On this page we will post the latest information about arrangements for the Papal Visit, so far as relevant to people in the Diocese of Northampton, as provided by the Diocesan Co-ordinator Fr Chris Whitehouse.
All arrangements have been made via parishes. If you have not yet booked through your parish to attend the Hyde Park or Birmingham events, it is probably too late now: names and addresses had to be provided early for security reasons. See below for opportunities to see the Pope as he travels within central London.
From Fr Whitehouse on 20th July: (addresses, and text in italics added by webmaster)
"We now have our three pilgrim points for the Northern Pastoral areas to attend the Mass of Beatification [ at Cofton Park, Rednal, SW Birmingham ] on Sunday 19th September:
- Northampton Rugby Club car park. Edgar Mobbs Way, Sixfields, Northampton (NOT the Rugby Ground itself on Weedon Road). £5 per car is payable along with, and at the same time as, the £25 for the pilgrim pass and bag.
- St Gregory's School, Biddenham Turn, Bedford MK40 4AT. [No parking charges[
- St Paul's School, Phoenix Drive, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes MK6 5EN. [No parking charges]
The Southern Pastoral areas are celebrating with the Pope at Hyde Park, London, on Saturday 18th September. (Those attending the Hyde Park event will have been be asked for a donation of £5. If they have previously paid £10 they should get a refund. The previous amount included a London TravelCard which pilgrims will now have to provide themselves )
There is a Holy Hour to pray for the Pope's visit among us on Sunday 12th September, 4pm at Sacred Heart Church, Ashcroft Road, Stopsley, Luton LU2 9AY. All are welcome to come and pray.This for all the Diocese and you will get a cup of tea afterwards. Pilgrim leaders, especially, might like to come along and we can chat about the arrangements etc"
3rd Sept. - Parishes should by now have had a supply of the prayer book/missal printed under the "Magnificat" branding for use at all the liturgical events connected with the Papal Visit. Priests are invited to arrange distribution over the weekends of 4/5th and 11-12th September. They are free, but donations of £2 each (via your parish) to help defray the production costs would be much appreciated.
Opportunities to see Pope Benedict if not attending any of the events: The first is on the early evening of Friday, 17 September when he travels fom Lambeth Palace to Westminster Hall via Lambeth Bridge and Millbank. The second is on the early evening of Saturday, 18 September when he is going to the Vigil in Hyde Park. This route is along Horse Guards Road, the Mall, Constitution Hill, Hyde Park Corner and Hyde Park. On Friday the space and vantage points will be limited. The Saturday route is fuller and more easily accessible.