Pilgrims Saddened by Bishop’s Traditional Latin Mass Restrictions at Walsingham Shrine

National Catholic Register ^ | June 16, 2023 | Edward Pentin

[nickcarraway]

Despite shrines being exempt from Pope Francis’ restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass, England’s national shrine is effectively banning pilgrims’ ability to celebrate and attend the ancient rite both in private and in public.

Participants of two recent pilgrimages were expecting to be able to celebrate the traditional Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham earlier this month, but the organizers of both received notification that the local bishop would not be granting such permission in any of the churches in Walsingham.

The National Association of Catholic Families, which aims to give mutual moral, spiritual and social support in the face of today’s culture which threatens Catholic family values, has led pilgrimages to the shrine for a decade during which it has provided a Traditional Latin Mass.

They received news in early May that for their May 27-28 pilgrimage, this was no longer to be allowed.

In an email, the acting rector of the shrine, Conventual Franciscan Father James Mary McInerney, told the organizers that Bishop Peter Collins of East Anglia had ordered that “from now on permission will not be given for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass to be offered at the Shrine, either in the Chapel of Reconciliation or in the Slipper Chapel.” The ruling, he added, “applies to all Masses either private or public.”

Father Patrick Pullicino, chaplain to the National Association of Catholic Families, told the Register June 16 that as they were told no traditional Masses were to be celebrated in any of the Walsingham churches, he offered the Mass “on two occasions in the marquee tent of the pilgrimage which was pitched on private land.” They were, however, allowed to have overnight Adoration in a church whose chaplain “facilitated this for us.”

Father Jonathan Routh of St. Thomas More Catholic Church

[Trumpette1954]

I think the Catholic Faith was just fine before this Pope. Yes, there was a problem with some Priests criminal behavior but that was not because of the Church itself but those priests. This Pope needs to go!