Pilgrimages 2000

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PILGRIMAGES 2001

LOU

       LOURDES 13th – 18th AUGUST

FATIMA 13th – 20th OCTOBER
This will be our first Pilgrimage to Fatima and a good interest has been expressed. Flying to Lisbon a 90 minute coach trip takes you to Fatima. The 7 night stay allows free time for excursions to other places while not neglecting the spiritual. Staying at the Hotel Santo Amaro full board the total price is only £432. Single Room supplement extra only if available. Deposit of £60 to secure a place.

REPORT ON PILGRIMAGE TO ROME AND ASSISI- 21-28 October 2000

ARIVIDERCI ROMA

For those of us who studied Latin in school names such as ‘Circus Maximus, Appian Way, Pantheon’ and others really did not mean very much. As Catholics places like Assisi, St. Peters, St. Mary Majors or John Laterans did not mean much either. But for our hardened travellers these all became a reality. We left Templerainey in the dark and returned in the dark but were we enlightened? Yes and tired after a six day programme packed with everything from Mass with the Pope in St. Peters Square to ‘O Solo Mio’ at the Gala Dinner in Tivoli. Our group made up a third of the Irish contingent joining nationalities from all over the world for the International Jubilee Pilgrimage for the World's Defence and Police Forces.

On arrival in Rome we made our way in the afternoon traffic to the Church of St. Paul’s outside the Walls. In this Church built outside the walls of the old Roman city we celebrated our opening Mass with Bishop Field. On entry to the Church we passed through the first of the four Holy Doors designated for the Plenary Indulgence of the Jubilee Year. A quick check in at our hotel saw us on the road again for Dinner at the other end of town. We returned late with real taste of ‘pasta’  and a longing for more. Up bright and early with bags packed we travelled into the city for a visit to the Trevy Fountain, Pantheon and other places of interest giving time for a coffee or a ‘Real Ice Cream’. Then it was on to Assisi.

The three hour drive took us inland to Umbria on roads surrounded by olive groves with a break for lunch which offered a choice more than the taste buds could endure. Yes, a nap en route must certainly have been on the menu for most after our prayer time with the Rosary. Checked in we visited the Domus Pacis Church which is built over the original small church restored by St. Francis. This magnificent structure houses this small building in an unimaginable way. Our Mass that evening was followed by dinner, a ramble short sleeved through the cobbled streets and an early night.

Early to rise and a ten minute trip to the top of the mountain where the old town of Assisi overlooks the new one. Here we walked the streets in the footsteps of Sts Francis and Clare and visited the tomb of St. Francis in the Basilica where we celebrated our Mass. We saw the beautiful frescos being restored which had been damaged by the earthquake of two years ago. This was followed by time alone or in smaller groups for a private prayer, to grab a lunch, a few souvenirs and take in the feeling of another age. Yes, a week here would not be too long. The bags were packed again for our return journey from the Umbrian Hills to the Seven Hills of Rome.

Our first stop was St. Peter's Square which brought out the goose pimples. We entered through the second Holy Door, the one opened by Pope John Paul last Christmas Eve. Through the magnificent building, the largest Church in the world makes one wonder how it could have been built. We entered into the vaults where we huddled together in prayer at the tomb containing the bones of St. Peter. This is surely the high point for every pilgrim. We travelled through the tombs of the Popes and stopped at a special Chapel dedicated to our own Irish man St. Columbanus. Yes, it was rushed as we made our way to our hotel and then on to the Irish College where our group were given the privilege of leading the Mass. The present building was constructed under the direction of Arklow man Mons. John Hagan. (see next weeks Newsletter) That night we dined, wined and danced to the airs of O Solo Mio and much more. This was indeed the social event of our pilgrimage. On return we saw Rome by night.

Saturday morning gave us an early start with Mass at 8a.m. in the Sancte Croce Church which contains relics of the True Cross. We also visited the Basilica of St. John Lateran, built as the mother Church for the whole world. Here we entered through the third Holy Door and gathered for prayer. Time was then allowed for a visit to the markets and shops. After lunch we travelled by tram to the Circus Maximus across from the Caesars Palace where the Chariot races once took place and the film Ben Hur was located. Here we joined the armies of all world nations for the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross. We stood guard with out tricolour at the eight station. This was a very moving experience. That evening the ‘big pack’ for the homeward journey was on everyone’s mind. 

Sunday morning had a 5.30a.m. call for breakfast, luggage and on to St. Peters for 8a.m. in preparation for Mass at 10a.m. In typical Irish weather after all the sunshine the rain came and some will never forget it. The crowds were so great that some were unable to get into the square. I had the privilege of concelebrating Mass among hundreds of other priests with Pope John Paul, While few of us could communicate socially because of a language barrier we could celebrate Mass together in the language of the Church – Latin.  

From St. Peters we made our way for lunch, no not in the Vatican but in Mc Donalds!! Then on to our last Holy Door in the Church of St. Mary Majors which is the largest Church in the world in honour of Our Lady and then finally to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour where the original image is mounted over the altar. Then for the airport! A week to be repeated? Definitely! Thanks to all who made it possible by participating. Thanks also for your gift of two statues of St. Francis & St. Clare which will be given a place of honour in our Church to mark this pilgrimage and for your personal gift of an image of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour to mark my first visit to Rome. I won’t leave it another 24 years!

Fr.Alex

REPORT ON PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES (13-18 August 1999)

After Mass in St.Joseph's Church, our third annual pilgrimage left for Lourdes. Our group of 47 ranging in age from four to sixty-plus. For some this was their first time and for others it has now become an annual pilgrimage. See the Lourdes Report.