Days 2 and 3–Local Friars—Greyfriars and Blackfriars

by friar Bob Roddy, OFM Conv.

Despite our haggard state from Friday and Saturday travel we very much looked forward to attending a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass at a parish, St. Mary of the Visitation, that is cared for by our Conventual Franciscan Friars. We received an exceptionally warm welcome not only from the pastor, Friar John Anthony Delaney, OFM Conv., but the other three friars and the parishioners, who hosted a reception for our group after the 9:30 am liturgy.

The streets of Dublin were fairly deserted when our bus pulled up to the parish, but by the time that we left the parish hall we encountered a sea of fans for the Hurling team from Cork wearing their red and white. The opposing team was from County Clare and their colors were blue and yellow. It turns out that the stadium where the All Ireland Final Match was played is only a short walk from the parish and friary.

Two of our pilgrims finally arrived this morning, and we eventually saw them after our second stop, Trinity College, to view The Book of Kells,  an amazing hand-lettered and illustrated Book of the Gospels that is 800 years old. Its home in the Trinity College Library will be undergoing a major fire-proofing and renovation that is expected to take at least five years. I can remember my first encounter with the Book of Kells in the 1970s as I tried my hand at calligraphy. (I could not photograph the manuscript as that is strictly forbidden.)  Conor, our guide said that after the Library closes at the end of the year, the Book of Kells will find a safe, new, temporary home somewhere on campus.

We concluded our day with a unique, Irish “Holy Hour,” a tour of the Jameson Distillery. Though the whiskey isn’t distilled where we visited, we received an excellent tour with even a free sample! Our guide was a delightful young man who spoke unbelievably fast. When I asked my college friend and fellow pilgrim, Len Browne, “Did he do a Speed Speaking course?” She looked at me and said, “He’s Irish Bob; they are known for talking fast.” Ellen has numerous relatives in Ireland and has traveled here before.  We raised a glass at the beginning of the tour to our families and friends. Below is also a photo of Fr. Vincent Petersen, OFM Conv., and his sister, Cece Schulte, as well as another photo of Judy Ribar and Michelle Popson, both on the staff of the Mount Center for Spirituality at Mt. St. Francis, Indiana.

On Monday, we journeyed to the city of Kilkenney, where we saw the ruins of a Franciscan Friary and had Mass in a beautiful church known as the Black Abbey Church, which is under the care of the Dominican Friars. (The Dominicans are colloquially referred to as the “Blackfriars,” because of the black cape they sometimes wear. Our Conventual Friars are referred to as Greyfriars because we wore a gray habit in the 13th and 14th centuries.) We were welcomed by the Prior of the Dominican Priory connected to the Black Abbey who reminded us that next year will mark 800 years that the Blackfriars have been in Ireland.

We were blessed with a glorious day as we walked around Kilkenny. Tomorrow, we depart Dublin for Galway. A special thanks to the staff at the Grand Canal Hotel staff who have made our stay so pleasant.

This scribe needs to retire for the evening as we have a very full day tomorrow.