Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘Discarded Beauty’. Discarded Beauty Back at the quarry again I survey the boulders and rocks that lie scattered around.   The quarry delivered rough, suitable stone for the forest roads when they were laid down.   These […]

Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘Written in Stone’. Written in Stone Out on the Path, this autumn afternoon, late sunshine lights the wooden cross on the boulder at the quarry behind the rock that we sometimes use for Mass. In the days […]

August ‘Early Bird’ Sellers Draw 2021  The first of the Friends of Lough Derg Early Bird Draw 2021 took place on 3 September in the Lough Derg offices in Pettigo, Co Donegal. Watch Fr La in the video below to find out the first of this year’s winners: In the absence of pilgrims to the […]

Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘Seedtime on the Path’. Seedtime on the Path The bonnie rowan berries signal seedtime. The angelica umbrellas, too, have gone to seed. Path walkers know how vigorous the brambles grow. A late-season butterfly takes time to suck […]

Join us on the Lough Derg Pilgrim Path this September Update August 2021 After great feedback received in July from Pilgrims, another guided walk experience will be offered again on the Lough Derg Pilgrim Path on selected dates in September 2021, with Mass outdoors, weather permitting. The complete route is a 12km loop, with a […]

Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘The Bonnie Rowan Tree’. The Bonnie Rowan Tree   The bright red berries catch my eye and a Scottish folksong sings in my ear: “There wasnae such a bonnie tree in a’ the countryside.”   In Ireland, […]

Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘Harebells in August’. Harebells in August For some weeks past I have been looking forward to share with fellow pilgrims on the Path these pretty little harebells. Now they are here.   Among the trees and plants […]

Fr La reflects on his Final Station today: 15th August 2021 Friends, Fr La reflects on his Final Station today, 15th August 2021 in the video below:   “My purpose in this little message is twofold: to acknowledge your wonderful support and encouragement… and assure you that in my daily prayer I never fail to […]

90th Anniversary of the Lough Derg Basilica: 13th August 2021 Friends, today marks the 90th Anniversary of our Lough Derg Basilica. We invite you to watch Fr La’s reflection below: “Wherever you may be on your pilgrimage of life, I invite you today to unite your prayers of praise and thanksgiving with those of the […]

Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘Fireweed’. Fireweed Wild wet weather these past two weeks has taken its toll on the Rosebay Willow-herb or Fireweed, as it is commonly called. At its full it is simply a splendid sight: great banks of bloom […]