MORE THAN GOLD OR SILVER
- Running for Righteousness

The 2012 Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage

Monday 30th July - Friday 3rd August

For more details contact: The Youth Missioner

Tel: 01328 824203 or email: s.gallagher@olw-shrine.org.uk

Download the complete

2012 Youth Pilgrimage

booking form

(click here)

Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage: The Stats

• Camp with hundreds of other young Christians in the village of Little Walsingham - minutes from the Shrine

• Mass in a Big Top with the amazing band CJM

• Bishop Lindsay's Bible Studies

• First night BBQ & Disco

• Wednesday All-Night Liturgy

• Tread in the footsteps of pilgrims from the past 950 years on the Holy Mile

• Workshop afternoon with crafts, dance, sport, drama, music with CJM - and inflatables!

• Chill out in the café

• Last night disco and karaoke

ALIVE WITH THE VISION

2011

Walsingham celebrates 950 years of vision

Photos of the 2011 Youth Pilgrimage can be found in the Shrine Photo Gallery (click here)

 - and a short video can be viewed on YouTube
(click here)

The Youth Pilgrimage - 2010

Dear surfers of the web, we are your ‘Year for God(ders)’ who go by the names of Jenny, Adam and Marc.  Welcome to our low-down of the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage 2010. We all made it happen as part of a huge team of wonderful volunteers and we had an amazing time.  This year’s theme, “Enter the Mysteries It’s All In The Beads” was based on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, so over the week, the rosary mysteries featured in all services and activities.  The setting is a field on the Egmere Road near the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, a big top, a stage, a brilliant band, an image of Our Lady of Walsingham, a circle of light, a prayer tent, a huge video screen and a cuddly toy called Derrick.

We all agree that this year’s youth pilgrimage was full of faith, fun and friendships. A time for young people from all across our land (and Sweden!) to meet up, to worship, love, learn, camp and have a good laugh. 

This year 8oo pilgrims arrived to the camp site after long journeys with smiling, happy faces, all excited at the prospect of attempting to put up their tents (some all ready done for them the night before- the jammy dodgers!).  Once they’re pitched up, the kettle’s boiled, the bed pumped up and bags unpacked the sound of CJM Music floats across the camp site as the call to let all know that the week has begun.

It was wonderful to see long queues of young Christians, waiting to enter our Big Top Church for the welcome service.  As the young people flooded into the tent, the music of CJM lifted the roof, energising the congregation to sing and dance in preparation for the service. What a way to begin!

We met Father Stephen, Bishop Lindsay, Father Paul Robinson, Father Simon Rundell, some friars and nuns and the whole ministry team. We watched videos of the team (with our feature mascot of Derrick-the puppet), and even had a cabaret performance of Let it Shrine! The pinnacle of the service was witnessing the faith of hundreds of youngsters who received water brought up from the Shrine well.  The evening culminated with a BBQ and disco where we danced the night away- before being tucked up in bed for the curfew.

The week involved a lot of young people taking part, not only as lively members the congregation but instead of having boring sermons young people led the teaching part of the service: Youth groups from Doncaster, Liverpool and LLandaff gave stunning drama performances; the ministry team gave very powerful testimonies and Father Paul hosted a talk show style game with Bishop Lindsay, Brother Paschal, Mark Canterbury and Jo Boyce, the lead singer from CJM .

When pilgrims weren’t worshiping in the Big Top, or in the not-so-boring bible study, or walking bare foot on the holy mile from the slipper chapel to the Altar of Light at the Shrine, or trying to make the most original rosary,  or in quiet prayer there were many activities for them to get stuck in to, from chilling in the Light Cafe, surfing in the Big Top, climbing up the high wall, football with Norwich City Football Club, singing and dancing with CJM, crafts, to washable tattoos and face painting and not forgetting the Luminous Lycra Disco and Karaoke.

But the week’s most moving experience was Wednesday night.  It all began with many laughs at the Men in Tights in the talent show but the atmosphere quickly subdued with powerful media enhanced Stations of the Cross (created by ministry Team member Clare Rabjohns) flowing beautifully into the healing ministries-Walsingham at its best.  It was so affirming to witness young people receiving laying on of hands from young people in the ministry team, and teenagers queuing to receive the sacraments of anointing and confession.  This was all done in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament remained exposed for the all-night Vigil, where groups prayed the Rosary continually throughout the night.

The most successful aspect of the pilgrimage is the way the young pilgrims felt comfortable to express their faith, to grow in the love of God and to make new friendships with other young Christians.  It was sad on our last day to say goodbye, but we all left on a high.  Derrick the puppet has now embarked on his degree course at Bedford University, and we hope to see him and you at the 2011 Youth Pilgrimage!

Jenny, Adam and Marc