Thousands climb Ireland's Croagh Patrick for annual pilgrimage giving witness to faith

CROAGH PATRICK, Ireland (OSV News) -- Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam put grandparents and the elderly at the heart of his message for the Jubilee Year's "Reek Sunday" pilgrimage at Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, on July 27.

In his homily on the eve of the pilgrimage, the archbishop told the congregation in St. Mary's Church in Westport, County Mayo, that it was "providential" that the pilgrimage, which takes place every year on the last Sunday in July, coincided this year with World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Over 6,000 pilgrims, from before dawn until late Sunday afternoon, made the 2,500-foot climb of the Reek, as Croagh Patrick is popularly known locally. Many had traveled long distances from the surrounding counties to participate.

"The pilgrim path to the summit of the Reek has been made holy by the feet of those who have walked it before us, people who often had very little except for their faith and the virtue of hope that faith generated within them," Archbishop Duffy said.

Describing the importance of hope in this Jubilee year, he said an important channel for building hope was "the example and encouragement of older people."

The archbishop of Tuam noted that for many Catholics around the world, pilgrimage is in the air this year, because of the Jubilee Year of Hope. "Here, locally in Westport, there is a familiarity with pilgrimage, with the majestic presence of Croagh Patrick, 'the Reek,'" he explained.

Speaking to OSV News in the shadow of the mountain where St. Patrick is reputed to have spent 40 days fasting in the fifth century, Archbishop Duffy said the mountain is "part of the living history of this beautiful area."

Among the pilgrims undertaking the arduous climb for the first time was Dominican Father Fons Wilmes from Leuven in Belgium, who was wearing his white habit.

"I have done the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela all the way from Belgium. This is much shorter, but I expect it to be rather challenging. Pilgrimages are an important part of our faith -- we walk together and pray together as we reach our goal together," he told OSV News.

Another Dominican undertaking the climb, though in his bare feet, was Brother Bruno Mary Kelleher from Kilkenny who was ordained a deacon for the Dominicans in Ireland in June. He was wearing the distinctive black and white of the Order of Preachers.

Acknowledging that his habit was "not ideal hiking gear," the young friar underlined that "we are not just going on a hike here -- it is a pilgrimage. The habit is an opportunity to bear witness and an opportunity for people to dialogue with me and ask questions. There are plenty of people here today doing this out of a faith motivation, but there are also many who are doing it for cultural reasons or the exercise. The Dominicans are the Order of Preachers so every moment is an opportunity to preach the Word."

Twenty-one-year-old Catherine Cooney from Newtownforbes in County Longford is a student of agricultural science. When OSV News spoke to her, she was carrying a box of rosaries and holy medals for the Legion of Mary to distribute from the organization's stand at the base of the mountain.

She, too, was undertaking the climb in her bare feet. "I have done the climb many times; I think it is something that should be done by everyone. Afterwards, I feel like I am taken care of by Our Lady," she explained.

While many undertake the pilgrimage on their own, others do it as a family unit or as part of a couple. Both Scott Goodwin from Great Britain and Jean Picardao from the Philippines wore rosary beads for the pilgrimage. The couple plan to marry in the Philippines next year following their engagement in February.

"Jean came over from the Philippines to work in the U.K. three years ago and we met online through a Catholic friendship page. We met in person in a church for our first date," Goodwin explained.

"This is our first pilgrimage together and it is partly a preparation for getting married next year. We can see God in everything we do and that he is walking with us and guiding us on all his paths," he said.