Mary is the cause of our joy - Archbishop John
Photos and homily from the Archdiocese’s 2026 pilgrimage to Walsingham
“Mary is the cause of our joy”, Archbishop John said in his homily at Walsingham, England’s Nazareth, “because she gave us Jesus”.
Archbishop John said “devotion to Mary at Walsingham centres us on Christ. Here, we recall that God in Christ made his home among us, and that he lives with us now in Word and Sacrament. Like countless pilgrims before us, we have come in the simplicity and beauty of faith and trust.”
The Archbishop added:
By God’s providence, that Slipper Chapel, part of the medieval shrine, remains in the possession of the Church. After the original shrine was destroyed during the Reformation, this humble chapel survived. It was not the great priory or the Holy House that endured. It was a small place ‘on the way;’ a threshold; a stopping place; a chapel where pilgrims paused, removed their shoes, prayed, and prepared to move on. This ancient chapel is now the heart of the Catholic revival of Walsingham’s mission. The stone rejected by the builders truly has become the cornerstone.
Dear friends, the great Catholic apologist G. K. Chesterton once said, “Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.
Our Shrine at Walsingham speaks powerfully about the revival inherent in the Gospel. Our Shrine at Walsingham is about the unbroken continuity of Catholic faith in our Land, in communion with the Successor of St Peter. Our Shrine at Walsingham is a sign that renewal is possible: renewal in our parishes, in our families, and in our hearts.”
Archbishop John led the Archdiocese’s annual pilgrimage to Walsingham, joined by pilgrims from across the Archdiocese, including Our Lady of Lourdes – Lee, St George’s Cathedral – Southwark, and St Thomas More – Dulwich.
Archbishop John celebrated Mass before leading pilgrims in Benediction at the grounds of Walsingham Abbey.
Many thanks to Fr James Clark for organising a beautiful pilgrimage.
