By Joseph Pfang
The Catholic Military Association’s 2024 pilgrimage to Carfin Grotto was my first association
event and one which did not disappoint. Held in the village of Carfin, about an hour West of
Edinburgh, this was the Association’s first event in Scotland, and I hope the first of many to
come.
The pilgrimage began on a bright, sunny morning at 0900hrs. As I arrived at the Xavier Centre I
was met by Rosanne, one of the Grotto’s coordinators, who with a friendly greeting directed me
to a room reserved for our group. Tea and coffee had been prepared, along with Scottish
shortbread and biscuits. Anne-Marie was our catering staff member throughout, and kept up a
continuous stream of friendly cups flowing as fellow members arrived.
Following a short period of meet-and-greet, we all headed down to the Glass Chapel where
preparations began for Mass. Father Brown was our celebrant and spiritual leader throughout
the day, and his prior service as a military chaplain put him quite at home!
A tasteful musical selection had been prepared by AB Hamid, whose cantoring added a special
touch of solemnity to the reverent celebration of the Holy Mass and Benediction later in the
afternoon. All the Commons were sung, with a number of suitable hymns. The Propers were
from the Feast of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, whose martyrdom was reflected in
father’s red vestments.
Mass having ended, our group headed out into the sunlight to the Lourdes Grotto, where the
Association picture was taken. There were about 20 of us all told, a magnificent reflection of the
excitement that Scotland’s first CMA pilgrimage had stirred amongst association members.
Each service was represented, with Army, RAF, Navy, Royal Marines, MoD Civil Service and
cadet forces all attending. Both Regular and Reserves put in a good showing.
Immediately after the photo, the Rosary was recited with assistance from the pilgrimage site’s
speaker system. This helped me fall into the meditative rhythm I love about Mary’s psalter, so
conducive to prayerful recollection. As we prayed together, I caught out of the corner of my eye
not a few CMA Rosary beads!
Following the Rosary, our pilgrimage took us back to our meeting room where a splendid lunch
had been laid out. More tea and coffee, Scottish biscuits, and an arrangement of sandwiches
that might not be out of place at the Ritz! The convivial gathering reminded me of Chesterton’s
adage – wherever a Catholic sun doth shine, there be laughter, and good red wine! The wine
was to come later, at dinner, however for now we pilgrims enjoyed a leisurely period of good
conversation and the opportunity to get to know each other better and to strengthen our
Christian and professional bonds of fellowship.
Our next item on the program was a spiritual talk, delivered by Fr. Brown. This was originally
intended to be delivered in the Glass Chapel, however in a typical turn of events, our chosen site had been occupied by another group. This provided the opportunity to put Faith into practice
and we charitably conceded our reserved site to our fellow pilgrims. I was impressed at how
graciously our event coordinators responded, and how, with classic military agility, oriented and
adjusted to secure us a new spot in the main Grotto chapel. This turned out to be providential,
as we otherwise would not have seen more of the site, and its wide space and dignity allowed
us to spread out comfortably to listen to father’s talk.
Father spoke of Fr. Willie Doyle, and his heroism and sacrifice in service on the Western front
during the first world war. This provided much cause for reflection amongst us gathered there,
and for discussion later in the day. Father’s talk also touched on the martyrs whose feast we
celebrated that day, Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, whose brave resolution in standing
up for the Church and our Faith earned them their martyrdom on the same date, so many years
ago. I was interested to learn that King Henry VIII moved the date of their martyrdom forward
from the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, as he feared the parallels that would be made between
him and King Herod, similarly infamous for his marital arrangements and for his murdering of an
innocent man.
Our next stop following father’s talk was the Stations of the Cross. Still shining, the sun fell on
our group of pilgrims as we processed out of the church down to the Via Crucis, lined along a
leafy avenue close to the Holy House and a replica of the Lord’s tomb. Again, AB Hamid led us
in song, and Fr. Brown read the meditations. Our Lady’s thoughts at witnessing the crucifixion
and death of Our Lord cast me in thoughtful meditation. How good it was to be witnessing to
that same Passion, millenia later, along with my fellow servicemembers, by our presence here
that day.
Our rival pilgrim group still occupying the Glass chapel, after the Stations we spread out to
wander the Grotto grounds while Father heard several of our confessions. I often find that
retreats and pilgrimages leave no room for quiet prayer and recollection, so essential for
growing in an authentic relationship with Our Lord. Fortunately, our pilgrimage organisers had
factored in plenty of time for this, and the Grotto grounds provided ample space to find some
quiet corner, reflect and pray.
As I looked about, I was struck by the variety of saints whose white statues adorned the Grotto
grounds. Saints whom you do not normally see – St. Charbel from Lebanon, for example, and
St. Peregrine, patron of cancer patients. I was happy to see Blessed Carlos Acutis, whose
second miracle – clearing the way for his canonisation – was approved by the Holy See only
this year. There was plenty of space for more statues, and it occurred to me (as I’m sure it did to
others on the pilgrimage) that perhaps here might be a fitting site for our very own Fr. Doyle. Fr.
Doyle, the chaplain of the 8 th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, inspired over 40,000 souls by his
heroic example of faith in the brutal trenches of the first world war. His cause for beatification is
also in progress. Interestingly, Fr. Doyle knew Canon Taylor, the priest who founded Carfin
Grotto in 1922!
When the Glass chapel finally became available, the pilgrims gathered again in that particular
space, and Father Brown once again presided over the ceremony of Exposition and
Benediction. AB Hamid’s fine voice led us in the O Salutaris Hostia, the Tantum Ergo, and other
suitable hymns.
By this time I think we were all starting to feel a little tired and hungry. Not everyone was able to
stay for the entirety of the day, but those remaining were ready for dinner. After changing out of our working dress, we headed back to the meeting room, where tables had again been set. One of Carfin Grotto’s finest assets must be its catering company. Again, hot, delicious food was
brought out by the gracious and friendly Ann-Marie. To my surprise, a fully-stocked bar rivaling that of many a mess was located on site. My Scottish experience was not complete until I had been prevailed upon by Stu and Brian to try Buckfast for the first time. True Catholic hospitality!
Dinner being over, it was time to say our goodbyes. As we parted ways, I reflected on what had
been a prayerful, fun, and meaningful day. How often have I wondered whether there are other
faith-filled service members out there, striving to live their Faith. Or whether they too encounter
the same challenges posed by a secular, often challenging environment? Coming together with
fellow pilgrims sharing similar experiences as members of our armed forces and defence
establishment was both encouraging and compelling. Our Faith is not supposed to be lived out
alone, and we need occasions like the Carfin Grotto pilgrimage to remind us that our Church is
a community of believers who are fellow pilgrims on the way to our final destination in Heaven.
Many thanks to our chaplain, Fr. Brown, to Spr Bunce and Maj Adcock for their excellent
planning and organisation, to AB Hamid for the fine music, to all the staff and volunteers at
Carfin Grotto, and to my fellow pilgrims for making the Association’s first Scotland event so
inspiring and one to remember! May God continue to bless the Association and may Our Lady,
St. Bernadette, and Saints Fisher and More pray for us.
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