Lough Derg will not be the hungriest place on earth this weekend. That will be Gaza.
 
By now we are familiar with the images of children saturating our social media and TV screens, their tiny, shrivelled bodies wasting away because of starvation, their parents, helpless and hopeless, cradling them as their bodies slowly turn into corpses. We are now becoming so familiar with these images that we run the risk of becoming desensitised to them. Yet is it possible to imagine any pain greater than cradling one’s dying child?
 
Meanwhile, life-saving food supplies lie stockpiled a few kilometres away, in some cases beginning to rot and perish. What we are speaking about is evil;  nothing less than horrific, incalculable evil.
 
The ominous background to our pilgrimage season on Lough Derg this year, 2025, is war, conflict and wanton disregard for the dignity of human life on a scale our planet hasn’t seen for many decades. The list of war zones across our planet continues to grow: Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan, Kashmir, Kursk.  And there is a new element.  A line has been crossed, one that our world may never be able to retreat from: the direct and deliberate targeting and executing of the innocent on an unprecedented scale, in some instances state-sponsored, while other states look on.
 
Faced with this people will respond in different ways.
 
Some may see such violence as acceptable. I really do not know what to say to that.
 
Some will simply disengage. The poet TS Eliot once said that "humankind cannot bear very much reality." Perhaps understandably given the horror of what is unfolding, some will block their ears and avert their eyes from the horror of what is happening, finding it all too much. In so doing, however, they run the risk of also blocking their head, hearts and hands, in other words, the risk of disengaging from their duty as Christians to demonstrate love of neighbour to those suffering in meaningful and practical ways.
 
Others will acknowledge the horror of the realities unfolding before their eyes but, feeling helpless, decide just to get on with their lives, taking the view that making a difference is above their paygrade. Pope Francis repeatedly warned, however, against indifference, which he called a very ugly disease that comes from the hardening of our hearts. And we all know the expression that "evil thrives when good men do nothing."
 
None of these three responses, viewing the violence and conflict that is unfolding as justified, disengaging from what is happening, or succumbing to indifference, are acceptable for us as Christians.
 
We are obliged to condemn what is happening, but also to engage. And I am sure many of you have already done so, whether through supporting and donating to the charities that are doing their best to alleviate suffering or by participating in peaceful protest to draw attention to the horror of what is happening. Both of these actions are practical expressions of our love. A uniquely powerful expression of solidarity and love, however, can be our pilgrimage this year to Lough Derg.
 
Our hunger pains as pilgrims over these three days will be trivial by comparison with those dying of hunger over these same days. Our fasting will be voluntary, theirs enforced. Ours, good for the body as well as the soul, theirs…  it will kill them. Nonetheless, our fasting can be offered to them, our brothers and sisters, as a small gesture of solidarity, of recognition of their inalienable human dignity, beauty and worth before God.
 
Our being barefoot, sleepless and temporarily deprived of home comforts over these three days, all temporary discomforts in our case, can be a small sharing in the sufferings of our fellow human beings who have been forcefully and permanently dispossessed of even the most basic of human comforts, the fate of an increasing number of people in different parts of the planet.
 
Our standing, kneeling, walking, as we undertake the pilgrimage exercises, our seemingly aimless barefoot tramping around the penitential beds and, during the night, around this basilica, can also be entered into by us as a solidarity march of sorts. A march in solidarity with those, who, as we pilgrim on this island, will be carrying with them, literally in many cases, upon their shoulders, their children and their elderly, and wheeling carts with what few possessions they still have, on a forced march from one unsafe village to the next with no prospect of their ‘pilgrimage’ ending soon.
 
For these few days, Lough Derg, this small island in Donegal, can be our war-zone, our battle-field. Here we can do our bit to pray and work for peace.
 
First of all, we can pray and work to defeat the evil that dwells in us ourselves, the seeds of power abuse, greed and selfishness that may have taken root in our own hearts from which spring the same horrors, different only in degree, we see unfolding on the world-stage. We can work to soften our hearts, overcome any indifference to the plight of others that may lie there, reboot our empathy, sympathy and solidarity with suffering humanity. Working to overcome the evil in our own hearts we can offer a sincere prayer for the conversion of perpetrators of evil everywhere.
 
Second, and perhaps most important of all, we can unite in prayer with them and for them. You know that Pope Francis, for as long as he was able to, used to call telephone the Catholic parish in Gaza each night to let them know he was praying for them. Our prayers on this holy island during our pilgrimage can also rise up and out beyond the confines of this island and let those suffering know that in our own small way we acknowledge them as our brothers and sisters in Christ and that we offer the exercises of our pilgrimage for them, and not just for them but for all suffering violence and famine at this time.
 
Above all, we can be united with those who suffer as we celebrate the Eucharist. Writing in his encyclical on Care for our Common Home, Laudato Sí, Pope Francis said, that
 
the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love: “Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world”. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth…
 
The Body and Blood of our Lord, freely given, is the antidote to the selfishness and greed  which gives rise to the conflicts and wars that begin in human hearts and lead to the horrors unfolding before our eyes. The  Body of Christ, freely given, is the unleashing of incalculable love in the face of incalculable evil. And so, as we celebrate the Eucharist at this Opening Mass for the Lough Derg Pilgrimage  2025, we too engage in an act of solidarity with suffering humanity that is of cosmic significance. May our prayers, offered sincerely and with humility, convert the hearts of evil perpetrators and bring comfort and relief to those who suffer.
 
