Latest news with #JubileeYear
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Hot Priests": Vatican's Latest Campaign To Spread Faith Among GenZ
The Vatican City is turning to social media-savvy "hot priests" to draw younger generations back to the church. As part of this push, over 1,000 young priests and friars with strong online followings were invited to Rome this week. Among them is Father Ambrogio Mazzai, who has over 105,000 followers on Instagram. He regularly shares glimpses of his life doing fun activities such as playing guitar or biking in the mountains. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Don Ambrogio Mazzai (@ Then comes Father Cosimo Schena, whose Instagram feed resembles that of a fitness influencer. He boasts over 457,000 followers and shares spiritual messages through an engaging online persona. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Don Cosimo Schena (@doncosimoschena) Also attending is Father Giuseppe Fusari, a 58-year-old priest from Brescia and a bodybuilder with more than 63K Instagram followers. Known for posting pictures of his tattooed biceps along with spiritual reflections. Social media, in his opinion, is an effective instrument "to bring people closer to the Church." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Giuseppe Fusari (@ He told The Telegraph, "I hope it will bring people closer to the church; there is a lot of curiosity and I am convinced that social media is one way to attract people." Even though there are ancient Gospels, if you want to reach people today, especially the younger generation, you have to come up with modern ways, like social media. Pope Leo XIV realises the importance of using modern technology to communicate with people. He has 14 million followers on X, where he regularly shares messages of peace and faith About 1,000 digital missionaries and influencers, including Priests, nuns and other Church members who have strong social media presence, were invited to Rome this week as part of the Vatican's Jubilee Year. They discussed the ways to use social media to spread religious messages by attracting the younger generation. This is not the first time the Church has used aesthetics in order to get people's attention and spread its message. Earlier in 2022, there was a calendar featuring hot Roman priests. This grabbed headlines, leading to the sale of more than 75,000 copies every year, according to The NY Post.
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Thousands climb Ireland's Croagh Patrick for annual pilgrimage
Archbishop Duffy said hope grows through elders' faith in his message for Reek Sunday and the Jubilee Year Jul 29, 2025 Croagh Patrick, nicknamed 'the Reek' is a mountain with a height of 764 m and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland. (Photo: Wikipedia) By Sarah Mac Donald, OSV NewsArchbishop 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 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 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 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 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 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
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
An ecumencial first on Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday
People travelled from all over the island to partake in the centuries-old pilgrimage, which took place at Croagh Patrick over the entire weekend. This year's pilgrimage was again blessed by favourable weather conditions, with the surface mostly dry except for some occasional mist near the summit. Mass outside the chapel on the summit took place hourly between 8am and 2pm. Over 3,000 loaves of Holy Communion were distributed on the day. At 10.30am, a Church of Ireland priest led an ecumenical service for the first time in the history of the pilgrimage - which dates back to pagan times before St Patrick's arrival to Mayo in the fifth century. Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam and Killala, was among those present for this year's pilgrimage, which took place as part of the Jubilee Year conceived by the late Pope Francis. The theme for this year's Jubilee was 'Pilgrims of Hope'. Fr John Kenny, Parish Priest of Westport, said this year's reek Sunday pilgrimage was 'unique occasion' as it coincided with both Jubilee Year and World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. This year, those who do the Reek Sunday, Lough Derg and Knock pilgrimages can receive a passport stamp and a memento to signify their completion of three pilgrimages. 'We're following in the footsteps of centuries of people coming up here today,' Fr Kenny told the Irish Independent. 'Since the time of Patrick - and even Patrick was following in the steps of Pagan worshippers - he made this a place of Christian worship. 'People came here to worship the sun and the sky which is shining in and out between the clouds at the moment, harvest time, spring time, planting time. He [St Patrick] came here for 40 days, 40 nights, and he Christianised the mountain, so to speak, making it a place of Christian worship, baptising local people in Aughagower after he came down from the mountain, and ever since his visit it has been a place we honour as Ireland's holy mountain.' ADVERTISEMENT Glen Duff travelled from Termonfeckin in County Louth to the place where he got engaged to his wife, Deborah in 2005. 