The Confraternity of St Ninian is a lay association and Scottish charity which promotes the reconversion of Scotland to the Catholic Faith through pilgrimages incorporating the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass and traditional devotions.

The Confraternity was inaugurated on the 13 May 2017, the centenary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the three children at Fatima, Portugal. In addition to Our Lady, the members of the Confraternity placed themselves under the patronage of St Andrew, St Margaret and all the saints of Scotland; St Ninian was chosen as principal patron, being the first apostle to the Picts and Britons in what is now Scotland.

At the heart of the Confraternity’s apostolate is the annual Two Shrines Pligrimage, a three-day walking pilgrimage each August from the National Shrine of St Andrew in Edinburgh to the site of his mediaeval shrine in the now ruined cathedral in St Andrews. Modelled on the Chartres pilgrimage in France, pilgrims walk over twenty miles each day with daily Sung Mass together with the traditional sacraments and devotions.

The Two Shrines Pilgrimage began as a private endeavour in 2016 with the Confraternity being inaugurated the following year to support the pilgrimage and to spread the fruits of traditional pilgrimage around Scotland and throughout the year; this led to a variety of one-day events and retreats being arranged across the country but these efforts have latterly been curtailed due to the global pandemic and the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.

Confraternity events are open to all, but the organisation relies on its members from around Scotland and further afield to support its apostolate through their prayers and donations. All are welcome to join, whether or not they are personally able to participate in our pilgrimages, by completing the membership form on our “Join” page. Holy Mass is offered each month for the intention of all our members around the world.

Contact

For general enquiries, please email cosn.president@gmail.com

For financial matters, please email cosn.treasurer@gmail.com

For membership matters, please email cosn.memsec@gmail.com

Our address for correspondence is: CoSN, 14/4 Smith’s Place, Edinburgh, EH6 8NT