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| Pilgrims at the Cross of St. Augustine (photo: Richard Windsor) |
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| Pilgrims in Chartres (photo: Raja Wolstenholme) |
Pilgrims from England made their way to France and to Kent over the Pentecost weekend to take part in the annual Chartres Pilgrimage. United in prayer and spirit, the two groups kept in contact throughout the weekend and both Pilgrimages ended with the singing of Chez Nous Soyez Reine practically simultaneously! Oddly, the weather was better in England as storms battered the area around Paris. The SSPX (going in the opposite direction) had to abandon their Pilgrimage as the weather was so bad. The Pilgrims travelling to Chartres fared better with the weather only requiring the cancellation of the midday Mass on Pentecost Sunday (the Mass was moved to the campsite at Choisel prior to departure as far as the pilgrims were concerned). By a happy co-incidence, this meant that the two High Masses for Pentecost (in France and in Kent) took place at roughly the same time -- 6 am English time! The Pilgrimage in England was a little different to the previous year's version as the Convent at Minster was open allowing access to the Abbey grounds, and we stopped at St. Anne's Convent in Sturry where there is a shrine to an incorrupt Servant of God (Adele-Euphrasie Barbier). The Sisters made us very welcome and were delighted when we sang the Regina Caeli! All Night Adoration and veneration of the relic of St. Thomas Becket was planned in Canterbury on the Vigil of Pentecost ending with the High Mass at 6 am on Pentecost Sunday. This allowed time for a quick breakfast before the group set off for the Church at Boughton under Blean, an interesting Church with an extensive graveyard where we stopped for lunch. As we were a bit behind schedule, our dinner planned in a pub in Doddington was cancelled at short notice, but the proprietor of the George in Newnham came to the rescue with sandwiches, chips and samosas at short notice! A happy crew therefore rolled into Palace Farm hostel where we stayed the night. The last day of Pilgrimage started early with departure at 6 am with breaks at Bredgar and Thurnham before a good lunch at a pub in Boxley. Thus fortified, we marched the remaining miles to Aylesford Priory just in time for the 3 pm scheduled High Mass celebrated by Father Tom Lynch assisted by Fr. Faustinus and Brother Peter of the Marian Friars of Gosport and Portsmouth.
