Oxford Circle Jubilee Pilgrimage
On 11th October 10 Brothers and wives of Oxford Circle embarked on their Pilgrimage of Hope for the Year of Jubilee.
Luckily for our pilgrims they did not have to travel too far, The parish church of Blessed Dominic Barberi, and the Newman College, Littlemore, Oxford have been nominated as places of pilgrimage by the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
The location of Newman College is very pertinent to our time. This is where on October 9th, 1854, Saint John Henry Newman was received into the Catholic Church by Blessed Dominic Barberi, an Italian Passionist Priest. The buildings contain the oratory (now the chapel) where St John Henry and his friends prayed, the room where he slept which contains the writing desk where he wrote a vast number of letters and documents and the common room where he would discuss his journey of faith with his friends and fellow journeymen.
The college is under the care of the Sisters of the Spiritual Family of the Work,
The day started with gathering at the college and meeting with our host, Sr Ingrid Swinnen. who showed us to the Chapel in readiness for Holy Mass which was beautifully celebrated for us by Fr Nicholas Edmund-Smith (Cong Orat) the Provost of the Oxford Oratory. The Hymns sung during Mass were Lead, Kindley Light, Firmly I Believe, and Praise to the Holiest, the words of all three written by St John Henry Newman.
Following Mass, we were given a guided tour of the buildings by Sr Ingrid, who provided insight into the life of our great Saint during his time as an Anglican Minister, Fellow of Oriel College, discerner of his true faith, Convert, Priest and Cardinal.
After Lunch, we assembled again in the intimate chapel for Adoration and Benediction, again celebrated by Fr Nicholas.
Walking in the footsteps of St John Henry, at a time that the Church is about to proclaim him a Doctor of the Church was inspirational. This place is truly a Holy place where one cannot help but feel that the intersession of St John Henry brings us closer to God.
We now wait for the official proclamation of this great saint being made 38th Doctor of the Church and co patron saint of education by the Holy Father.
Our ten pilgrims may not have undergone any hardship in fulfilling this pilgrimage but all agreed that our individual journeys in faith have been sustained by the experience.
