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Worth Abbey Pilgrims – Abbot Mark Barrett
Welcome to Worth Abbey Pilgrims
Iwant to introduce you to the Worth Abbey Pilgrims, a friendship and information network centred at Worth, which enables people to stay in touch with what is happening at the Abbey and to become involved in a range of activities and events taking place here throughout the year. Our aim, through a sense of welcome and hospitality, is for Worth to be a place of rest and return, with the Rule of St Benedict to guide us as we travel.
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Events in 2022 began with a special range of activities after Easter Sunday Mass, including a contemplative resurrection walk to the Quiet Garden, a guided walk taking in some of the best sights of the Worth Estate, an Easter egg hunt, and the Worth coffee van serving refreshments and Italian Easter cake.
This was followed by a glorious ‘Beauty & Joy of Worth Festival’ on August Bank Holiday Monday. As the sun shone, the estate opened to over 700 visitors for guided tours of the Abbey Church, St Bruno’s Retreat Centre, the new Spencer Building and historical rooms within the main school building. There were reflective walks, a beautiful organ recital and teas were served on the South Terrace overlooking the Weald and the South Downs.
In October we were honoured to host the relics of St Bernadette in the Abbey Church for 24 hours - a once in a lifetime opportunity which attracted large numbers of pilgrims to experience a piece of Lourdes here at Worth. As I write we look ahead to the Worth Abbey Pilgrims’ Carol Service in December with a choir formed of singers from all parts of the Worth Community, including many Old Worthians.
The Pilgrims Steering Group is made up of representatives from all sections of the Worth Community, including the strong support of Worth Society and the School, as we aim to give a warm welcome in the Benedictine tradition of hospitality to all our existing friends and to those who are discovering Worth for the first time.
For more information, please email pilgrims@worth.org.uk or go to www.worth.org/pilgrims
We look forward to seeing many of you back here at Worth at some Worth Abbey Pilgrims events in the months and years ahead.
All good wishes

Abbot Mark Barrett

