In mid-September, ten pilgrims made the annual journey to Kevelaer. The plan was to explore the area and bring home the Paschal and Votive candles, which were made in Kevelaer, for the Cathedral. Geoffrey House was one of the pilgrims and shares his reflection on the trip below. 

The pilgrims, in three cars, crossed the North Sea by overnight ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, then drove on to the Basilica of St Mary in Kevelaer, Germany.

Kevelaer is an important pilgrimage site in Germany. At its centre is a small paper picture of St Mary of Luxembourg, Consoler of the Afflicted, located in a shrine which has been the site of pilgrimage since 1642.

Some highlights of our visit:

Priesterhaus.  Staying in the guest house (the Priesterhaus) attached to the Basilica. It’s always enjoyable staying in this ancient, but comfortable guest house. Meals were taken in the dining room with other visiting pilgrims.

St Antonious Church. The church of St Antonious was the original church for Kevelaer. Burnt down in 1982 it was rebuilt in a modern spacious style. It houses works by Bert Gerresheim, a sculptor from Dusseldorf: a cross with a charred figure of Christ, rescued from the fire, and on the wall, Stations of the Cross, unusually life-like depictions, cast in bronze

Services.  Tuesday evening Mass in the Basilica and a mid-week (Anglican) Holy Communion in the house chapel.  The candles for the Cathedral and St Edmund RC Church were blessed during the Friday Pilgrim Mass.

Shrine and Chapels. A visit to the shrine located immediately in front of the Priesterhaus, and, just beyond, the Candle chapel, where pilgrims leave candles. The Basilica was built to replace the Candle Chapel.

Kalkar. The church of St Nicholas in Kalkar, some 30 minutes from Kevelaer, surprises when inside. Alongside new modern windows are some amazing carved wooden altars which date back to 1450. The history was expertly explained by Guido Braam our guide.

Faith and Grape.  Fr Heiner Innig a priest at the Basilica, who greatly helped the group, led an evening of informal spiritual discussion. Wine was available for tasting and this encouraged friendly and informative views to be shared.

Essen Cathedral and Treasury.  The Cathedral (Dom) at Essen was an hour’s drive away. We stopped at the Rheinblick Baerl restaurant by the Rhine, for lunch, before heading into Essen. The Dom, founded in 845, is situated in a reconstructed Essen, but contains many original features. An ancient Golden Madonna is impressive, and the Treasury was a delight to the eye and mind, with its many artefacts.

Utrecht.  The journey to the night ferry at Hook of Holland, was broken by a stop in Utrecht. A bus ride from the Park and Ride took us close to the cathedral. Unfortunately, the building was unexpectedly closed so we had “coffee and cake” before travelling on for the final part of our journey home.