Westminster LGBT Catholic group return from Rome pilgrimage

In front of St Peter's Baslica

LGBT Catholics Westminster pilgrims returned home from Rome having taken part in the Ash Wednesday Papal Audience, and celebrated Mass in Cardinal Vincent Nichols Titular Church of the Most Holy Redeemer & St. Alphonsus on Saturday, 21 February.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, sent a special greeting at the start of the pilgrimage: "You are at the threshold of Lent. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. What an excellent time to be on pilgrimage in Rome! You are at the thresholds of the Apostles. What an excellent place to be on pilgrimage at the beginning of Lent.

May Saints Peter and Paul, and indeed all the Apostles, be your constant teachers, guides and companions throughout your stay in Rome - and when you return. Their heroic witness to the life, death and resurrection of the Lord is an inspiring example for us all. May their prayers again turn your gaze to the merciful face of Jesus, who calls out to you in unfailing love. He will give you grace to be his faithful missionary disciples. May you bring others into the family of the Church, founded on the Apostles, teaching us how to follow the pathways of faithfulness to Jesus in all the different aspects of our lives.

In this way may your lives be a true witness to all who are striving to find God’s love. Only Jesus can truly bring us the joy and fulfilment for which we all yearn. Let us be close to him. Be assured of my prayers for each and every one of you. Please pray for me at the tombs of St Peter and St Paul, and at all the holy places you visit. Have a wonderful pilgrimage. God bless you all.

+ Cardinal Vincent Nichols."

The group also celebrated Evening Prayer at the Church of St Bartholomew-on-the-Tiber from where London's Bart's Hospital was founded in the 12th century, and which is today under the care of the San Egidio Community. St John Paul II commissioned the Church to recall the memory of contemporary martyrs from all over the world.

One of the Westminster pilgrims discovered that one of the martyrs honoured, Iraqi Chaldean priest Raghi Ghani, assassinated in Mosul in 2007 whose stole was donated by his parents, was well known to him and his family here in London."