Adoremus Summer Meet Up

Adoremus – our pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham for young adults aged 18-35 – has gone from strength to strength in recent years. In addition to our usual November pilgrimage to the Shrine we try to have a summer meeting, to allow pilgrims to meet each other and also to bring their friends and to welcome those who might be interested to make a pilgrimage with us to Walsingham in the future.

Forty of us gathered in London in June at the Ascension, Lavender Hill in Battersea for a day of prayer, teaching and fellowship. It was a joy to welcome so many seasoned pilgrims as well as a good number of those interested in joining us this November (22 – 24 November at the Shrine).

We gathered on the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and began with a Sung Mass, celebrated by Bishop Jonathan Baker (Bishop of Fulham, and Guardian of the Holy House).

After lunch we were joined by a panel of guest speakers, who were asked to share with us something of their journey of faith, and how devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham enriches and sustains their lives both in prayer and professionally.

Ruth Martin spoke to us powerfully about the importance of Benedictine spirituality as a means of sustaining her professional life in the commercial world. Ruth was until recently Diocesan Secretary in the Diocese of Southwark, and is a licensed lay minister in the Diocese and a Lay Canon of the Cathedral. She spoke also about how much travel and pilgrimage enrich her spiritual life, and shared with us some memories and reflections of the recent Diocesan pilgrimage to Kerala and South India.

Dr Sonia Dore (a Guardian of the Holy House) shared with us some reflections on her time so far as a Guardian. She also shared her perspectives on how her faith has informed and enriched her work in medicine and psychology, and how devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham is a pillar of her spiritual life. She spoke movingly about issues of social justice and inclusion in the life of our church, and about our collective duty to make true and lasting inclusion for everyone a reality

Brother Michael Jacob SSF – a life-professed member of the Society of St Francis, presently based at Glasshampton – spoke about Walsingham and the life of the Shrine in the context of his religious vocation, and about his (and our) call to everyday holiness. He busted a few myths about life as a Franciscan today – particularly about talking to animals! – and shared with us reflections on three mainstays of Franciscan life: the crib, the cross and the altar.

After questions and discussion the day concluded with Solemn First Vespers of Sunday and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a visit to a nearby pub to allow the conversations and fellowship to continue.

It was a blessed, encouraging day and I’m very grateful to those who came and to those who assisted to make everything happen.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Shrine in November – please do join us! Often the best way to encourage new people to come is personal invitation – so if you have friends who might be interested to join us in Walsingham please let them know about it!

Be assured of my prayers for you all. The team is meeting shortly to finalise the arrangements for the November pilgrimage, and more details will appear once all is in place. See you in November!

Fr Philip Kennedy

The 2024 Adoremus Pilgrimage takes place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th November. Please click below to find out more and for booking information.