It Was Raining Blessings At Holywell
Michael O’Halloran SJ joined the pilgrims at St Winifred’s Well in North Wales - The pilgrimage of Jesuit and friends who gathered on where the water wasn’t just in the well!
Saturday 20th May recalled joyfully and gratefully the band of Jesuits and friends who went there in 1605 and more particularly the four members of the Province who were martyred in the following year.
Miraculously, the rain stopped as almost 300 people gathered for the opening Mass at noon. This was followed by devotions at the well and a final eucharistic service to round off the day. Groups were there from Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool, Clitheroe, Hereford, Worcester, London, and the environs of St Beuno’s. Fr Provincial, Michael Holman SJ, presided at the Mass along with 14 Jesuit priests and two deacons: Jim Conway SJ from Stamford Hill and Bill Adams from St Wilfrid’s, Preston. Many other Jesuits were in the congregation.
An admirable choir was provided by Stonyhurst College, one of whose Old Boys was MC and another organist. Among the concelebrants was Brian Enright SJ, on leave from Zimbabwe; the novices from Birmingham were there, led by Paul Nicholson SJ; and with the Preston party was Andrius Baranauskas, a Jesuit novice from the Lithuanian Province, who is studying at the University of Central Lancashire. Fr Michael O’Halloran preached the homily. During the service at the shrine, young people from Liverpool sprinkled the pilgrims with water from the well.
The Bishop of Wrexham was unable to be present, but sent his Vicar General to bless the crowd and give a kindly message and offer a prayer in the closing Eucharistic service. The weather was a trifle chilly, but the sun came out towards the end. Truly a leaden echo - and a golden echo of a really good, enjoyable and devotional occasion.
Saturday 20th May recalled joyfully and gratefully the band of Jesuits and friends who went there in 1605 and more particularly the four members of the Province who were martyred in the following year.
Miraculously, the rain stopped as almost 300 people gathered for the opening Mass at noon. This was followed by devotions at the well and a final eucharistic service to round off the day. Groups were there from Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool, Clitheroe, Hereford, Worcester, London, and the environs of St Beuno’s. Fr Provincial, Michael Holman SJ, presided at the Mass along with 14 Jesuit priests and two deacons: Jim Conway SJ from Stamford Hill and Bill Adams from St Wilfrid’s, Preston. Many other Jesuits were in the congregation.
An admirable choir was provided by Stonyhurst College, one of whose Old Boys was MC and another organist. Among the concelebrants was Brian Enright SJ, on leave from Zimbabwe; the novices from Birmingham were there, led by Paul Nicholson SJ; and with the Preston party was Andrius Baranauskas, a Jesuit novice from the Lithuanian Province, who is studying at the University of Central Lancashire. Fr Michael O’Halloran preached the homily. During the service at the shrine, young people from Liverpool sprinkled the pilgrims with water from the well.
The Bishop of Wrexham was unable to be present, but sent his Vicar General to bless the crowd and give a kindly message and offer a prayer in the closing Eucharistic service. The weather was a trifle chilly, but the sun came out towards the end. Truly a leaden echo - and a golden echo of a really good, enjoyable and devotional occasion.