The Holywell Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage of Jesuits and friends who gathered on Saturday, May 20, 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.

There were over 250 people present at the Mass, the devotions at the well and the final eucharistic service which rounded off the day.  Groups were there from Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool, Clitheroe, Hereford, Worcester, London and the environs on St Beuno's.  The British Jesuit Provincial, Fr Michael Holman SJ, presided at the Mass with two deacons: Jim Conway from Stamford Hill and Bill Adams from St Wilfrid's, Preston.  An admirable choir was provided by Stonyhurst, one of whose Old Boys was MC and another organist.  Among the concelebrants was Brian Enright, on leave from Zimbabwe; the novices from Harborne were there, led by Paul Nicholson; and with the Preston party was Andrius Baranauskas, a novice from the Lithuanian Province, who is studying at the University of Central Lancashire.

The Bishop of Wrexham was unable to be present himself, but he sent his Vicar General to bless us all and give a kindly message and prayer in the closing eucharistic service.  The weather was a trifle chilly, but the rain stopped just as most people were arriving and the sun came out just as we were leaving.  Truly a leaden echo and a golden echo of a really good occasion.

Read the homily preached by Father Michael O'Halloran SJ by clicking on the link above.