Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Martrys

In May we had a number of posts about Marian pilgrimages, today we show a place of pilgrimage closer to home.  The parish of St Mary's, Fernyhalgh and Ladyewell House is just outside Preston. The Diocesan shrine of Lancaster to Our Lady as Queen of Martyrs also includes a well where pilgrims collect water for blessing. Prayer to Our Lady of Fernyhalgh goes back to the 11^th century. Unlike Lourdes and Fatima, Our Blessed Lady at Fernyhalgh has not appeared to anyone, however there has been continued prayer and petition for over 700 years.  Many parishes have an annual pilgrimage and parishioners of the Cathedral will go to spend time their for prayer and retreats.  For more information about Fernyhalgh visit the website.  


A good number of altar servers from across the diocese with their parents and clergy gathered at the parish church of St. Mary´s, Fernyhalgh, and from there we processed to the shrine, reciting the Rosary on the way, an easy walk lasting about half an hour. Before concluding with Benediction we had a litany and a short homily on the significance of Ladyewell in the story of our Lancashire martyrs.