Join us at Saul on Saturday 16 March
Our diocesan St Patrick’s Day Festival begins, not in the bustle of Down Cathedral, but with Holy Communion in the quietness of Saul on the site of Patrick’s first barn church.
Buses leave from The Mall between 8.15 and 8.45am for the service at 9.15am when the preacher will be Canon Bill Press, rector of Knockbreda Parish. It’s a small church and some pilgrims may have to stand outside, so wrap up well. You can warm up by joining us on the prayer pilgrimage to Down Cathedral!
If you are not taking part in the pilgrimage tea and coffee are served in the church hall. Please note that the last bus from Saul to Down Cathedral leaves at 10.40am.
The Prayer Pilgrimage
Pastor David Legge will lead the prayer pilgrimage to Down Cathedral when our focus will be on praying for the revival of God’s church in our land. Pastor David is a Bible teacher with a cross–denominational ministry.
The route is two miles long and, joined by pilgrims of all denominations and nationalities, we are piped out of the grounds of Saul Church at approximately 10.15am. The piper joins us again at the top of the Mall and leads us into Down Cathedral narthex where the Maginn Family will be performing traditional music. A number of seats are reserved for those on the pilgrimage.
History
The current pilgrimage dates back to the 1950s and Bishop FJ Mitchell. However, with the arrival of ‘The Troubles’ in the 1960s and more local celebrations which did not focus on Downpatrick, the pilgrimages stopped for a time. They were revived in 2000 by Bishop Harold Miller and have existed in their present form since 2002 and the arrival of Dean Hull.
Dean Hull instigated the four prayer stops when the pilgrimage leader leads us in prayer for particular topics, usually related to the theme of that year’s diocesan celebrations.
If you’re not attending Holy Communion but want to join the pilgrimage, you can catch a shuttle to Saul from The Mall, the latest leaving at 9.45am.