Amen

The month of May, with the summer fast approaching, is a time of renewal and reflection, making it an ideal time to embark on a pilgrimage journey to  Lough Derg. This renowned and historic place of Christian pilgrimage, Lough Derg invites you to immerse yourself in a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. Here’s what you can experience this month:

Traditional Three-Day Pilgrimage    (Beginning Friday May 30th)
A powerful spiritual journey, our traditional three-day pilgrimage welcomes thousands each year. Take a time away from the rigours and routine of daily life, and engage in a meaningful ritual of prayer, fasting, and contemplation, following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims throughout the centuries.  More information HERE.
*The Three Day Pilgrimage continues until  August 15th - Wednesday 13th August is the last day to begin the Three Day Pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year 2025

One Day Retreats (Sun 4th,   Mon 5th,   Sun 11th,   Tue 13th,   Sat 17th,   Sat 24th,   Mon 26th)
Before the beginning of the Three Day Pilgrimage, for those seeking a shorter, reflective escape, our day retreats offer a chance to unwind and find peace in quiet contemplation. Join us for guided reflections, prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the celebration of Mass  -  an opportunity for some 'time out'  in  tranquil surroundings. More information and booking details HERE.

****Special One Day Retreats this May
On Sunday  4th, the first One Day Retreat of the 2025 Pilgrimage Season, we will be joined by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Luis Montemayor, and Bishop of Clogher Larry Duffy.

Saturday 17th will see us joined by the  Divine Mercy Sisters    who will  speak about the devotion  and lead the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Saint Patrick's Basilica.

On Monday 26th a relic of Saint Peregrine (Patron Saint for persons suffering from cancer) will be present on Station Island. A blessing with the relic with be available to pilgrims.

Quiet Day (Saturday 10th)
A Quiet Day on Lough Derg is a self-directed day in the peaceful Island setting. It is a day where you and fellow pilgrims have the Island to yourself. Pilgrims often bring with them their own reflective reading others just simply like to walk the island in silent prayer, spend time in Saint Patrick’s Basilica or Saint Mary’s Chapel and soak in the atmosphere of centuries of pilgrim prayer. More information and  booking details HERE.

Residential Retreat (Fri 16th - Mon 19th)
The first residential retreat for this year - "Called" - is particularly offered for young adults 18-35 years).   Franciscan Brothers, Jacopo & Ronan will help retreatants explore themes such as faith, love of true self, and the experience of life's challenges.  Reduced rates  (thanks to sponsorship and donations) are available , contact Marcas for more details.

A second residential retreat,   "Hope in the Wilderness" with Eoin Madigan  will take place from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th July. More information available HERE.

Day of Friendship & Prayer    (Wednesday 21st)
Our Day of Friendship & Prayer is a gathering where pilgrims and friends from different Christian churches come together for a day of reflection, prayer, and fellowship. This ecumenical event emphasises unity and strengthens relationships within the Christian community.   It's a time to deepen spiritual connections and build bridges between denominations.   This year we look forward to welcoming Harold Good as our guest speaker. Harold Good O.B.E. is an Irish Methodist who, in 2005, played a vital role in the Northern Ireland peace process.   To book your place for this special day, click HERE.

Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim Passport    (throughout  this pilgrimage season)
This special year, declared by Pope Francis as a time of great celebration and spiritual renewal, presents the perfect opportunity for Lough Derg to join forces with Ireland's other two major pilgrimage sites nominated by the Irish Bishops as destinations for pilgrims during the Jubilee Year 2025. The 'Pilgrim Passport' is a bespoke booklet that encourages visitors to embark and reflect on a spiritual journey across Ireland, exploring the country's rich heritage and deep-rooted faith. 
 
"We are delighted to partner with our friends at Knock Shrine and Croagh Patrick to bring this unique initiative to life," said Monsignor La Flynn, Prior of Lough Derg. "The Pilgrim Passport invites individuals to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with their spiritual roots amidst the beauty and tranquillity of Ireland's sacred landscapes."
 
As part of the project, pilgrims visiting each of the three sites can receive a stamp in their passport, serving as a poignant reminder of their journey. At Lough Derg, the annual schedule of One Day Retreats, the Three Day Pilgrimage, and other opportunities for pilgrimage will take place through Jubilee Year 2025, tying into the theme of the Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope”. 

Find out more about the Pilgrim Passport by visiting the dedicated website www.pilgrimpassport.ie

Lough Derg is a beacon of peace and spiritual solace, offering a unique opportunity to step away from the hustle of daily life and reconnect with  God and with self. For more information on these events or to plan your visit, please contact our office at [email protected] or explore more of our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to the tranquil and sacred shores of Lough Derg.

Blessings,

Fr. La and the Lough Derg Team