- Title: BELGIUM: INTERNATIONAL GYPSY PILGRIMAGE TO BANNEUX CLIMAXED BY CATHOLIC MASS
- Date: 13th July 1969
- Summary: GYPSIES PARADE ALONG STREET PLAYING GUITARS AND VIOLINS; MEN CARRYING STATUE OF MADONNA AND CHILD; CARDINAL; CARDINAL SAYING MASS; GYPSY WOMEN WASHING; CAR GARLANDED WITH FLOWERS; CARAVANS (NATURAL SOUND) Initials JH/VS/CT/OS EDITORS: THIS FILM HAS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 28th July 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANNEUX, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA4UZOT77UVIAKB4H0MC5AMTB6
- Story Text: AN ESTIMATED 4,000 GYPSIES FROM ALL OVER EUROPE TODAY (SUNDAY) TOOK PART IN A CATHOLIC MASS IN BANNEUX, NEAR LIEGE, AS A CLIMAX TO THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE IN BELGIUM. THE GYPSIES, WHO HAVE BEEN ARRIVING IN THE TOWN THROUGH MUCH OF LAST WEEK, WERE FROM FRANCE, BRITAIN, SPAIN, HOLLAND, WEST GERMANY, ITALY AND BELGIUM.
THE MASS WAS PRECEDED BY A PROCESSION IN WHICH GYPSIES PARADED THROUGH BANNEUX, PLAYING GUITARS AND VIOLINS. AMONG THE MARCHERS WERE SOME MEN CARRYING A STATUE OF THE MADONNA AND CHILD.
CARDINAL SUENENS OF BRUSSELS LED THE MASS, ASSISTED BY 30 OTHER PRELATES, NATIONAL CHAPLAINS FOR THE GYPSIES OF THE COUNTRIES REPRESENTED.
THE GYPSY CAMP, LOCATED NEAR THE SCENE OF THE MASS, GREW LARGER DURING THE WEEK AS MORE PEOPLE ARRIVED IN THE PILGRIMAGE. AT LEAST 500 CARAVANS, SOME OF THEM COLOURFUL DECORATED, WERE REPORTEDLY PARKED IN BANNEUX TODAY.
FOLLOWING THE MASS, MANY OF THE WOMEN IN THE CAMP DID LAST-MINUTE WASHING IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRADITIONAL GYPSY FESTIVAL, HELD LATER IN THE EVENING IN THE HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF BANNEUX AND IN HONOUR OF BELGIUM.
MOST OF THE GYPSIES WILL REMAIN IN BANNEUX UNTIL TOMORROW (MONDAY).
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