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Annual Pilgrimage & Open-Air Mass
Annual Pilgrimage & Open-Air Mass
On a sunny Sunday afternoon on June 30, 2019, a large crowd of Friends of Maryvale, local parishioners, students and graduates, employees and supporters of the Maryvale Institute gathered in front of the Maryvale's ambulacrum to celebrate its annual pilgrimage Mass and procession in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This year the mass and procession was led by our guest principal celebrant Rev Michael Dolman, Vocations Director of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
The whole celebration was accompanied by a beautiful choir composed of Bridgettine Sisters.
The Sacred Heart has played a prominent role in the spiritual life of Maryvale since Bishop John Milner gained papal approval to found a public chapel on this site, dedicated to this devotion, in 1814, bringing back from Rome the stained glass image that you can still see today to provide a focus point behind the altar. Consequently, the Pilgrimage Mass and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the grounds are a highlight of liturgical year at Maryvale, again coming as the culmination of a series of well-attended Novena Masses to the Sacred Heart. All at Maryvale extend their thanks to all who participated, attended and made the time such a success and a blessing.