Ashford-Glenealy Pilgrimage of Hope

Last May, when Pope Francis issued his letter to announce the Jubilee Year, he expressed his hope that “the Jubilee… would be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.” And he continued, “May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.” (Spes Non Confundit §25)

The Holy Father has constantly put before us his vision of the Church, and of the world, as a people on a pilgrimage through time., “the image of ‘pilgrimage’ has been a constant theme, as, for him, it “describes well our human condition; like pilgrims, we find ourselves facing great questions that have no simple or immediate answers, but challenge us to continue the journey, to rise above ourselves and to press beyond the here and now.” (“Address to the Catholic University of Portugal,” Lisbon, 3rd August 2023).

His sense of the Church as a pilgrim people, and of all of us in the world as in a pilgrimage through time, is born of his profound conviction about the vibrant aliveness of the People of God, and of the dynamic character of “the world and all its inhabitants”.

It is in this spirit that the engaging motto of this Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope,” might best be heard.

Pilgrimage is an important component of a Jubilee year. Many travel abroad for pilgrimage, but a pilgrimage can also take place with the abundant Christian locations we have within our own Diocese.

During the Jubilee Year you are invited to journey the pilgrim path of the four churches in Dublin’s inner city—Westland Row, City Quay, Sean McDermott Street, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral—and St Kevin’s Church, Glendalough.

Called “Pockets of Hope” the pilgrim route leads you through Pope Francis’s document “Hope Does Not Disappoint” from the opening lines in St Andrew’s Church to its conclusions in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, giving pilgrims time to ponder the richness of his witness to Hope.

The Dioceses has provided us with leaflets outlining the Pilgrim route which are available at the doors of the Church. Further information on the Jubilee Year of Hope may be obtained by scanning the QR code on the leaflet or poster displayed on the Church noticeboard or on the diocesan website.

Public transports work well with the dart station being located beside St. Andrews Church at the start of the pilgrimage and Connolly Station a short walk from the Pro-Cathedral. The 133 bus also stops close to the area of the Pilgrimage. Please check the Parish websites before you visit for more information and opening hours.

We hope to organise a Parish Pilgrimage to Glendalough during the Novena Of Hope on the 9^th of June this year.

We instinctively understand Jubilees to be celebrations of the good things that we share. And Jubilee Years are about the Good News!

Some members of the Parish Pastoral Council completed the pilgrimage during the week and found it to be an inspiring, thought provoking and hope filled experience. We would encourage you to make the pilgrimage and experience the ‘Pockets of Hope’ for yourself.

Thank you!

Hilary Madden

Chair of Parish Pastoral Council

Ashford-Glenealy

See Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope | Archdiocese of Dublin