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St. Margaret’s Pilgrimage 2023

Saturday 1 July 2023

The St. Margaret’s Pilgrimage returned on Sunday 18th June 2023 after a hiatus of 3 years due to COVID restrictions. Changes were made to the format this year with the procession being replaced with an Ecumenical prayer service at Dunfermline Abbey prior to the thanksgiving Mass at St. Margaret’s Memorial Church. Archbishop Cushley was the lead celebrant at the services.

We welcomed a number of guests and Orders to the celebrations namely,

  • Mr Peter Paloczy, Deputy Hungarian Ambassador, United Kingdom
  • Dr Laszlo Kalman, Hungarian Consul General, Scotland
  • Mr Jim Leishman, Fife Provost
  • Rev Dr Greenshields, Moderator Church of Scotland
  • Children from St. Margaret’s & Holy Name Primary schools and St. Columba’s High School
  • Representatives from The Knights of Malta, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Knights of St. Columba & The Guild of St. Margaret

Archbishop Cushley jointly celebrated the ecumenical service with the Rev Mary Anne Rennie, Minister Dunfermline Abbey, with the music provided by the choir of Dunfermline Abbey. At the end of the service the Archbishop lead a short prayer service at the Shrine of St. Margaret prior to the laying of flowers.

A total of 260 pilgrims attended St. Margaret’s for the thanksgiving Mass where the Archbishop was assisted in the celebration by our own Father Syriac and nine visiting Priests from the archdiocese, including Father Isaac Oshomah who returned to the parish for the day along with three members of his parish from the borders.

Two sisters and a group of pilgrims walked from Lochgelly to St Margaret’s for the celebration.

Special thanks should be mentioned to the music group, pass keepers, altar servers, Michael Robertson and the volunteers form the parish who assisted in setting up the church and guiding pilgrims at the Abbey, without whose help the day could not have been the success it was.

The planning for 2024 has now begun and we look forward to keeping you updated on the future plans and welcoming you to the celebrations.

Please visit the Archdiocese website here for more photographs of the day.