'I got engaged just exactly where the altar is set up,' the father-of-four told the Irish Independent. Mr Duff, who climbed the mountain in his bare feet, said he found the ascent 'tough enough'. 'I'm not looking forward to going down because I did it before and going down is hard,' he said. A number of people carried Palestinian flags up the mountain while Lety Sanchez and Xiomara Cullen brought a Cuban flag. 'We came to tell the world that we are from Cuba,' explained Ms Sanchez who has been living in Sligo for a number of years. 'We are for Cuba independence, free of communism. Cuba is a communist country, it's a dictatorship and we all have to emigrate looking for a better life. 'We want Cuba to have independence, a better economy, freedom, to have so many things.' Ms Cullen told the Irish Independent: We're Catholics. Apart from asking for the freedom of Cuba. I am asking to get back to Cuba to see my family. We are here to ask for health for our family, for our friends, for everybody." Charlie Brady from Longford, a member of the Legion of Mary, was among those who distributed Miraculous Medals to hundreds of pilgrims at the bottom of Croagh Patrick. 'We need to get back to prayer again and Mass. A whole lot of people stopped going to Mass, we want to get them back on the rosary,' Mr Brady said. Andrew Canavan, a member of Grace Baptist Church in Galway city, distributed leaflets and copies of the New Testament to pilgrims passing the statue of St Patrick at the bottom of the mountain. 'Certainly, we see an acknowledgement of the Lord by people who are climbing this mountain for spiritual reasons,' Mr Canavan told the Irish Independent. 'So what I'm trying to talk to people about is that they can know for sure that they are going to heaven, that is because Christ fully paid for our sin. He paid, in full, my sin debt. So I am forgiven on the basis of his substitutionary debt for me. So, if I can have conversations and encourage people to believe it, it's been great. 'This is my first year,' he added. People have been very friendly, people seem dedicated, it's been great. The weather has been lovely.'
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Martyrs of one fire, witnesses in two lands
It was a true joy to host Fr. Albert Musinguzi, a vibrant diocesan priest from Uganda, who is spending his summer holidays with my family here in Sabah. Our paths first crossed in Rome during my family's pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year — a providential encounter that reminds me heaven has impeccable timing. He recently completed his Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Sant'Anselmo. His thesis? Brace yourself: 'A Liturgical Hermeneutical Study of the Divine-Human Exchange in the Three Proper Prayers of the Mass for the Memoria of St Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs in Uganda.' Yes, it's a theological mouthful. I needed a glass of water just reading it. But beneath the Latin in the prayers lies a blazing, human story that caught me off guard. Through Fr. Albert, I was introduced to the Uganda Martyrs. They were a group of 45 young Catholics and Anglicans who were killed between 1885 to 1887 because they chose to defend their faith. Pope Francis calls this 'ecumenism of blood' highlighting the unity of Christians who have suffered martyrdom. There were also Muslim Ugandan converts who were martyred. Burned, beheaded, speared — but not defeated — their blood became the seed of a flourishing Church in Africa. Among them was Charles Lwanga, protector of young pages. The feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his companions is celebrated on 3 June by the Catholic Church. Today, Namugongo Shrine draws pilgrims from around the world, drawn by the power of a faith worth dying for. Their martyrdom wasn't about death. It was about unshakable love for God. The 22 Catholic martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonised as saints by Pope Paul VI in 1964, during the Second Vatican Council — a momentous recognition of Africa's deep and growing Christian roots. Fr. Albert gifted my family a profound treasure, a book — African Holocaust: The Story of the Uganda Martyrs. The word 'holocaust' comes from the Greek 'holokaustos' , meaning 'completely burnt' — once describing offerings wholly consumed on the altar. In spiritual terms, it evokes lives poured out in love. In this light, the Uganda Martyrs' story is not just tragedy. It is sacred offering, a fire that still burns. The book by Fr. John Francis Faupel, first published in 1962, places their deaths within the swirl of colonialism and Buganda's court politics. Yet at its heart, it's not about empire. It's about love of God, of truth, of faith unshaken by flame. As I leafed through its pages, my thoughts drifted home to Sabah to a book launched on March 15, 2025. I recalled Reverand Fr. Cosmas Lee's book, Ultimate Sacrifice: The Tragic and Unaccounted Death of Catholic Missionaries, chronicling the fate of Catholic missionaries and laymen executed by Japanese forces in 1945. Their bodies were never found. Their names nearly forgotten. But like the martyrs of Uganda, they died not as victims of war — but as witnesses of the Cross. One Church, Two Stories, One Fire. Why Martyrs