Lough Derg Retreat & Pilgrimage June 2020

DO LOUGH DERG FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE Three Day Pilgrimage on 27 – 29 June 2020 The Prior, Fr La Flynn, will do the pilgrimage on the Island during these three days. At the same time, a small number of our Lough Derg staff will be doing the pilgrimage in St. Mary’s Church in Pettigo: this is the nearest church with a webcam to allow us to offer a live link in support of those who will choose to do the pilgrimage wherever they are. On Saturday 27th to Monday 29th June you go to www.loughderg.live to join the pilgrimage online. By way of support, we have prepared a Registration Pack. To register please go to https://loughderg.live/june-3-day-pilgrimage-registration/or contact the Lough Derg team on +353 (0)71 9861518. The pilgrimage will follow the traditional format, with a few practical adjustments. Evening Prayer of the Church will be recited instead of evening Mass on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Mass will be celebrated at 6.30am on Sunday morning only. Pilgrims are required to begin their fast from midnight on Friday 26th and adhere to the regulation one Lough Derg type meal each day as if they were doing the pilgrimage on the Island. The meal consists of black tea/coffee, dry toast/wheaten bread/oatcakes. Water and prescribed medication can be taken at any time. From after the final Station on Monday morning soft drinks may also be taken. Pilgrims are to remain barefoot from when they begin their first station on Saturday until they complete their final station on Monday morning. Please, be clear that this will not be a virtual pilgrimage. It will entail the full exercises of the traditional Three Day Pilgrimage: the 24 hour vigil that has always been the heart of the matter, the three day fast, and the nine Station Prayers performed in bare feet. Wherever you are in the world, if you are willing to commit to this programme you are welcome to register to join us. https://loughderg.live/june-3-day-pilgrimage-registration/ Registration is FREE. However, we would welcome any donation you might make towards the upkeep of Lough Derg, which depends largely on the contribution of pilgrims. Without such financial support the island will struggle to fund its upkeep in our present circumstances. From Tuesday 30th June, those who have undertaken the pilgrimage should please email us at [email protected] or telephone +353 71 9861518 to confirm that they have completed it conscientiously and giving a full postal address, so that we can issue you with a memento of this historic occasion.