Jubilee of Hope Pilgrimage

On the very early morning of September 29th 2025, 50 pilgrims from all corners of Ireland gathered in Dublin Airport to board an Aer Lingus flight to Rome as part of the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope for the Order of Saint Columbanus’ to Rome and Assisi.

Each visitor arrived with their own hopes and concerns to pray in the largest church in the world and the spiritual centre of our Catholic Church, the Vatican in Rome's and follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, and Saint Carlo Acutis. Little did we realise how this week would test and bless us, fostering our spiritual growth.

At the end of the seven-day pilgrimage, each pilgrim knew each other's first names – the camaraderie and brotherhood that existed was unmatched, and we all looked out for one another.

Once we had collected our bags in Rome Airport, we met our tour guide, Mirella, who was our infinite source of knowledge on each Holy shrine we visited. Our first stop was the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where we paused before the tomb of the late Pope Francis and said a personal prayer. We got a guided tour of the frescoes and crypt of this Basilica, before celebrating Mass with Cardinal Seán Brady and Fr Colm Hagan in Cesi chapel of the Basilica. We prayed before the icon of Mary – the Salus Populi Romani, where Pope Francis prayed before and after each apostolic journey. We entered through the Holy Door – the Porta Santa as pilgrims marking this Jubilee – Pilgrims of Hope.

The next day, Tuesday 30th September, we travelled to Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City. We processed as a pilgrim group along the Via della Conciliazone, right into the square and into Saint Peter's Basilica, through the Holy Door, several Brothers carried the Pilgrimage of Hope Cross right to the main altar, many Brothers were spiritually enriched carrying the Cross while praying. His Eminence Seán Cardinal Brady had arranged for us to visit the chapel of Saint Columbanus, below the Altar in the Grottoes of St. Peters Basilica. While there, we prayed for the intercession of Saint Columbanus, Pope Saint Paul VI and Saint Oliver Plunkett. We prayed for the Canonisation of Venerable Matt Talbot and Canon James Kearney O’Neill. A tour guide took us all around the magnificent Basilica, giving us ample time to see as much as we could. We prayed in front of the tomb of Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Saint John XXIII.

After Saint Peter's Basilica, we travelled to the Catacombs of San Callisto, which at one time was the burial place for some 300 thousand people who were not permitted to be buried within the city walls of Rome. In the chapel beside the entrance to the catacombs, we celebrated Mass and Cardinal Brady reminded us that for early Christians, catacombs were sacred because they symbolized Hope in eternal life and the future resurrection of the body, rejecting pagan views of death as final. The catacombs was the final resting place of a number of Popes and persecuted Christians alike.

Wednesday morning, all the knights wore the order's tie in respect to the Holy Father, with whom we were going to join, at the Papal Audience. It was a bit frantic dealing with the crowds and security, but thanks again to our Cardinal, we got seated tickets, near enough to see Pope Leo XIV. It’s a moment in time that one sees on EWTN and at Urbi et Orbi televised, but seeing him in person at Saint Peter's was very special.

Then onto the Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls, where we once again entered through the Holy Door. A magnificent basilica which was built over the tomb of St Paul, and where we could leave petitions and view the resting place of St Paul. Again, in these amazing surroundings, we celebrated Holy Mass in one of the side chapels.

The next morning, through the recommendation of Cardinal Brady, we visited the Lateran Baptistery, standing apart from The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. The baptistry, for many generations was the first and the only baptistery in Rome, previous

to this, rivers or streams were used. It was also here, that a couple from our pilgrim group, who were married by the then Fr Brady 50 years ago, received a special blessing from His Eminence and they renewed their marriage vows.

We then went on to the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, who is His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal Brady stated that he was ordained here 61 years ago. A breathtaking Basilica of frescoes and artwork, our pilgrim group were allowed access to the Cathedral of Rome, where we prayed a decade of the Rosary. This year, with the election of our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, the day concluded with enthronement in this Cathedral. The pontiff journeys from Saint Peter’s in procession, and is seated on the Cathedral, as the Bishop of Rome, surrounded by all the clergy of Rome, who pray for him and applaud him.

