Pilgrimage

The Convent and Retreat Centre of St Mary The Virgin Wantage was the location for our recent retreat which had a theme of Transfiguration.  Participants took part in 5 themed reflections and joined with the Sisters for some of their Offices- Vespers and Compline as well as participating in a daily Mass. the opportunity of a retreat is to take some time away to pray, experience the benefits of silence in our busy world and rest for our everyday adventures. I’m sure further retreats will be organised so why not come along next time?

  Many will have watched on the television the programme about modern day pilgrimage where a group of celebrities come together and walk to a holy place. Recently there has been film of pilgrims travelling to Santiago in Spain and another journey to Rome. Pilgrimage has been very much part of the tradition of the Church in Wales for many centuries. In popular myth “Two visits to St Davids was worth the same as one pilgrimage to Rome”. In Wales as well as pilgrimage to the home of Dewi Sant, there were often pilgrimages to Caldy island, Bardsey island in the North and to St Winnifreds Well at HolyWell. Still today people visit these places.

Near the Minster there are many local pilgrimage sites especially down the Gower. Llanrhydian to Llangennith and further to the east in Glamorgan still pilgrims visit the shrine of our lady of Penrhys. Last year folks from the Minster joined on a pilgrimage to Glastonburry and are hoping to go again this year. Conversations are underway about a Pilgrimage to the holy island of Iona. 

We also have a wonderful Pilgrimage link between the Minster and Hereford Cathedral, since 1290 there has been a link and people have travelled from the Minster to visit the tomb of St Thomas Cantiloupe.

Pilgrims from the Minster have recently returned from a few days at Walsingham, visiting the shrine of our Lady there. There’ll be a full account of this in a future posting.

We look forward to continuing to update you on our pilgrimage plans here at the Minster.

If you are in Swansea do make a pilgrimage to see the Minster!