Pilgrimage Retreat

DAY TWO

Feast of SS Peter and Paul. Daily mass at the Parish Church of St Francis just across the road. Today my 39^th anniversary of priesting at Ripon by Bishop John Moorman. Children from local schoo join us at mass where the parish persists in ministry despite having to walk with a couple of sticks following hip operations that went wrong. He celebrates sitting on a stool behind the altar and administers communion sat on the communion rail.

Following coffee Jenny takes me on a tour of the convent heritage trail encapsulating the story of the order, the convent, and the foundress. Cardinal Newman was one time chaplain to the sisters and frequently celebrated mass for them.

Special lunch for the feast day but also for special visitors from other convents here for important Trustees meeting. Zion is one of the local exiles from Eritraea and she brings delicious special homemade bread and chocolate eggs.

During the afternoon I visit the two Birmingham Cathedrals. St Chad’s the RC Cathedral is also by Pugin and St Chad’s relics are in the Shrine Altar. Newman preached at the installation of the first bishop. The Anglican Cathedral, St Philip’s, has a life size statue in front of it of Charles Gore, first bishop and founder member of the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield.

Each evening after supper my time is my own for devotional reading, prayer, writing, etc.