From the Basilica, we went to the Holy Stairs – these were brought to Rome from Jerusalem by Queen Helena in 328- She was the mother of Constantine, and these steps are believed to be the original steps that our Lord climbed before his crucifixion in Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem. It was a humbling and an emotional moment to see all the pilgrims on their knees going up the steps, as an act of sacrifice and penance.

Fr Paul Lawlor OP and Fr Ronan greeted us at the Dominican Saint Clement's Basilica, viewing the frescoes and exploring the depths, a three-tiered complex of buildings: The first level is the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; we descended the stairs going beneath the present basilica, to a 4th-century basilica that had been converted out of the home of a Roman nobleman. Seeing this 1st-century structure made us reflect on the history of Christianity and how, the first Church building, as Fr Paul stated, “you can't argue with bricks and mortar”.

From there, we walked to the Irish Pontifical College, where we learned about the many priests who studied there and spread the Gospel throughout Ireland and beyond. Cardinal Brady and Fr. Colm again celebrated the Holy Mass and spoke of how we must be like little children and live in the moment at hand. At a reception after Mass, Cardinal Brady took us to the Daniel O’Connell monument, where the heart of the emancipator is entombed.

On Friday 3rd October , we celebrated Holy Mass in the Church of St Isidore with its wonderful frescoes and chapels. We received a very informative talk from one of the friars there, who outlined the history and is now the headquarters of the Franciscan Order, the General Curia in Rome. Then we walked to the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain, to view their architectural beauty, observe their role as a historic and current cultural gathering spot.

To the bus then, and onwards to Assisi – the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare, and the final resting place of St. Carlo Acutis. Traffic in Rome stopped, citizens protest to highlight the crisis of war in the Holy Land, for over 5 hours we travelled on the coach.

The next morning, we visited the Basilica of St Clare and prayed before the Cross of San Damiano, where our Lord spoke to Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. We viewed the body of St Clare and celebrated Mass in the main church. Then we walked to the resting place of St Carlo Acutis and joined the throngs of people waiting reverently to pass by the body of the young man who gave up material things to follow the example of his mentor, St Francis. It was the feast day of St Francis, so there were many people in Assisi, including the Italian PM – Giorgia Meloni, enhancing the atmosphere and holiness of the day. As one knight remarked on looking out his hotel windows, “That’s the same Sister Moon that St Francis and St. Clare would have gazed on.”

A walking tour of Assisi in the afternoon took us to the birthplace of Francis, and we walked the streets he would have walked in a life of prayer and poverty. We saw where Clare and Francis were baptised, in the Cathedral of San Rufino and the altar where the heart of St Carlo Acutis is enshrined.

Next, we went to see the convent of San Damiano and the home of the Poor Clare Sisters. We saw the cloister and the place where St. Clare passed away.

We went to the Basilica of St Francis and saw the final resting place of this great saint. Cardinal Seán Brady, a bishop from New Jersey, along with 14 priests and altar servers, concelebrated Mass, and the Supreme Knight read the readings. It was a special occasion, and we all felt a little sad knowing that our pilgrimage was drawing to a close.

That evening, in the chapel at the Hotel Domus Pacis, we all gathered for exposition and benediction of the most blessed Eucharist. We took the time to reflect on the week and thank God for his gift of faith and prayer. Cardinal Brady led us in the rosary, and there was a reflection between each decade. It was a solemn yet heart-warming hour and 20 minutes that we all delighted in.

The camaraderie and good-spirited attitudes of the group made this pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi a life-changing one—time to reflect and pray for those we love and who asked us to remember them. The recitation of the Holy Rosary on the bus and the friendship within the group. Watching out for one another were truly uplifting.

And so we returned to Dublin very tired but spiritually renewed and treasuring in our hearts all we had done, seen and lived the past 7 days.