Westminster to Birmingham - Newman Pilgrimage 2011

Day 15: Celebration Day in Birmingham

Pilgrims are now free to spend the rest of the day as they wish. A celebration meal will take place in the evening, the timing and location of which will be announced the night before.

Our final short(ish) walk starts, heading for the gates of the Commnity Centre we're staying in.

We walked in one group along quiet residential roads.

Our long snake was inspected by a police patrol, but they thought we were harmless.

Having crossed at FiveWays we walked along busier arterial routes.

Fr David leads with the Kenyan walking stick.

The final few dozen yards were accompanied by singing...

...which continued outside the Oratory.

We were joined by John, Monica and Gillian.

Crossing the cloister to the Newman museum.

Today is the feast of St Monica, and Monica seem to have developed a halo!

Pilgrims took time to read the displays in the museum.

We then went into the Oratory Church for Mass. The inside of the dome...

...after mass, pilgrims preparing to move to the Newman chapel.

Provost Richard Duffield welcomes us before our service of arrival.

Pilgrims lead prayers for the places we passed through - Maurice...

...John and Louise...

...Bruce (and Nick).

Francis and Maureen.

The altar in the Newman chapel.

Our candles and walking stick in front of the altar.

Pilgrims say farewell to Rev Simon.

The chapel, with images of inter alia Blessed Dominic Barberi

Pilgrims leaving the Oratory Church.

We had a free afternoon - and the scrabblers played Scrabble.

Nick bought and wrapped gifts for the non-walking support team.

Familiar faces in the queue for our celebration meal.

All sat down together for the meal.

John - back in familiar territory, helping Alexe with the dessert.

It was one of our quietest celebration meals - mirroring the thoughtful nature of this year's pilgrimage. Rather than the usual sing song there was a quiz organised by Kevin and Lauren, won on a tie breaker by the "Ecumental" team. I'm told that the last four standing - well, sitting actually - were Patrick, Becky, John and Louise (that same Ecumental team) - and they were celebrating by finishing the crossword!