TheTochar was originally a druidic path,
christianised by St Patrick in 441AD
Since Patrick’s time it became a Christian pilgrim route
and was known as Tóchar Phádraig or Patrick’s Causeway.
Ballintubber Abbey: This remarkable Abbey set in the little
village of Ballintubber was founded in
1216 by Cathal O Connor King of Connaught for the Augustinian Fathers.
It was suppressed by Henry V111 and burned
down by the Cromwellian Troops in 1653, Despite the Penal laws in the 18th
Century and a roofless Abbey the people continued to use it.
It is Ireland’s only royal abbey in
continuous use for almost 800 years- the only church in the English speaking
world where Mass has been offered without a break. It’s been labelled “The
Abbey that refused to die.”
A small group of us from the Good Shepherd
Parish Doughiska accompanied by our Parish Priest Father Martin Glynn went on
Pilgrimage there on the 29th of June 2013.
Why did we go? We were inspired by one of our Parishioners
who’s been a Tóchar Pilgrim for many years. .
The pilgrim’s walk consisted of 22 miles
cross country through bogs and rough ground as well as on roads and bohereens.
There are a total of 113 styles in all.
Although we thought it was very daunting we
still went and lived to celebrate the completion of the walk! There were 74
pilgrims from various parts of Ireland, Poland, the US and perhaps other
nationalities with a good number of young people. Each one had his/her special
reason/ intention for this pilgrimage.
We gathered in this Historical Abbey at
8.30a am. to enrol and get orientated for the pilgrimage. As Good Shepherd
Parishioners we felt we had a common bond with this sacred place. Despite the
persecution of earlier years Ballintubber still continued. In our Parish we
don’t have a home to call our own where we can worship. We have rented
accommodation but Thank God like the Ballintubber people we continue to live
out our Faith.
Father Fahey reminded us that to be a Pilgrim
we needed to be aware of certain elements.
Faith:He invited us to light a candle for our intentions. To say a
prayer for the farmer as we crossed a style.
Penance: No complaining. Instead say thanks be to God in every
circumstance even if we stepped into a cow pat!
Community: Include the stranger in our group –No ‘Cliques’
Change
of Heart: What is the Lord
suggesting you must change about yourself?
As we set out we were invited to pick a
small stone that reminded us of something in ourselves we would like to change.
On the journey we dropped the stone at the Mass rock and received a
well-rounded smooth stone!
Celebration: Share your food, your Joy, your Love and
your Care.
Reflections:
To
trace the steps of St Patrick and his followers was a privilege and a reminder
of our great heritage. It was a glorious day. The birds sang to us. Those
fields are steeped in history.
We remembered the desperation of the 3,000
poor people of Ballintubber who died of hunger on those very pathways during
the famine.
During the penal laws we thought of the fear
that must have gripped the priests as they hid from the priest hunter Sean’ a
Sagart hiding in the trees.
It was
a time to be grateful for the courage of our ancestors who for their catholic
faith risked their lives to get to the Mass Rock at Boheh or go to the roofless
Abbey.
To
appreciate the generosity of the local people- the farmers allowing us through
their land and the ladies who met us at regular intervals on the journey
providing drinks and other goodies.
For a
well organized pilgrimage and clearly marked pathways. Thank you
It was
a time too, to look at our inner selves and recognize the gifts and challenges
of life and one’s own potential for perseverance in the face of difficulty!
A time
to give and receive support.
A time
to pray. A time to listen
To be
silent
To chat and laugh.
Finally… to
Rejoice and Celebrate at Journeys end for a day well spent
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