On Saturday April 12th we will traver to the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe in Gibraltar, where we will join in prayers for peace - for our land, our world and in our hearts. 

Our Lady of Europe is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of Gibraltar and protectress of Europe. The entire European continent was consecrated under the protection of Our Lady of Europe in the early 14th century from the Shrine in Gibraltar, where devotion continues to this day, over 700 years on. 

The Shrine in fact dates to the Moorish period but it was turned into a Christian place of worship during the first Spanish period (1309–1333). A statue of the Virgin and Child was installed in this shrine in the 15th century. The shrine is pictured above.

Visit to the Shrine will be followed by a visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Diocese in Europe. The church was originally built to meet the needs of Anglican worshippers among the civil population of Gibraltar. 

John Pitt, Earl of Chatham, arrived as Governor of Gibraltar in 1820 and persuaded the British Government to sell a derelict building and use the money to build a church on the land. Building work began in 1825 and the church was completed in 1832. The church was raised to cathedral status in 1842, with the creation of the then Diocese of Gibraltar.

We will leave Malaga at 9am. If you would like to come, please speak to Fr Louis for more information.