The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden took place on Sunday 26 June. As usual a refreshments Marquee on our front lawn served snacks from 12.00 noon, this year in lovely warm sunshine. Several Priests made themselves available for Confessions from 1.00 p.m., and the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the Lady Chapel from 1.00 to 3.00 p.m.

Mass of Our Lady began at 3.30, with a long procession around the grounds for the solemn Entry.

This year the singing for the liturgy was led not only by the Diocesan Choir, with a contribution by the monks of Pluscarden, but also by an African Choir, representing some of the many resident Africans in our Diocese. Our Preacher this year was a Jesuit from Aleppo in Syria, Fr. Ghassan Sahoui. He commiserated with us for the broken state of our country, in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit Referendum, but otherwise preached on Our Lady.

Unfortunately the planned Marian procession at the end of Mass had to be cancelled as heavy rain set in. The spirits of all remained high though, for the whole occasion was most worthy and uplifting.

Photographs by Michal Wachucik.