On a bright and sunny day the Diocese of Hallam celebrated their thirty fifth pilgrimage to the National Shrine, led by their new bishop, the Right
Revd Ralph Hesketh C.Ss.R. After facing a longer journey than usual owing to the busiest weekend of the year on the roads, some pilgrims enjoyed lunch in the
dining room of Elmham House, the pilgrim accommodation, while others explored the village of Walsingham. There were then Marian devotions in the Church of
the Annunciation in the village and then a procession along the Pilgrims’ Way to the Shrine. After time to visit the Slipper Chapel for private prayer, Mass was
celebrated by Bishop Ralph. At the end of the bidding prayers, a pilgrim originally from Egypt, sang a beautiful Marian hymn in Arabic, as we prayed for our fellow
Christians in the Middle East. At the end of Mass the secretary of the Sheffield Walsingham Association and the chairman of the pilgrimage committee presented
cheques to the value of £1,000 for the development fund to the shrine rector, Mgr Armitage. Mgr John was almost rendered speechless! He expressed his thanks
to the support of the diocese over many years and looks forward to welcoming them back next year.