Clifton Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Glastonbury 2023
“Mary, Queen of Peace”
The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Glastonbury for 2023 will be celebrated on Sunday 9th July 2023.
There will also be an Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage to Glastonbury starting at Clifton Cathedral on Friday 7th July. Click here for details.
A shrine is traditionally a place of pilgrimage and reminds us, in an earthly way, of our spiritual journey of faith.
Through baptism we embark on a road that is sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, but we do not journey alone.
As Christians we have our eyes firmly fixed upon the Kingdom of God as revealed to us in Scripture and Tradition by Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The message of Our Lady, His Mother, is a simple one. In John 2:5 she points to her Son and says, "Do whatever He tells you". And so, it is in this shrine that we worship God and give honour to the Theotokos, the God-Bearer. She is a prototype of the Church in that she gives us an example of discipleship unparalleled in the history of salvation. She is humble and courageous, obedient and strong, maternal and virginal, constantly directing us towards her Son.
Father Kevin Knox-Lecky, Parish Priest 1999 - 2012
The Pilgrimage has three starts:
A procession through the town centre behind the statue of Our Lady, during which the Rosary is prayed and hymns are sung. In some years this has been preceded by a Liturgy of the Word in the Tor Field, commemorating the martyrdom of Blessed Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, and his fellow martyrs, Blessed Roger James and Blessed John Thorne. In 2023 this liturgy will take place in the Abbey Grounds, followed by the start of the procession at 2.15pm. The procession exits the Abbey grounds through the Abbey House Gardens, it proceeds through the town centre via Chilkwell Street, the High Street and Magdalene Street, returning to the Abbey through the Magdalene Street Gates, opposite the Shrine Church of Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury at approximately 3pm.
The Pilgrimage starts in the Shrine Church at 11.30am, with the Holy Rosary, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Church will then become a Chapel of Exposition and Adoration in Silence until Simple Benediction at 3pm.
Immediately opposite the church, just inside the Abbey gates, will be two Chapels; a Chapel of Reconciliation where Confessions will be heard from 12 noon, and a Chapel of Healing Prayer, where Private Healing Prayer will be offered by members of the Shrine's Healing Ministry, for those who would like to receive it, both ministries finishing at about 3pm.
All Pilgrims are asked to collect in the Abbey grounds for the Pilgrimage Mass which will be celebrated by Rt. Rev. Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, at 3.30pm.
Please Note: Free admission into the Abbey Grounds will only be granted to pilgrims wearing the Official Badges, obtainable from the stewards on the day.
Programme for the Day
11.30am
Holy Rosary in the Shrine Church
12.00 noon
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Silent Adoration in the Shrine Church, until 3pm.
Confessions and Private Healing Prayer at Chapel of Reconciliation and Chapel of Healing in the Abbey Grounds, until 3pm.
2.15pm
Rosary Procession from the Abbey, through Glastonbury Town Centre, returning to the Abbey via the Magdalene Street Gate, opposite the Shrine Church.
3.30pm
Mass in the Abbey celebrated by Rt. Rev. Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton.
