Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1 – Saturday, April 17, 2027
Depart for Dublin – A Pilgrimage Begins
With hearts open and expectant, we set out for Ireland—a land where the veil between heaven and earth feels remarkably thin. This is more than a journey across the Atlantic; it is a movement inward. Guided by Rev. Liz Nau and Fr. Hugo Gómez-Sevilla, we begin a pilgrimage shaped by two rich spiritual traditions: the Celtic awareness of God in creation and the Ignatian invitation to find God in all things. As we depart, we carry not only our luggage, but also our questions, hopes, and quiet longings—trusting that this journey will meet us exactly where we are.
 

Day 2 – Sunday, April 18, 2027
Dublin – A City of Saints & Scholars
Arriving in Dublin, we step into a city where faith and intellect have long walked together, shaping a culture both vibrant and deeply rooted. A panoramic introduction reveals the rhythm of the capital—from the expansive calm of Phoenix Park to the historic arteries of O’Connell Street and the enduring presence of Christ Church Cathedral. Along the way, we begin to notice—not just the landmarks, but the subtle invitations of the Spirit in the details of place and encounter. Pilgrims may choose to attend Sunday Mass at St. Teresa’s Church, grounding the journey in shared prayer from the very beginning. As evening falls, we gather for a welcome dinner, where conversation begins to weave us into a community of fellow seekers, each bringing a unique story into the shared path ahead. (D)
 

Day 3 – Monday, April 19, 2027
Dublin to Athy – Word, Stone & Sacred Imagination
The morning unfolds at a gentle pace, allowing space for rest, wandering, or quiet reflection. Before departing Dublin, we enter Trinity College to encounter the Book of Kells—an illuminated Gospel that transforms scripture into art, and art into prayer. Its intricate beauty reflects a distinctly Celtic vision: that creation itself reveals the glory of God, and that devotion can take form in color, pattern, and patient craftsmanship. We continue to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where the story of Ireland’s patron saint becomes tangible—his life a reminder that grace often begins in unexpected places. As we leave the city behind, the landscape softens into the rolling hills of Wicklow, drawing us into a slower rhythm. That evening, we gather for our first intentional reflection, guided by Ignatian prayer and the Celtic practice of attentiveness, beginning to notice how God is already at work within and among us. (B, D)
 

Day 4 – Tuesday, April 20, 2027
Glendalough – The Monastic Heart of Ireland
Today we enter Glendalough, a valley where silence is not empty but alive with presence. Founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, this monastic settlement invites us into a way of being shaped by solitude, simplicity, and deep communion with the natural world. Walking among the ancient stone ruins and beside the still waters of the Upper and Lower Lakes, we are invited to slow down—to listen, to breathe, to become aware. Here, the wisdom of Celtic spirituality meets the Ignatian call to contemplation: to find God not in abstraction, but in the immediacy of this place, this moment. The round tower stands as a quiet sentinel of centuries past, while the landscape itself becomes a teacher. An optional Mass may be celebrated in this sacred setting, deepening our sense of connection to the communion of saints who once prayed here. (B, D)

Day 5 – Wednesday, April 21, 2027
Kildare – The Fire of St. Brigid
In Kildare, we encounter the enduring presence of St. Brigid, one of Ireland’s most beloved saints, whose legacy bridges the sacred and the everyday. Her spirituality is one of hospitality, creativity, and fierce compassion—qualities that feel both ancient and urgently relevant. At her cathedral and sacred well, we pause not only to learn, but to participate: to pray, to reflect, to listen for the quiet movements of grace. The story of Brigid’s perpetual flame becomes a powerful image—an outward sign of an inward fire that each of us carries. In the spirit of the Spiritual Exercises, we are invited to consider where that flame is being tended in our own lives, and where it may need to be rekindled. (B, D)
 

Day 6 – Thursday, April 22, 2027
The Mystical North – Newgrange
Our journey stretches back beyond recorded history as we visit Newgrange, a Neolithic passage tomb aligned with the rising sun of the winter solstice. Standing within its ancient chamber, we experience a profound moment of continuity—human beings across millennia seeking light, meaning, and transcendence. When the sun enters and illuminates the inner passage, it offers a striking metaphor for the spiritual life: light breaking into darkness, revelation emerging from stillness. In Ignatian language, we might recognize this as consolation—the quiet assurance of God’s presence, often arriving when we least expect it. (B, D)
 

