Thirty one parishioners from St Mary, Queen of Martyrs and St Francis of Assisi churches, Hull, travelled as pilgrims to Portugal, Spain and France during the last week in October. Accompanied by Fr Paul Dowling, their first destination was Fatima in Portugal.

Here, members of the group attended the Sunday open air Mass in the Sanctuary as well as taking part in various services and activities during their stay. Highlights included the candlelit Rosary during which two of the men from the group had the honour of helping to bear the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in procession around the Sanctuary. The last evening in Fatima culminated in an English Mass in the Chapel of the Apparitions, concelebrated by Fr Paul, with two of the Hull group chosen as Ministers of the Word.

After three days in Fatima, the pilgrims journeyed on by coach to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain. Here, the group were given a guided tour of the final part of the medieval pilgrimage trail, the ‘Camino de Santiago’, and the great Cathedral built in honour of St James the Apostle, whose relics are believed to lie in the crypt.

Following an overnight stop en route, the pilgrims reached their final destination, Lourdes, where they stayed for two nights. On the final evening, Fr Paul led the group in candlelit procession following the Stations of the Cross, a moving and fitting end to a wonderful week of true pilgrimage.