Pilgrimage to Stone

My dear Friends
As part of my new summer programme, I made a pilgrimage to Stone, home of the Dominican Sisters, yesterday. Stone is a little town in Staffordshire, and 11 of us piled into the little minibus which left from the Dominican Priory in Cambridge at 7.30 in the morning. It was a glorious day, very auspicious, and we arrived in Stone at about 10.15.

The pilgrimage was all centred round Our Lady and after tea and coffee we had a talk on the history of the Rosary, a wonderful healing prayer of the Church, and how it all came together over the centuries. Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you.

Afterwards while the others were having a tour of the Order's treasures, in the church and other places, I wandered round the grounds of the school (they have a school and an old people's home)and lazed on the grass and watched the canal boats passing, as the school is alongside the river.Lunch was served in the canteen, and I had a little practice on my guitar, as I was to accompany some of the Hebrew music on the actual pilgrimage itself.

Then at 2.30 we all gathered and prayed the last 5 Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, complete with banners(made 150 years ago by the nuns)meditations and music. Everyone sang! We prrocessed round five different points in the garden, and really made our devotions ring! The afternoon ended with Mass in the church, which was particularly joyful as today is the Feast of Pentecost.

Tired but happy, we arrived back in Cambridge around 9 o'clock. A great day!

Love and Shalom
Sister Gila