UPCOMING PILGRIMAGE

Celebrating the Franciscan Jubilee Year

Meath Diocesan Pilgrimage to Padua & Assisi

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Itinerary

Click on image above to download the full pilgrimage itinerary.

HOW TO RECEIVE A PLENARY INDULGENCE

As we celebrate the Franciscan Jubilee Year, it is possible to obtain a Plenary Indulgence by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan church or to any place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world, under the usual conditions. Pilgrimage has always been a central part of our faith, a physical act of devotion that reflects our spiritual journey toward God’s mercy.

But what is meant by “usual conditions”?

In addition to praying at a Franciscan site, it is necessary to receive Holy Communion on the same day, go to Confession within eight days before or after, and recite the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father.

This privilege will remain in effect until the end of the Franciscan Jubilee, on January 10, 2027.

This Jubilee is a time of grace, renewal, and deepened faith. Let us embrace this opportunity to draw closer to God’s mercy and live out the works of charity explified by St. Francis.

Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey. We don’t choose our destination; it is God drawing us into Himself. Something inside us simply yearns to go. We feel invited, even summoned.

Click images below to learn more about each pilgrimage site.

Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Knock is Ireland's International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine welcoming pilgrims from all corners of the world. Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and the Lamb appeared to villagers on the evening of the 21st August 1879 for over two hours.

Fatima, Portugal

The Shrine of Fatima is a place of pilgrimage, which celebrates the memory of its founding event, the apparitions of Our Lady to the three little Shepherds in 1917 at the Cova da Iria, and since then, countless pilgrims from all over the world travel to Fatima in answer to Our Lady's call.

Lough Derg, Co. Donegal

St. Patrick's purgatory, more commonly referred to as Lough Derg is located in the lake of the same name in Co. Donegal. It is a pilgrimage site dating back to the Fifth Century. Since then, it has veen a place of Christian pilgrimage and prayer.

Lourdes, France

Since the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858, millions of people from all over the world have flocked to Lourdes every year to experience the grace of this place. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is above all the place of healing of bodies and hearts where one comes to pray humbly to the one who revealed her name to Bernadette Soubirous: “I am the Immaculate Conception”.

The Holy Land

The Holy Land, a place of special pilgrimage for Christians, is the land where Jesus was born, where he preached and healed, suffered, died and rose again. Pilgrims from the world over, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, the Son of God and visit the sites assocated with his life and the miracles he worked.

Croagh Patrick, Westport, Co. Mayo.

Croagh Patrick, also known as 'the Reek', is an important site of pilgrimage overlooking Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. It is believed St. Patrick reputedly fasted on the mourtain for 40 days and nights. 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims still climb the mountain on pilgrimage each year on the last Sunday in July.