Welcome.
“we make idols of our concepts but wisdom is born of wonder.”
“we make idols of our concepts but wisdom is born of wonder.”
10 days - Prayer, Whiskey, Tradition, Exploring, Hiking - Rediscover Magic in the World
Ireland is a place of stunning natural beauty, storied history, and genuinely kind people. It is a country of tall pints, good whiskey, and (perhaps not unrelatedly) excellent conversation. It is a land where the Church found fertile soil, a country of deep faith and tradition. Here is the land where St. Patrick, St. Kevin, St. Columba, St Brigid, and so many other great saints walked and preached and prayed.
This year I’m partnering with Select International to lead a truly phenomenal, unforgettable tour through the saint scattered hills of Ireland.
I will have an incredible co-leader partner in the podcaster and writer Christy Isinger. We can’t wait to explore with you!
Some of the incredible highlights of the tour include -
Some questions you might have -
Born of Wonder listeners/readers and I are kindred spirits. This means many of you come alive after the drudgery of hot summer months. Autumn has always been the season of possibility for me, of trying new things, exploring new places. And though there may be some of you who (much to my amazement) prefer warm weather, I think you’ll find October is an excellent month to travel abroad. For one thing, we are missing the huge crowds. It’s cheaper, it’s quieter, and in Ireland, the weather is great - averaging around 54 degrees F with just as much sunshine as any summer month (which, granted, isn’t a ton - this is Ireland - but averages around 4 hours a day). Besides we aren’t the sort of people who mind a little rain, right?
Also in my case, and in the case of many people I discussed this with, our summers get so busy so fast, with kids out of school, family travel, and so on, Fall seemed much more realistic and doable for most people.
I’ll admit, when I think of a pilgrimage I’m picturing Kristin Lavransdatter all dressed down and penitent, carrying her baby over rocks in her bare feet. Or I’m picturing those people who walk miles on their knees to a sacred shrine. And this is certainly one kind of pilgrimage. But generally a pilgrimage is defined as a journey taken for religious purposes. A pilgrim is a wayfarer, a traveler, who is seeking. A pilgrimage is all about intention. And it is truly my intention with this trip to connect fellow wanderers, those of us searching for connection, for a reawakening or even an initial discovery of faith.
A pilgrimage requires leaving - taking the chance, taking the trip, journeying far from home, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is an experience that will astound and shock you with beauty. We will celebrate Mass in ancient places, whispering prayers where the veil is so thin - saints walked here, prayed here, hoped here. We will touch these places with our hands. We will climb mountains and eat together and learn from one another. This isn’t a vacation. It is a journey and a challenge and a total immersion as we seek and hope and pray, together, fellow pilgrims on our way toward something holy and good.
No! Honestly in some ways I think it can be even better to not know anyone going into a trip like this. I have done group trips before and left with lifelong friends. When you are thrown out of your element and meet people with similar hopes and dreams, who are seeking just like you, you will be astounded at the depth of connection you can make. Besides - you know me! :)
I know from the messages you all send me that there is a diverse readership here. There are fellow parents of young kids, Catholics, non-Catholics, single people, married couples, students, retirees, even some religious sisters and priests. Any one of you will feel welcomed and right at home on this trip.
While we are definitely going to be getting our money’s worth, seeing our fair share of religious, literary, and natural wonders, Christy and I also really wanted to make sure we built in leisure time. This means there are still some afternoons where you will be free to explore a town on your own (and/or with your new group of friends!). We will be doing a fair amount of walking and hiking so you should be prepared for that, but we will also be having High Tea and listening to fiddle music in pubs, so there will be lots of balance.
No! I would say that you probably should be Catholic-sympathetic or Catholic-interested. We will be visiting the famous Marian Shrine at Knock and celebrating Mass a number of times throughout our pilgrimage. We will also be visiting holy sites like St. Patrick’s Mountain and The Monastery at Glendalough. Certainly these are sites of historic interest as well, but we will be visiting them prayerfully, with open hearts and minds.
This is the sort of tour that would have thrilled me as a non-religious agnostic with an aesthetic crush on the Church, so if you’re one of those types, you will likely find many things up your alley. I also think if you’re a member of another Christian denomination you will find much that is spiritually meaningful to you. All that being said, if you are Catholic, this is like a Disney-lovers trip to Disney World- It really can’t get any better.
If you’re fully convinced, head on over and sign up. I’m so ready to explore this beautiful region of the world. I just know there’s some incredible experiences in store for us.
Looking forward to toasting over a pint later this year!
Feel free to Contact Me directly with any other questions you might have!
And if you’re here because someone shared this site with you and you’d like to learn more about me and Born of Wonder, head on over to the About page.
