News

On 14th July 2012 dozens of grandparents, many accompanied by their children and grandchildren, gathered for the annual Grandparents' Pilgrimage to Aylesford Carmelite Priory (The Friars) in Kent.

They were joined by Rt. Rev. Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton Diocese, and Rt. Rev. John Hine, Auxiliary Bishop in Southwark Archdiocese.

The pilgrimage celebrated Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, whose feast day followed some days after on 26th July.

In the opening prayer service Fr. Graham Preston, Southwark Archdiocese's Episcopal Vicar for Marriage and Family Life, spoke of the day as being one of ‘Faith and Fun’.

There are few things that give grandparents as much joy as seeing their grandchildren enjoying themselves. The afternoon provided ample opportunity for this.

Mass was celebrated by the bishops towards the end of the day, after which hundreds of balloons, each carrying a prayer, were released.

Sources: Archdiocese of Southwark, Independent Catholic News, Marriage & Family Life at CBCEW