Join hundreds of people in Dunfermline this summer for the annual St Margaret Pilgrimage.
It takes place on Sunday 23 June and sees the return of the popular procession through the city centre led by Archbishop Leo Cushley.
He said: "St Margaret's influence and legacy is extraordinary and much of her work was done in the historic capital of Dunfermline.
"Her virtue and holiness helped transform not just her own family but the life of the nation for the next thousand years.
"So I invite you to join us as a pilgrim on Sunday 23 June as we process with her holy relic up through the High Street to St Margaret's Memorial Church where we will celebrate Holy Mass in her honour."
The procession will gather at the Louise Carnegie on Bridge Street (opposite the Seven Kings Pub) at 2:00pm.
Earlier in the day there will be an outdoor prayer service at the tomb of St Margaret at the historic Dunfermline Abbey, led by Archbishop Cushley (12:30pm).
Why not spend the day in Dunfermline and take advantage of what the historic city has to offer? You can enjoy a wander around Abbot House and its gardens, visit Andrews Carnegie's Birthplace Museum and enjoy the beauty of Pittencrieff Park (known locally as 'The Glen'). See dunfermline.com
We recommend that pilgrims visit St Margaret's Cave, and descend the atmospheric 87 steps where St Margaret prayed over 900 years ago.
Schedule
- 12:30pm: Ecumenical Prayers at tomb of St Margaret at Dunfermline Abbey.
- 2:00pm: Procession from Pittencrieff Park (Louise Carnegie Gates, Bridge Street, opposite Seven Kings Pub) to St Margaret's Memorial Church, East Port, Dunfermline.
- 3:00pm: Mass celebrated by Archbishop Cushley and blessing from relic of St Margaret.
History
The roots of the summer pilgrimage date back to June 1250 when the relics of Saint Margaret were translated to a new shrine in Dunfermline Abbey following her canonisation by Pope Innocent IV.
A pilgrimage to Dunfermline soon emerged and continued until the late 16th Century. It was then resurrected in 1899 and continued again until 1974.
Archbishop Cushley revived it in 2015 and it has continued since then, except a hiatus due to the pandemic.
The Knights of St Columba will host a Mass to celebrate the value of human life from conception to natural death, to pray for an end to abortion and to support life-affirming choices.
Everyone is welcome at St Margaret’s Church, East Port, Dunfermline, on Saturday 7 October at 12 noon. Mass will be said by Fr Paul Lee, Provincial Chaplain to the Knights of St Columba Province 3 and parish priest at St Agatha's in Methil. The speaker will be Paul Atkin, from the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office.
The Knights of St Columba is an Order of Catholic men bound together in Charity, Unity and Fraternity in order to enrich their own faith, spirituality and by words and actions, to proclaim the spiritual, moral and social message of the Catholic Church. Find out more about their work at https://ksc.org.uk/
St Margaret's Pilgrimage 2023
The St Margaret's Pilgrimage 2023 will take place in Dunfermline on Sunday 18 June.
The day features:
- 12:30pm: Ecumenical Service in Dunfermline Abbey, St Margaret St, Dunfermline KY12 7PE.
- 1:00pm: Prayer at the tomb site of St Margaret at Dunfermline Abbey.
- 2:30pm: Mass led by Archbishop Cushley, St Margaret's Memorial Church, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JB.
There will be an opportunity to receive a blessing with a first class relic of St Margaret after the Mass at St Margaret's in East Port.
Guests include the Provost of Fife Jim Leishman and The Right Rev Dr Rev Iain Greenshields, the current Moderator of the Church of Scotland who is minister at St Margaret's Church in Touch, Dunfemline.
Also attending is László Kálmán, the Consul General of Hungary and representatives of the Knights of St Columba, the Knights of Malta and St Margaret's Guild.
Pupils from Holy Name Primary (Oakley), St Margaret's Primary and St Columba's Secondary (both Dunfermline) will contribute to the Mass.
*Please note, there is no street procession this year.
Accessibility and Seating
The Mass is at 2:30pm, please be seated by 2:15pm. Wheelchair seating is at the back left of Church. Stewards will be in attendance to help.
Streaming
The Mass will be streamed from the church's website here.
Getting there
Car: There is a free car park in Leys Park Road near St Margaret's Church (see below map). The church car park is available only for dropping off those with mobility issues. Council car parks are free until 1pm on Sunday.
Train: Dunfermline Town Train Station is a five to ten minute walk from St Margaret's Church and Dunfermline Abbey.
Bus: Dunfermline Bus Station is a five to ten minute walk from St Margaret's Church and a five minute walk from Dunfermline Abbey.
Maps
