PILGRIMS to Fatima in Portugal will set off from Guiseley this weekend.
THE 15-strong group, including the rector of the Parish of Guiseley with Esholt, the Rev David Pickett, will be visiting a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The pilgrimage will begin with a service in the 'prayer space' in the departure lounge of Leeds Bradford Airport at 6am on Saturday.
Once in Portugal, the Guiseley group will stay near to the town’s basilica, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, and attend services there during the five-night visit.
Fatima attracts about four million visitors every year, and is the site of reported appearances of the Virgin Mary to three local children in 1917.
One of those in the Guiseley group is Ron Cooke, who was part of a 40-strong group on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1986.
He said: "It will be very different to the Holy Land trip.
"This shrine is based around a specific event, so it will be interesting. At the moment, I’m not quite sure what it will be like, but I’m keeping an open mind and hope we’ll all benefit in our own ways from the experience”
The group’s travel and accommodation has been organised by Maggie Whitaker, of St Oswald’s Church, and the itinerary by the Rev Pickett. Future pilgrimages from St Oswald's will include Holy Island and possibly the Holy Land.
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