My personal view is that Churches should have remained open at least to give us the ability us to approach Our Lord in the Confessional. Properly managed and perhaps in selected, if not all Churches, souls would at least be able to express contrition and as best our fragile human state allows, a state of grace.
Alas, for various reasons this has not been possible. It is a discomfiture that this has not been the prevailing situation throughout.
As readers of this blog will be aware the annual LMS Pilgrimage to Holywell takes place annually on the first Sunday in July. Therefore, this year your diary should be marked with the 5th July.
Sadly, this post is not one that I suspected I would need to make back at the end of February. We have all prayed unceasingly for the eradication of the virus and to bring an early return to our sacred spaces. Currently, this isn't to be. Almighty God will grant this when God sees it fit no matter what the authorities say!
Consequently, I have prevaricated before making this post as I wanted to be sure that a decision as to the viability of holding the pilgrimage could be made as close to the event date as possible taking all guidance, instruction and legal requirement into account not only now but also how things will be in a month.
Today, The First Minister of Wales , the Right Hon. Mark Drakeford M.S. has outlined new guidance for the principality effective from Monday 1st June which we are bound by. His speech has been substantiated by more detailed written guidance issued concurrent to his address to the people of Wales.
You may be aware that the UK Government has no responsibility for Public Health in the devolved nations and there are variances between the London and Cardiff administrations. In Wales, Llywodraeth Cymru (the Welsh Government) is advised by its own Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser and whilst some parity exists, Wales seems to be around 3 to 4 weeks behind England.
In Wales, beauty and tourist spots will remain closed as will non-essential retail, a concession from today is that two households in the same local area may meet outdoors but not where travel will be in excess of five miles from home to achieve this. Similar to, yet more prohibitive to English guidance and therefore evidently less progressive.
I conclude that it is extremely unlikely that by the pilgrimage date, just over four weeks away, we will be in a more serene position, as to reach that place, it would mean a remarkable relaxation of restrictions and a situation that as I write I cannot envisage.
Therefore, out of deference to the clergy, the choir and those intending on making the pilgrimage, I believe the decision on viability is worthy of attention now rather than later.
Therefore, it is with much regret and a very heavy heart that I have decided cancel the Holywell Pilgrimage for 2020.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the Latin Mass Society and I really do cherish your support of our mission in Wales.
St Winefride, St Beuno and St David and all the Saints of Wales, pray for us!