Women Priest Celebrate Liturgy at Phoenix Park, Dublin and Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral and Book of Kells

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galway Cathedral, Clonmacnoise, Kildare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irish Mystical Journey: Knock and Croag Patrick

Today we gathered around the holy rock where Mary is reported to have appeared on the church wall with St. Joseph and St. John in 1879.  Our pilgrim group formed a semi-circle touching the sacred rock and holding hands as we prayed for the many intentions and people who were in our  hearts. We sang a hymn to honor God's mothering presence in Mary and in all women, then we had time for quiet prayer and reflection.



In the Irish newspaper, I read today that Ireland's former President Mary McAleese said that the Catholic Church cannot continue to be "an old boys' club" when asked about women priests, I felt joy that women priests were gathering at Knock and Croag Patrick to pray and affirm the feminine face of God in the church and in women called to serve the people of God in inclusive, egalitarian, partnership communities where women and men share leadership responsibilities like Brigit of Kildare and Patrick in the early centuries of Celtic Christianity.


Mary, Mother of Jesus depicted on a stained glass window in Bascilica

St. Patrick statue at Croag Patrick where thousands of pilgrims visit and walk up Patrick's Mountain
overlooking Clew Bay

Croag Patrick near Westport, County Mayo, Ireland



 

In the evening we attended one of the best Irish music performances I have ever seen " Trad on the Prom" which featured Mairin Fahy's Band and World Champion Dancers direct from Riverdance, The Chieftains and Lord of the Dance. We were on our feet applauding after every number!  There is a new hit tune entitled "the wild Atlantic" that could be the theme song for our group traveling on this sacred journey around Ireland. (the Ya, Ya Cladagh Sisters)

I highly recommend this show for future Public Television Shows and to anyone who enjoys Irish music! It was brilliant!

for more information about it, visit

www.tradontheProm.com

 

 

Irish Mystical Journey: Killarney, St. Brigit's Well, Liscannor, Cliffs of Moher

Killarney

St. Brigit's Well is covered with photos, statues, medals -- many items left behind
 as symbols of people's prayer intentions.
In my view it is the most beautiful St. Brigit Well in Ireland. It is located in Liscannor
near Cliffs of Mohr

 

Cliffs of Mohr

 

Local Criticsms of Deacons Plan for Killaloe Diocese/ ARCWP Ordains Women Deacons and Priests

Women Priests from the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests -ARCWP- are here in Ireland on a pilgrimage. We support the full equality of women as the will of God in our times We ordain women called and hope one day to ordain women in Ireland as deacons and priests. Contact Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, sofiabmm@aol.com, www.arcwp.org

 

29 August, 2014 - 07:51    "Plans for new deacons in Clare Churches are being met with local criticism, as they don't allow women to get involved.

The diocese of Killaloe are inviting married men to get involved in many priestly duties like baptisms, weddings and burial services after a four year training programme that's not open to women.
Posters have been erected in many local churches in Clare saying "Women have had enough Discrimination" and calling for both male and female members of the laity to be allowed to participate more in church services.
An online poll of over 300 people on the www.clare.fm website suggests that 80% of people agree that women should be allowed to become deacons too.:

Irish Mystical Journey: St. Gobnait of Ballyvourney's Well and Shrine, Sept.7, 2014

Cows graze in the lovely green fields across from St. Gobnait's well. Our pilgrims prayed at this Holy Well and blessed one another.  The water was ice cold and clear just like I remember it about 14 years ago when I last visited there. The local people still keep their cups near the well.

 

 

 

 

We visited her monastic site located a short distance up the road from the well.  While  we were at the monastic site,, several  people came by and  prayed there, a woman and young girl, a man and a boy, a woman out in a jogging suit.  So, it appears that devotion to St. Gobnait is alive and well in contemporary Ireland.

St. Gobnait  is the patron saint of bee keepers and oppressed  people. According to legend Gobnait saved her people from a local landlord who tried to bully them into giving up their land. See more about  her inspiring story in Praying with Celtic Holy Women. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

 

 

 

 

Sheela-na-gig, a fertility symbol of the encompassing womb love of God, who in pre-Christian times was identified with the goddess and during Christianity identified with the church stands over one of the entrances to St. Gobnait's Monastery.

 

St. Gobnait

Irish Mystical Journey/Cobh, /Titanic and Blarney Castle on Sunday Sept. 7, 2014

Titanic

 

Blarney Stone

Kathryn and Mary Theresa on top of Blarney Castle