Matter? Two stories — one from the heart of Africa, the other from the highlands of Borneo — began to echo across time. Different empires. Different flames. But the same fire of faith. With kopi-O in hand and a notebook open, I did what any reflective soul might do: I drew quiet, reverent parallels. What follows isn't just a comparison, it's a celebration. Of two lands, two histories, but one Church. One of martyrs beatified and canonised — and others who, God willing, will be. In the Catholic faith, martyrs embody the ultimate witness to Jesus Christ — offering their lives out of love for God. Their sacrifice echoes His Passion, reminding us that faith is not merely belief, but the total gift of self. Martyrs deepen our courage, strengthen our devotion and draw us closer to God. Their stories unite believers, inspire hope in persecution and reveal the quiet power of grace. In honouring them, the Church proclaims: holiness can flourish even in suffering — and love is stronger than fear. Some die in fire. Others in silence. Some leave behind relics. Others vanish into the forest. But all leave behind a light that never goes out. Namugongo: Martyrs of the Flame In 19th-century Buganda (now Uganda), as colonial powers clashed and old kingdoms trembled, King Mwanga II ruled with paranoia and ruthlessness. Threatened by Christianity's influence, he demanded absolute allegiance from his court — including the young pages who had embraced the new faith. In a time of growing Christian influence, the King saw the new faith not only as a political threat but also as a personal challenge especially when Christian converts refused to indulge his sexual advances. Charles Lwanga became the protector to the younger boys under his care, shielding them from the king's sexual exploitation. His defiance, along with that of others infuriated the king. In May 1886, the King convened a court session and demanded that all his pages declare whether they were Christian. When a group boldly stepped forward affirming their faith, he ordered them imprisoned. They were given a stark choice: abandon Christianity or die. None recanted. On June 3, 1886, a group of Catholic, Anglican and Muslim converts were marched to Namugongo, a place that would soon become hallowed ground. Along the way, some were executed by spear or beheading, but most were reserved for a gruesome public spectacle of burning. At Namugongo, they were stripped, tightly bound in reed mats and tied to posts over a massive pyre. As the fire was lit, the martyrs prayed aloud, sang hymns and offered words of forgiveness to their executioners. One of the guards later testified, awestruck, that they died 'not like boys, but like angels.' These brave witnesses were not part of a political rebellion — they were peaceful believers who refused to leave their faith. All the converts were accused of embracing either Christianity or Islam, thereby being seen as undermining the authority of the monarch. In a heartfelt gesture of recognition and unity, the Government of Uganda has officially acknowledged these Muslim martyrs. Beginning in 2024, it has allocated funding to support the annual commemoration of Muslim Martyrs' Day. This move underscores the government's commitment to promoting religious tolerance and historical acknowledgment in Uganda. Today, Namugongo is one of the largest Christian pilgrimage sites in Africa. Every year on June 3, millions gather to honour their memory. The story of the Uganda Martyrs continues to inspire Christians worldwide, a testament to youthful courage, sacrificial love and the power of faith to withstand even the fiercest flames. Their legacy is not merely one of suffering, but of triumph — proof that even in death, light shines through. Tenom: Martyrs of the Mist Half a century after the Uganda Martyrs, and thousands of miles east in the highlands of North Borneo, another chapter of quiet 'martyrdom' was written. This time in the misty hills of Tenom. It was 1945, the final months of World War Two. As Japanese forces crumbled under Allied pressure, paranoia and brutality surged through the interior. In this chaos, 12 men of faith— nine missionaries and three local lay Catholics — were arrested by Japanese troops between May 19 and 20, 1945. Among them was Monsignor August Wachter, the Apostolic Prefect of North Borneo, a towering figure who had served in Borneo for 40 years. Their decision to stay was not born of recklessness but of love. They had planted seeds in the hearts of the people. And like all good shepherds, they did not abandon the flock during World War Two. The missionaries were German-speaking Austrians, members of the Mill Hill Missionary — men whose homelands, ironically, were aligned with Japan in the Axis pact. By the cold logic of wartime alliances, they should have been safe — spared the suspicion and hostility faced by British or other nationals. But war, as history often reminds us, obeys neither reason nor righteousness. These men were no ordinary foreigners. They had immersed themselves in the lives of the people, speaking their languages, walking village trails and bearing the burdens of the poor. They were shepherds of souls. Fathers, teachers, friends. They didn't just serve the communities; they became part of them. It is believed they had witnessed atrocities committed by retreating Japanese forces — forced labour, executions, acts of cruelty. And in those final desperate months of war, knowledge became a threat. When Japan's defeat was inevitable, fear overtook reason. The missionaries, it seems, became liabilities. In the eyes of their captors, they were men who might speak truth when the silence ended. Under Japan's war doctrine of 'Senjō' — the battlefield purge. Anyone deemed a danger to military withdrawal or future accountability was to be eliminated. Priests, too, became targets. Not for action, but for the possibility that they might bear witness. The official version claimed the missionaries perished in an Allied bombing of Sapong Estate on July 3, 1945, supposedly vapourised without a trace. But there were no bomb craters, no bodies, no evidence. Only a silence too clean to be believed. Yet in the kampungs, the people whispered. Stories passed in hushed voices — of blindfolds and ropes, of final prayers in the jungle, of graves that disappeared beneath the earth and vines. For years, these whispers went unheard, swept aside by colonial politics and post-war rebuilding. They were not spies. They were not soldiers. They were men of peace, caught in the storm and eliminated not for what they did, but for who they were: steadfast shepherds in the image of God. Their deaths were not collateral damage; they were a deliberate silencing of moral witness. Their bodies were never found. But their names remain etched into the soul of Tenom, in the chapels they built, in the generations they catechised and in the courage of a Church that remembers. Thus, we honour them not as pawns of politics, but as martyrs of mercy. In a world gone mad, they chose to stay. When flight was an option, they remained. When silence was survival, they still stood for truth. The Tek family shared a special moment with Fr Cosmas Lee and Fr Albert Musinguzi through the gifting of books. The Priest Who Would Not Forget Then came Fr Cosmas Lee — a Sabahan priest turned quiet investigator — who refused to let truth fade into silence. Over decades, he gathered testimonies, pored over wartime records, and built a case: the missionaries weren't casualties of war, but deliberately executed just weeks before Japan's surrender. 'No remains were found. The bomb was too small. Their deaths too convenient,' he said. With the heart of a pastor and the eye of a historian, Fr Cosmas spent 15 years uncovering this painful chapter of Church history. He travelled to Rome, Amsterdam, London, and Tokyo, sifting through letters, war reports, and dusty archives. He spoke with villagers, heard survivors' stories, and pieced together long-buried truths. This wasn't just research — it was an act of love. As a boy, he had heard whispers of what happened. As a priest, he vowed to 'unturn every stone.' Silence, he believed, should never be the final word. His book presents compelling evidence that the missionaries were executed. It stands as the first detailed account of priests who died not in combat, but in faithful service. A turning point came from a 1952 memoir by Ain Yamazaki, wife of Japanese officer Kenji Yamazaki, who plainly stated the priests were executed — a long-awaited affirmation for grieving villagers. The book's launch was more than literary — it was spiritual. Parishioners wept. Elders remembered. Young people listened, many for the first time. Fr Cosmas reminded us that memory is sacred — and these men must never again be forgotten. Their legacy now fuels calls for recognition as martyrs. With the Church newly stirred, a cause for beatification is on the horizon. Recently, Archbishop Datuk John Wong led a two-day clergy pilgrimage retracing the path of Msgr Wachter and his companions. Marking 80 years since their deaths, the journey — from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom — paused at historical sites with prayers of gratitude and renewal. Guided by Fr Cosmas's reflections, the pilgrimage became not only a tribute to their sacrifice but a call for priests to rekindle courage and perseverance in their vocations. Archbishop John Wong led a Pilgrimage of Hope (23–24 June 2025), retracing the steps of WWII martyred missionaries in remembrance and renewal. (Photo: Fr Terans Thadeus) When Uganda Meets Sabah: Convergence and Contrast At first glance, the Uganda Martyrs and Sabah missionaries seem worlds apart—different lands, cultures and eras. But look closer and a shared spirit emerges. Both faced fear and violence, yet chose to stay, to serve and to surrender their lives to God. What follows is a reflection on the parallels and contrasts between these two martyrdoms—two lights that rose from very different soils, yet shine with the same unwavering flame. One Church, One Memory, One Hope Unlike their canonised Ugandan brothers, the missionaries of Sabah have not yet been formally declared martyrs. But as Fr Cosmas Lee reminds us, the road to sainthood begins with remembrance. To be recognised as a martyr, the Church looks for three things: that the person truly died for their faith, that their death stemmed from hatred of the faith, and that it was accepted willingly — a conscious 'yes' to God, even unto death. By these measures, the twelve victims of Tenom surely qualify. They didn't flee. They stayed — and bore witness with their lives. While martyrdom permits beatification without a