Day 7 – Friday, April 23, 2027
Kells, Tara & Derry – Kings, Monks & Mission
The story continues in Kells, where monastic scribes once preserved the Gospel with devotion and artistry, safeguarding not only words, but a way of seeing the world infused with divine presence. At the Hill of Tara, we stand where Ireland’s High Kings once ruled, a place where power and sacred tradition intersect. Here, we reflect on vocation and leadership—not as dominance, but as service. Crossing into Northern Ireland, we arrive in Derry/Londonderry, a city whose walls have witnessed centuries of conflict and resilience. Walking these historic streets, we are invited into a deeper reflection on reconciliation, forgiveness, and the ongoing work of healing—both in the world and within ourselves. (B, D)
 

Day 8 – Saturday, April 24, 2027
IOSAS Centre – A Retreat Within the Pilgrimage
Today offers a pause—a retreat within the journey itself. At the IOSAS Centre and Celtic Prayer Garden, we step into a landscape intentionally designed for encounter. Surrounded by the quiet beauty of natural bogland, we are guided through a day of reflection, teaching, and prayer led by Rev. Liz and Fr. Hugo. Drawing from both Celtic spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises, this day invites us inward—to notice the movements of the heart, to listen for God’s voice, and to rest in a deeper awareness of presence. It is a day less about seeing and more about being, less about activity and more about attentiveness. (B, ID)
 

Day 9 – Sunday, April 25, 2027, 2027
The Causeway Coast – Wonder & Awe
As we travel along the Causeway Coastal Route, the landscape itself becomes a revelation. Cliffs rise dramatically from the sea, waves crash with ancient rhythm, and the horizon stretches endlessly outward. At the Giant’s Causeway, we encounter one of nature’s most extraordinary formations—columns of stone that seem almost sculpted by divine imagination. Here, awe becomes prayer. Later, at Bushmills Distillery, we encounter a different kind of transformation—water patiently refined into something rich and complex. It becomes a fitting image for pilgrimage itself: a process of slow change, shaped over time, yielding something deeper within us. (B, D)
 

Day 10 – Monday, April 26, 2027
Belfast – Faith & Reconciliation
In Belfast, the story shifts toward modern history, yet the spiritual themes remain deeply resonant. Visiting Clonard Monastery and the East Belfast Mission, we encounter communities where faith has been lived out in the midst of division, offering witness to the power of reconciliation. These spaces invite us to consider our own call to healing—where forgiveness is needed, where bridges might be built. The afternoon opens into personal time, an opportunity to follow the gentle promptings of the Spirit—whether through quiet reflection, conversation, or simply walking the city’s streets with new awareness. (B, ID)
 

Day 11 – Tuesday, April 27, 2027
Downpatrick – In the Footsteps of St. Patrick
Today we trace the path of St. Patrick, whose journey from captivity to mission continues to inspire. At the St. Patrick’s Centre, Saul Church, and the ancient Struell Wells, we encounter a story of transformation rooted in trust and surrender. Standing at Down Cathedral, where Patrick is laid to rest, we are invited to consider our own calling—how God continues to work through our lives in ways both seen and unseen. This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner, sharing stories, laughter, and gratitude for the journey we have made together. Beneath it all is a quiet recognition: something within us has shifted. (B, D)
 

Day 12 – Wednesday, April 28, 2027
Return Home – Carrying the Pilgrimage Within
As we depart Ireland, we carry more than memories of sacred sites and breathtaking landscapes. We carry a new way of seeing—formed by days of prayer, reflection, and shared experience. In the spirit of Ignatius, the pilgrimage does not end here. It continues in the everyday moments of our lives, where we are invited again and again to find God in all things, and to live with deeper awareness, gratitude, and freedom. (B)

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​Dining Codes:

B = Breakfast

D = Dinner

ID = Independent Dinner​​​