Striding Amid Thin Places
Recently, I was blessed to visit my older sister Josephine in Ireland. My dad, Mallory, and I journeyed to Holy Family Mission’s (HFM) Glencomeragh House for a week during our Mardi Gras break. We enjoyed a peaceful time sightseeing Ireland, as well as experiencing a taste of Jo’s daily activities in her gap year program.
Our travels were anointed, with hardly any mishaps or complications. Mallory and I enjoyed exploring the airport shops, especially at the London Heathrow Airport. Driving through Ireland for the very first time, we were greeted by rolling green hills and the occasional picturesque stone house framed by low hedges or a stout stone wall.
Straightaway, I felt the Lord’s peace wash over me. It was just us and the sheep on winding roads. My dad remarked on the similarities of the Irish landscape to Wisconsin, which brought a sense of home to this beautiful country. Upon reaching Glencomeragh House, we were welcomed enthusiastically by Jo’s community. In the lovely chapel, we participated in a Holy Hour with evening prayer, music, and thanksgiving. All of these wonderful encounters were ours to treasure, and we were only at the beginning of our trip.
God worked to bless us in miraculous ways throughout our time in Ireland. The week leading up to our trip, my father began suffering from a severe skin infection. The prescriptions he was given in the US weren’t working too well. On the long transatlantic flight over, his infection spread with increased swelling of his hand and pain radiating up his right arm.
By God’s providence alone, a woman visiting HFM was a doctor and happened to have antibiotics on hand. After one dose and a full night of sleep, my dad’s hand was immensely improved! He continued to heal as we soaked up soul-healing in a sacramental beginning to Lent, with Mass and Adoration nearly every day.
For our first full day in Ireland, we started the day with a community rosary and Mass in the chapel. As we drove to visit the family that Jo stayed with for Christmas, we spotted many castle remnants scattered throughout the green fields. Josephine explained that these are common, surviving as testaments to Ireland’s rich history. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with incredible hospitality, delicious food, and an abundance of laughter in good company. I brought a little treat of Cajun culture with me for everyone to share—a donut king cake from the bakery where I work part-time. After many hours of board games, ball games, and entertaining conversation, we ended the evening by praying the rosary together.
The next day, we went to see the famous Cliffs of Moher, one of the stops on my parents’ trip to Ireland twenty years ago. My dad was surprised to see the extreme developmental change the site had gone through in that time, including more structure and walls added to the paths. However, the cliffs remained timeless in their awesome majesty.
Our next notable destination was the Shrine and Basilica of the Apparition of Our Lady of Knock. This is undeniably a thin place where the veil between heaven and earth is porous and palpable. We spent hours in prayer, offering up intentions for all those who sent them.
After praying the rosary and celebrating Mass on Ash Wednesday, we took a breathtaking hike to a mountain lake. It was breathtaking both because of the elevation and the great natural beauty we beheld. We shared joyful family time, reveling in God’s creation.
HFM Catechism classes provided thoughtful and fun conversations. We shared meals with Jo’s incredible community and walked around the peaceful retreat area grounds. Cashel Rock yielded some interesting ponderings and unique photo opportunities. On our last full day in Ireland, we ate at a quaint family-owned restaurant in Cork City.
This bountiful visit to southern Ireland provided a much-needed respite from the busyness of everyday life in Abbeville, where my days are filled with school and family responsibilities.
I was grateful for the opportunity to rest in peaceful prayer and the ability to be present to others in a place of great natural beauty. Each person in Josephine’s community made me feel welcome, from the priest and staff to each young adult member. Ireland was a serene place to be refreshed in the Lord and experience the life-giving work that Jo is a part of!
“As the deer longs for streams of water,
-Psalm 42:2-3
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