miracle, a verified miracle is generally needed for canonisation—the final step to sainthood. The Church in Sabah now hopes to open this cause. If affirmed, they would join a sacred lineage — from the Colosseum to Namugongo, and perhaps one day, to Tenom's misty forests. Namugongo rejoices today. Its shrine sings with pilgrims and praise. The Uganda Martyrs live not only in stained glass, but in Africa's young hearts. In Sabah, we still wait — praying for the day when Tenom becomes holy ground, and Msgr August Wachter and his companions are remembered not just in history, but in liturgy and prayer. Hope does not disappoint. From Namugongo's fire to Tenom's silence, the Church walks with her martyrs. Though their deaths were separated by continents and centuries, they share one sacred thread: unwavering faith and surrender to God. In both Uganda and Sabah, holiness wore ordinary faces: young pages, seasoned missionaries, faithful laymen. All said yes. All gave all. They remained. They witnessed. They trusted. And because they did — we remember, we honour and we carry the flame. In the end, their stories speak the same truth: That the Church is built not only on stone and incense, but on the quiet courage of those who refuse to leave when the cross appears. And that martyrdom, whether by fire or silence, is never the end. It is always a beginning.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Reek Sunday climb: Why Croagh Patrick still draws pilgrims despite Ireland's secular shift
Come rain, hail, or shine on Sunday, thousands of people will take to one of Ireland's most well-known mountains to undertake the annual pilgrimage known as the Reek. For more than 1,600 years, pilgrims have gathered at Croagh Patrick near Westport, Mayo, to climb the mountain as part of a spiritual and religious journey over 2,502ft. Known as Ireland's "Holy Mountain", the peak attracts people of all ages year after year — despite Ireland's increasingly secular society. This year's pilgrimage has the theme of Christian hope. It takes place just months after the death of Pope Francis, who designated 2025 as a universal "Jubilee Year of Hope". According to the Conference of Irish Catholic Bishops, pilgrims who undertake this year's pilgrimage at Croagh Patrick — as well as others at Lough Derg and Knock — will receive a pilgrim passport to earn stamps at each of the three shrines during this year. Pilgrims who undertake all three pilgrimages are 'eligible to receive a special commemorative Jubilee Year medal'. While numbers attending for Reek Sunday have fallen, this is not being seen as a bad thing by the local clergy in Westport. Fr John Kenny launches the Croagh Patrick Sunday display at the back of St Mary's Church, Westport. The annual national pilgrimage is on Reek Sunday, July 28. Pictire: Frank Dolan Fr John Kenny, who is the administrator of Westport parish and one of the organisers of this weekend's pilgrimage, says: 'The numbers are down on every other year over the years for Reek Sunday itself, but the numbers climbing the Reek during the year has gone up. "Reek Sunday's popularity has waned in terms of the numbers attending because of things like All-Irelands. However, Fr Kenny says that, in terms of the number of people visiting the mountain, overall numbers have increased across the whole course of the year. "For example, last Sunday, we had four pilgrim groups on [the mountain]," he said. This year has been particularly busy on Croagh Patrick for pilgrimages, according to Fr Kenny. He said: 'There have been more religious pilgrimages than in recent years because of the Jubilee Year 2025 Pilgrims of Hope. Even though we are living in a secular word, in modern times, some pilgrimages turn into fundraising events— which is good "People climb in memory of somebody or for a great cause and, if they do that, it is a modern way of pilgrimage.' He estimates that, based on the numbers of communions they had, the mountain saw around 4,000 or 5,000 doing the pilgrimage in the past year. "The official pilgrimage runs from 7.30am to 2pm, when we are on the mountain and we have our teams of people helping. But after that, from 3pm on, it kind of winds down. On a fine day, the climbing continues.' 'Previously, there may have been 50,000, 60,000, or 70,000 coming into the town on Reek Sunday — but there were no concerts, there were no big sporting events and festivals all over the country. "It was a festival in its own right. There were young people climbing in the dark of the night after being out and that kind of thing — it was a very different era. But the attraction still remains and it is remarkable.' Early morning pilgrims making their way up Croagh Patrick, Ireland's 'Holy Mountain', for the annual pilgrimage which traditionally takes place every year on the last sunday in July. Picture: Conor McKeown With the change to the GAA calendar, Reek Sunday now coincides with All-Ireland Senior Football final. 