On Sunday more than 100 people joined a pilgrimage of hope in Avoca to celebrate the Holy Year 2025 and it centred around the 8th century monastic ruins in the forest of Kilmagig.
The inclement weather meant that the earlier part of the proceedings took place in Avoca National School but then the sun broke through and a group of hardy souls walked up to the cemetery itself.
Parishioners from the churches of Templerainey, Ballycoog, Barraniskey and Avoca came together with banners depicting the four churches.
Parish priest, Fr Michael Murphy said: “It was a rare occasion for the four communities to come together in one place at one time. We are in the season of creation and that as Christians we must remember that the natural world is not just scenery, but a gift entrusted to us by God.
"We have a responsibility to protect our precious environment here on planet earth, and to leave it in fit condition to hand on to the next generation.”
Addressing the topic of sustainable living, he quoted David Attenborough who said, “You will be among the next characters who can, if they wish, tell the most extraordinary story of all – how human beings in the 21st century came to their senses and started to protect planet earth.”
When the Holy Year began in 1300, it was intended as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another and with all creation. It involved the forgiveness of debt, the return of misappropriated land and a fallow period for the fields.
Professor Muiris O’Sullivan provided a talk on the history of the four parishes from ancient times to the present day.
He dwelt on the rituals surrounding holy wells and rag trees where pilgrims would tie a piece of cloth to get a cure for all kinds of ailments
. He also told the story of the Deer Stone in Glendalough where pilgrims had to crawl around the stone on their bare knees three times a day, three days a week. Then a festival grew up around it , as it became very un-monastic like and in the 1800s the patron day was closed down by the local bishop.
The after-party was held in Avoca National School and featured ‘The Miners’ playing some music, while the catering team provided a homemade feast for the community get together, as old memories were shared alongside some new discoveries abut the area.