The fifth annual pilgrimage to Holy Island by AOS workers and supporters in the north east region was held on Saturday 28th June 2008, when the highlight of the day was an open air Mass, celebrating the feast of SS Peter and Paul, led by the Rt Rev Terence Drainey, Bishop of Middlesbrough.

Five other priests, Mgr Ronnie Brown (AOS Trustee), Fr Tony Owens (Parish Priest at St Aidan, Seahouses, and Holy Island), Canon Eddie Gubbins (St Andrew’s, Teesville, Middlesbrough), Fr John Reid (Our Lady and St Thomas, Willington) and Fr David Bingham (a Mill Hill father from Durham) concelebrated the Mass which was held in dry but blustery conditions.

Around 550 people had arrived earlier in the day on coaches from parishes in South Shields, Tow Law, Blyth, Sunderland, Penshaw and Middlesbrough (3 coaches) including others who had made the journey by car from as far away as Liverpool.

The pilgrimage had followed its now familiar format with ‘Celtic Prayer on the Beach’, held in glorious sunshine in the early afternoon, after which pilgrims had free time to have lunch, explore the island or take time for reflection before Mass was celebrated at 4.30 pm. There was also an opportunity to visit St Aidan’s Catholic Church on the island where a display depicting the work of the AOS ministry to seafarers had been assembled, and where pilgrims could talk to Chaplains and other AOS workers and obtain prayer cards and other literature.

One pilgrim commented, ‘This is my first visit to Holy Island and I am delighted to have shared in such a wonderful occasion and Mass, with so many people, in a truly spiritual setting, and to learn more about the work of the AOS. It is definitely my intention to return next year.’

The date for next year’s pilgrimage has already been set as Saturday 27th June 2009.

Tony McAvoy

AOS NE Regional Co-ordinator

Photos from the 2008 Apostleship of the Sea pilgrimage to Holy Island can be found in the galleries section of the Diocesan web site.