In 2o26 the pilgrimage was led by Bishop Peter Collins of East Anglia.
Peter Gwilym Collins was born on May 13, 1958, in the town of Tredegar, South Wales, and then nurtured with his three older sisters in the nearby village of Rhymney. He attended local Catholic primary and secondary schools and then briefly explored a pathway into teaching before being accepted for seminary formation in 1978. Following six years at the Royal English College, Valladolid, Spain, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cardiff on July 14, 1984. His philosophical and theological studies were undertaken at the Augustinian Faculty in Valladolid, at the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid and at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
He served as an Assistant Priest in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St David, Cardiff, from 1984-86 and in Bridgend from 1986-88. He returned to Spain for post-graduate study before taking up his appointment as Vice Rector at the Royal English College, serving there from 1989-94.
Upon his return to the Archdiocese, he was appointed as Parish Priest of Chepstow and Caldicot. In 2001 he became Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cardiff, serving there for the next 18 years. In 2006, he was appointed as a member of the Metropolitan Chapter of Canons. In 2019, he moved to the next-door parishes of St Mary of the Angels, Canton and Holy Family, Fairwater.
Alongside his parish responsibilities, Bishop Peter Collins has served in a multiplicity of diocesan roles: 12 years as Chair of the Education Commission; ten years as Director of the Diaconate; 28 years in various safeguarding roles, being designated as Archbishop’s Delegate to the first national meeting on safeguarding in 1995 and later serving as Coordinator and Clergy Advisor. He has also served as an area Dean, a member of the College of Consultors, a member of the Archbishop’s Council and as a Trustee. He was appointed to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2004.
Canon Peter was appointed Bishop of East Anglia on October 11, 2022 in an announcement made simultaneously in Rome and Norwich.
He was ordained as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia on December 14, 2022 at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich by his predecessor Bishop Alan Hopes.
In his homily Bishop Peter exhorted all to have the courage to ‘speak truth to power’, following the example of the prophet Jeremiah, of St John the Baptist, and of countless others in defence of truth, of life and the Church.
Please follow either of these links to watch the pilgrimage live at Walsingham – Walsingham Shrine Live Stream or Walsingham Shrine YouTube Channel
Outline of the day
The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary will be prayed at 11.00am, before the midday Pilgrim Mass, celebrated by Bishop Peter with other visiting priests concelebrating. The day will also include opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, to take part in the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Litany of Life and Benediction. The Relic Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be present for veneration throughout the day (except during the midday Mass)
Mid-afternoon will herald the change of location from the Shrine to the Priory in the village, walking the Pilgrim Way, to the original site of the Holy House of Nazareth. This is the now traditional SILENT walk, a prayerful walk with Jesus to Calvary. The Pilgrimage concludes in the Priory grounds with the final prayers. More details here
While the focus is prayer and reparation for sins against life, the pilgrimage is also a chance for those attending to spend time in the peace and quiet of England’s Nazareth
The date and main Celebrant of the Pilgrimage in 2027 is to be confirmed