Mary and the Eucharist 

On Saturday 11th May local Catholic church held its fifth annual pilgrimage in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Entitled Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrimage under the theme ‘Mary and the Eucharist’ it attracted over 120 people who were transported by buses and personal vehicles to stop-overs at seven Catholic churches around the island.

The pilgrimage started at 8:15 am with a Mass lead Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgetown Neil Scantlebury. The pilgrimage traveled to St. Dominic Church in Maxwell, Christ Church before moving on to Sacred Heart of Jesus in Groves, St. Philip and a lunch stop at Our Lady of the Rosary in Verdun, St. John. At each stop the pilgrims went into prayerful reflections and sang songs of worship. After the stop in St. John the pilgrimage headed north to Our Lady of Sorrows in Ashton Hall, St. Peter before stopping at St. Francis of Assisi in Mount Standfast, St. James and Our Lady of the Universe in Black Rock St. Michael. The pilgrimage ended at St. Patrick’s RC Cathedral, where it started.

Bishop Neil told the media that he was pleased with the turnout of church members, especially the number of young pilgrims. He noted that the annual event is seeing more interest and participation and he is looking forward to it becoming a major liturgical event for Catholics and others. The members of the church were asked to use the scared pilgrimage to pray for our nation as it grapples with too many murders and suicides, domestic violence and drug addiction. (by Christopher Williams)