Firstly, it is the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a feast established in 2018 by Pope Francis to be celebrated every year upon the Monday following Pentecost. In doing so, he hoped to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious, and faithful.”

The Scripture reading for this feast is John 19:25–34, in which Jesus cries out from the Cross, entrusting Mary to his disciple John as his Mother and entrusting his disciple to Mary as her son. Through this Scripture passage  we understand that “Mary is present in the Church as the Mother of Christ, and at the same time as that Mother whom Christ, in the mystery of the Redemption, gave to humanity in the person of the Apostle John.” Mary is our Mother too—Mother to the Church and Mother to us each personally.

We honour Mary as Mother of the Church on the day after Pentecost, reminding us that Mary was present with the disciples on Pentecost. Mary prayed with the first Christian community, awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit for all believers. Mary prayed with them as the Holy Spirit descended. And Mary, our dear Blessed Mother, continues to pray for us and intercede for us before the throne of God.

Our Lady of Walsingham pray for us, pray for the Church in England and Wales and pray for Her Majesty the Queen as she celebrates today her Platinum Jubilee.

Secondly, our Mass intention will be to give thanks for the Platinum Jubilee of HM the Queen Elizabeth II who has graced the throne of England for the past 70 years.

All are welcome to attend in person at 12 Noon on Monday 6 June 2022 at the Basilica & Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham.