Forgot to note where the prayer in the post below came from...my bad. :)

“The Path” is from Celtic Blessings, Prayers for Everyday Life, compiled by Ray Simpson (Loyola Press 1999).

Just Ten More Days!!!!

                                                    Just Ten More Days!! 

                               

                                         

                     Only ten more days until we're off to  Ireland!! Whoo hoo! We are so excited!!!

Please do keep us in prayer as we prepare, then also as we travel. We'll of course be uploading pictures and posts to our blog so you can follow along. We pilgrims are Claire Anderson, Elisabeth Ashton, Ben Avery, Isabella Carlton, Heidi Cole, Alex Hodges, with chaperones J.C. Albritton, and Mo. Nikki Mathis+. Our exciting itinerary is below! A big thank you to all the parents, all the members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, St. Peter's EYC, our rector, Fr. John Herring+, and everybody who worked so hard and gave so generously to make this pilgrimage possible! Thanks be to God!!

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Youth

Youth Pilgrimage to Ireland & Northern Ireland

Led by:

Nikki Mathis

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Rome, GA

June 6 – 15, 2016

Pilgrimage: KB16018

DAY 1: Monday, June 6, 2016 - We board our Delta Airlines flight for our trans-Atlantic flight into Dublin, Ireland. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, June 7, 2016 - Upon arrival in Dublin, we clear immigration and depart for Brú na Bóinne, the cradle of Irish civilization.  Our first stop will be Monasterboice which was founded by Saint Buite who died in 521 AD.  This site contains two of the finest High Crosses in Ireland, both of which date to around the 9th century.  We visit one of the Neolithic passage graves at Brú na Bóinne and Causey Farm to participate in some farm activities and a Ceili Dance lesson.  We return to Newgrange for dinner and overnight at Newgrange Lodge Hostel. LD

At Causey Farm you will have the opportunity to go bog jumping.  Plan on wearing old clothes, old shoes and have an old towel with you if you intend to go bog jumping (this is EXTEMELY good fun) but you will get dirty.  Also, make sure you have a change of clothes and shoes with you.

DAY 3: Wednesday, June 8, 2016 - This morning we travel into Northern Ireland to Armagh, the City of St. Patrick and the spiritual capital of Ireland.  We worship at St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral.  After the service we meet our guide for a tour of the Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Cathedral.  We continue to Downpatrick, the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick.  We visit Saul Church, built in 1932, to commemorate Saint Patrick's first church in Ireland, Down Cathedral, close to where it is believed that the mortal remains of Patrick lie buried, and St. Patrick’s Grave.  Dinner and overnight Newgrange Lodge Hostel. BLD

DAY 4: Thursday, June 9, 2016 - Today we visit the capital of Ireland, Dublin.  We visit Trinity College to see the magnificent Old Library and the 1200 year old Book of Kells.  This beautifully illuminated version of the Gospels was designed by monks in the 9th century.  The rest of the day will be free for shopping and personal exploration in Dublin.  We attend Evensong at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and enjoy a traditional Fish & Chips dinner before returning to Newgrange Lodge Hostel for overnight. BLD

DAY 5: Friday, June 10, 2016 - Today we travel to Glendalough stopping along the way in Kildare.  We visit the Brigidine Sisters, founded in 1807 by Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.  The sisters live in Solas Bhríde, a small Christian centre which has as its focus St. Brigid and Celtic Spirituality.  We participate in a pilgrimage developed by the sisters, “Walking in the footsteps of Brigid.”  The pilgrimage leads us to historical sites associated with Brigid including a visit to St. Brigid’s Cathedral which commemorates the saint who founded a religious community here in 490.  Here, monks and nuns lived under the same roof and a perpetual fire, a pagan ritual, was kept burning here until the 16th century.  This afternoon we meet with Fr. Michael Rodgers and help a local heritage group map out the old graveyard and Monastic City of Glendalough.  Dinner and overnight overnight Glendalough International Hostel, Co. Wicklow. BLD

DAY 6: Saturday, June 11, 2016 - This morning we visit the Heritage Centre and Museum where we see a video entitled “Ireland of the Monasteries”.  We meet our guide, Fr. Michael Rodgers, who will lead us on a spiritual journey along the Pilgrims’ Walk through St. Kevin’s Monastic City and then take the Pilgrims’ Way to the upper lake where we visit the remains of St. Kevin’s Cell and the Reefert Church.  From here we gaze across the lake to see St. Kevin’s Bed and the ruins of Tempall na Skellig, “Church of the Rock”.  We continue on to Park Lodge Cottages, Spiddal for dinner and overnight. BLD

DAY 7: Sunday, June 12, 2016 - This morning we worship at the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use as a place of worship and at the heart of Galway’s life.  After worship we enjoy a ferry ride to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands.  Weather permitting, we will ride bicycles for our exploration of Inis Mór beginning with the impressive Bronze Age fortress of Dún Aengus, an 8th century BC fort overlooking a sheer 300 foot drop to the Atlantic.  We meet with Cyril O’Flaherty, a native who will show us his Island, an island where history meets myth and myth meets magic.  We reflect on the pre-Christian tradition as well as the monastic heritage on Aran.  We visit the monastery of St. Brecan at the “Seven Churches”. We see aclochán or beehive cell built with dry wall corbelling.  This evening we return to the mainland to Park Lodge Cottages, Spiddal for dinner and overnight. BLD

DAY 8: Monday, June 13, 2016 - Our journey continues as we travel to Croagh Patrick, Patrick’s sacred mountain.  The tradition of pilgrimage to this holy mountain stretches back over 5,000 years from the Stone Age to the present day without interruption.  It was on the summit of this mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the custom has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation ever since.  We will climb the mountain under the direction of an experienced local guide.  Dinner and overnightPark Lodge Cottages, Spiddal. BLD

Croagh Patrick will take about 6 hours to climb to the top and back down.  Please note that this is a difficult climb and you may not be able to complete it.  You must have appropriate attire including climbing boots with ankle support, rain jacket, layers of light clothing which can be put on and removed as required, backpack, plenty of water and snacks.

DAY 9: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - After breakfast we travel to Galway City for a guided walking tour of the city.  We visit St. Nicholas Church and Galway City Museum.  Time permitting we will have some free time to shop or wander the medieval streets of Galwaybefore returning to Dublin for dinner and overnight at the City North Hotel, Dublin Airport. BLD

DAY 10: Tuesday, June 15, 2016 - After breakfast we transfer to the Dublin Airport, board our Delta Airlines flight arriving mid afternoon back into Atlanta. BM

                 The Path 

God bless the path on which you go 

God bless the earth beneath your feet 

God bless your destination. 

God be a smooth way before you 

A guiding star above you 

A keen eye behind you 

This day, this night, and forever. 

God be with you whatever you pass 

Jesus be with you whatever you climb 

Spirit be with you wherever you stay. 

God be with you at each stop and each sea 

At each lying down and each rising up 

In the trough of the waves, on the crest of the billows. 

Each step of the journey you take.