Photo Credit: AdamT https://www.rcdwxm.org.uk/
https://www.rcdwxm.org.uk/?pgid=mcaew43p-0c9ddd72-58a5-4d98-a49f-a56a1ab8ac9a
On 22nd June 2025, Brothers of Province 2037 – Wales, accompanied by our Supreme Knight, Brother Michael Akinrele, joined His Lordship Peter Brignall, Bishop of Wrexham, for the annual National Pilgrimage to Holywell – often referred to as “the Lourdes of Wales.”
The day began with the celebration of Holy Mass at St Winefried’s Church, followed by a solemn procession to St Winefried’s Shrine and the Holy Well. The procession was reverently stewarded by members of Province 2037 – Wales, maintaining the Order’s long-standing commitment to supporting the spiritual life of the Church through visible witness and service.
Holywell is one of the oldest continuously visited pilgrimage sites in Britain, with a history dating back over 1,300 years. The shrine is dedicated to St Winefried, a 7th-century Welsh saint who, according to tradition, was miraculously restored to life after being beheaded for refusing the advances of a local prince. A spring emerged where her head fell – now the site of the Holy Well, which has been a place of healing and devotion for centuries.
The Knights of St Columba have proudly supported this pilgrimage for many years, both in an organisational and devotional capacity, strengthening the bond between faith, heritage, and community across the Province.