Alfred Knox Reflection

A Reflection on the 2025 Pilgrimage
by Alfred Knox

Introduction
This is a record of our Pilgrimage in September 2025 including Worship Services, the places we went to in the footsteps of St Patrick and about Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Centre. There were eleven pilgrims: Andy, Carol, Lynn, Robert, Ann, Alfred, Patricia, Jim, Heather, Joan and David. 

Worship Services

Daily Worship
Morning Worship was in the lounge at Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Centre. A different person from the group led the worship each time. We also read a different Psalm each day. Andy provided a thought and a story about St Patrick. Evening Prayer was also in the lounge at Tobar Mhuire. We had periods of silence to consider the bible readings and an opportunity to share as a short phrase, one thing that had been special that day.

Nendrum Afternoon Service (Thursday Afternoon)
We had an outdoor service led by Andy with the Pilgrims in a circle giving thanks to our Lord for those who chanted psalms in Nendrum Monastery in times past.

Communion Service (Thursday Evening)
In the Chapel at Tobar Mhuire, in a Service led by Andy and Carol, the Pilgrims met and shared Holy Communion. We also had a time of communal healing holding each other's hands.

In the Footsteps of St Patrick

Monday, 22 September 2025
Inch Abbey, Down Museum and Old Gaol House
We gathered at Inch Abbey, a peaceful and beautiful holy place. We had our picnic lunch.

Dan was our Guide through Down Museum covering a wide span of Irish history. He also showed us the Old Gaol House.

Tuesday, 23 September 2025
St Patrick’s Centre, Down Cathedral, St Patrick's Grave and Saul Church
Tim was our Guide in St Patrick’s Centre and to the dramatic life story of Saint Patrick as written in his Confession. 

Clive was our Guide in Down Cathedral and gave his version of the Saint Patrick story and explained the design and history of Down Cathedral. We also stood in a circle around St Patrick’s grave listening to Tim explaining how St Patrick came to be buried there (and also St Brigid and St Columba). A significant date is 432 AD when St Patrick landed at Saul to start his mission in Ireland. Andy led us in prayer and silent reflection in Saul Church. The church has a beautiful stained glass window featuring St Patrick.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 : Newcastle or Castleward or Kearney’s Point
On our ‘day off’ we could select from different options. 

• Some of us went shopping in Newcastle.

• Others enjoyed Castleward, the beautiful setting, and the amazing house and collecting many chestnuts

• And some enjoyed walking or having a peaceful time at Kearney’s Point near Portaferry.

Thursday, 25 September 2025
Ballydugan Viking Medieval Settlement, Struell Wells and Nendrum Monastic site
We laughed and enjoyed longbow archery, watching the Vikings use their axes, swords, shields and spears. We also were shown examples of what their coins and jewellery looked like. We were also told how over time the pagan symbols and jewellery changed to Christian crosses as the Vikings became Christian (which would have pleased St Patrick). We visited the healing Struell Wells where Saint Patrick had been to make a pagan site into a Christian one.We had our outdoor service at Nendrum Monastic site. St Machaoi set up the Monastery in the 5th Century which has links to St Patrick. 

Friday, 26 September 2025
After the Morning Worship, it is sadly time to leave Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Centre (or have a final walk in the beautiful grounds) and leave our fellow Pilgrims and head back home.

Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Centre
The food was good at breakfast and excellent at dinner in Tobar Mhuire. The baked potatoes were a delight. As well we enjoyed a Tuesday dinner out at AJs Diner at Crossgar and on Wednesday at The Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh. We had exclusive use of the residents’ lounge with tea and coffee provided. We enjoyed the Prayer Garden for times of prayer and reflection and other walks in the grounds of Tobar Mhuire. 

Reflection
Some of the benefits of The Pilgrimage are as a small group you can quickly gel together. You have an opportunity to participate in or lead worship and have shared experiences of the holy sites, and even of the fun and games in the evening. We played the games (e.g. Charades, Green Bottles) as a group where everyone participated and laughed together. We were blessed with sunny weather, good food and health. We all thoroughly benefited and enjoyed the Pilgrimage. Andy is already thinking of the next Pilgrimage maybe in Donegal in the footsteps of St Columba.