1. AUTUMN NEWSLETTER RESPONSE

We had a great response to the Autumn newsletter, with several hundred Ransomers contacting us, some after quite a few years of being out of communication. It is wonderful to be in touch again.

2. POOR PARISHES FUND

Thanks to the generosity of Ransomers, a number of whom have left legacies, The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom was able to make distributions to every diocese in England & Wales, totalling £284,000, in December 2016.

3. COMING EVENTS

REQUIEM MASS AND ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING SATURDAY 10TH JUNE AT 11AM

The annual Requiem Mass is booked for Saturday 10th June at 11am in the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia, Kingsway, London, WC2. The Annual Business Meeting of the Guild will take place immediately afterwards in the parish room. All Ransomers are warmly invited to come and attend (please). As with other events, it would be very helpful if you could let us know you are coming by contacting the Guild office. (more events on next page…)

Mass Intentions

A Ransomer Retreat and Pilgrimage

The Walsingham Walk – calling walkers!

Coming events

Poor Parishes Fund

Autumn newsletter response

COMING EVENTS CONT’D... ANNUAL LECTURE - WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER The Annual Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday 13th September, at Westminster Cathedral Hall. Our guest will be Fr John Saward from Oxford who is an outstanding speaker. Please contact the Guild office if you wish to attend. It is important we have an idea as to numbers, as this will be an open event and it would be great to fill the place. The topic of this year’s lecture is ‘England’s Nazareth and England’s Conversion.’ An offering will be taken at the event to help offset costs involved and assist with Guild expenses. MASS AT THE SHRINE OF ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR This will be on Saturday 7th October at 10.45 am (arrival time please) as opposed to the traditional 4.30 pm time. Please apply to the Guild office for tickets, they are free but a suggested donation is £15 each. Note: the Mass is on the same day that the Walsingham Walk begins. NOVENA APPEAL Please send your prayer intentions, we will make sure that the Walsingham Walkers receive them. Donations go to the Guild.

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS - SEPTEMBER 2018 This will be in Liverpool in September. The statue of Our lady of Walsingham will be present and the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom will be supporting this great Eucharistic event. More details to follow.

DOWRY PILGRIMAGE - 2018

Working in partnership with the National Shrine and Youth 2000, the Guild will be involved in a national pilgrimage called ‘The Dowry National Pilgrimage.’ This will take place in 2018 and will take the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham around various parishes in the country, promoting the understanding of the great title of England as the Dowry of Mary. Details of the date and parishes will follow. Bishops have agreed that the dowry pilgrimage will visit every Cathedral in England and Wales.

4. CALLING ALL WALKERS - THE WALSINGHAM WALK

This famous event is scheduled for 7th to 15th October 2017. Entirely due to practical necessity, this is currently a men-only event. However, those men who do this pilgrimage walk have a wonderful experience (and a purgative). So we encourage ladies out there to send their men, and those men who have considered this walk to stop considering and book. Visit the following website for more information and to register your interest: http://www.walsinghamwalkers.co.uk/

5. A RANSOM RETREAT AND PILGRIMAGE

There is a pilgrimage walk in London in the pipeline, as well as a Ransom pilgrimage to Walsingham, and a Ransomer retreat at the new Dowry House in Walsingham. If you would like to attend a Ransom retreat/pilgrimage, please contact the office so that we can measure the interest from Guild members.

6. MASS INTENTIONS There has been a significant fall in the number of Mass intentions being requested, although this is a fundamental element of the Guild’s mission - to remember the forgotten dead (the Holy Souls in Purgatory). We combine this work with the Poor Parishes Mission by sending Mass intentions to those priests who are struggling with parish finances. Please send your Mass intentions to the Guild office in Walsingham and we will send them to the relevant parishes. FINALLY… MEMBERSHIP If you know of anybody who would like to be a Ransomer and help Our Lady with the conversion of England and Wales, please get in touch with the Walsingham Office. The Guild depends on Ransomers for donations. Please remember us in your will, as others have done. The Guild has greatly benefitted, which has consequently helped many parishes.

For further information on any of the above events please contact the Guild Administrator, Derek Williams, at the office in Walsingham. The address, phone number and email address are all below. God bless you, and thank you for your continued support and prayerful intercession.

Yours faithfully

Gregory Wheatley Gregory Wheatley Chairman