oth Anniversary of the foundation of the Wapping mission. It was a one off event, but, the following year a school benefactor paid for a second pilgrimage and has done so ever since. There is no compulsion, children choose to come, each year it has grown bigger. This year we filled the coach.

Appropriate hot weather dress ( and it was searchingly hot in Norfolk) was described by year Six girls as 'Father Jones' designer cassock'.


The group photograph taken on the steps of the Altar of Light. Two people missing, Mary an adult helper, who had dashed to the Farm Shop to buy the Clergy House Binham Blue and other orders from Wapping, and Hannah who took the picture.

We joined in sprinkling at 2.30pm, where the children were complimented on their good behaviour in Church, their knowledge of the 'drill' (making the sign of the Cross, genuflecting etc) Many are old hands, they have been to the rite many times.
Then , being East End kids, they gathered at the fountain to see if they could figure a way of getting the money out.


Then Andy organised a game called, I think, Red Rover, which seemed to be a first cousin of what we call British bulldogs.
We then returned to the Barn Chapel for Benediction, the Mothers Union still holding the Shrine nave, in which we were assisted by Fr. Peter Anthony, a St. Stephen's House contemporary of my son and the interim Shrine Assistant before he goes back to Oxford to work toward a D.Phil. Sam, who was thurifer at the procession last week, had the job again.
We left Walsingham, leaving petitions at the feet of Our Lady, at 4.30pm and arrived in Wapping at 7.30pm after a tour of the East End to avoid a post-crash traffic jam in Canning Town.

A good day was had by all, our thanks to the School staff who came, it was Miss Montgomery's first pilgrimage, the adult helpers, Chelsea and Hannah, who took the pictures and our generous benefactor.