'Last year, it was Galway and Armagh in the All-Ireland and some fellas put up a Galway flag on the church. Armagh didn't put up a flag and they won.' John G O'Dwyer, whose book Great Irish Pilgrim Journeys was published in March, said that religion in itself is a search for meaning, which in essence is what pilgrimages are about. The Tipperary native said: 'In Ireland, we went through a very formalised structure, in other words religion, for putting meaning into our lives. "It was extremely formalised, there was a way to do it, a path to salvation. It was laid out for everyone and was within churches, but the pendulum has swung now and people are swung away from that one-size-fits-all religion to each person searching for their own meaning. Pilgrim paths do that because they take materialism away He added: 'When you are on a pilgrim path, it is a great leveller. It doesn't matter who you are, whether you are Elon Musk or whether you are somebody who is unemployed. You get the same pressures — it is all about putting one foot in front of the other and getting to the destination. "That is why I think there has been a blossoming of walking first in Spain and now in Ireland on pilgrim paths.' Mayo Mountain Rescue keeps a watchful eye on pilgrims climbing up Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday. While doing the Camino in Spain continues to be popular, Mr O'Dwyer says that Irish routes including St Declan's Way in Munster and the Reek are growing in popularity. He points out that the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage has varied greatly in recent years, adding: 'The traditional route would have been to come in from the south, in from Ballintubber. The Reek would almost certainly have been a pagan destination because it is a beautiful mountain that stands out. We tend to look to the gods above us in the abode of gods He believes that saints such as St Patrick converted the existing paths by 'carving crosses into the standing stones". He said the route currently used by pilgrims on Reek Sunday 'blossomed with the coming of rail transport and the arrival of railways in Westport, and that is when the present route became very popular. "But the main path was from Rathcroghan (which was a medieval village and royal site), and the last stop on that was generally the Augustinian abbey at Ballintubber.' Archbishop Francis Duffy will be at the base of Croagh Patrick on Sunday morning to meet pilgrims ahead of their ascent. Picture: Michael McLaughlin On Saturday morning, the abbey is the starting point for the Tochar Phádraigh Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee Pilgrimage, a hike of almost 42km, according to Fr Kenny. At 6.30pm on Saturday evening, a vigil Mass will be celebrated by the diocese of Tuam's Archbishop Francis Duffy in St Mary's Church in Westport. He will be at the base of Croagh Patrick on Sunday morning to meet pilgrims ahead of their ascent, while Bishop Fintan Monahan will celebrate Mass in Ireland at 10am outside the oratory on the mountain's summit. Fr Kenny said: 'During the course of the day, there will be a team of priest on the mountain saying Masses and hearing confessions from 7.30am to 3pm.' 'The religious side of it is very important. Locally, there is an exhibition in the local town hall theatre about the pilgrimage over the year, and the back of the church in St Mary's Church also has an exhibition of the pilgrimage on the mountain for people who may not get to visit the mountain.' He said the weekend began with the Mass at the foot of the mountain on Friday evening from 7.30pm, 'for people who used to climb or can't climb', in the Murrisk Café in the carpark at the foot of the mountain. 78-year-old John Finneran has climbed the mountain every year for the last 61 years, being helped down the mountain by his son Tony. File Picture: Paul Mealey Earlier on Friday, Mass at the summit of Croagh Patrick was celebrated at 10am by Westport native Father Tod Nolan, the parish priest of nearby Newport. Over hundreds of years, millions of pilgrims have made the trip to Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday in all kinds of weather. In 2009, up to six children were treated for hypothermia amid blustery winds and heavy showers The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference is urging people to take caution when undertaking the pilgrimage on Sunday. It describes it as a 'physically demanding pilgrimage', and advises would-be pilgrims to make themselves aware in advance of health and safety information about the mountain. Many pilgrims opt to attempt the climb in bare feet, but the conference advises pilgrims to 'come prepared for changeable weather conditions". "Pilgrims are advised to bring suitable warm-waterproof clothing, good footwear, walking stick/staff and water, and to be mindful of the safety of themselves and others." Proving it's not the faint-hearted, those interested in participating are directed to and for advice. According to Mr O'Dwyer, 'the whole idea of a pilgrim journey is that it is supposed to be challenging'. A big motivation used to be that the [Catholic] Church used to grant indulgences, a kind of get out card from purgatory really, for yourself or other people 'What has happened in Ireland is that ... some of the earlier paths have been reopened. St Declan's Way is one. There is also the path from the village of Mall which is about 60km from Croagh Patrick. "The modern [route] tends to be a relatively long distance path, so people can get into a sort of contemplative rhythm on it. It is not just one day. That seems to be what people are doing.' He added: 'The world goes on around you. You are on a more different liminal space when you are on these paths.'
