A new ’Camino’ pilgrim walk which involves visiting and praying in seven Dublin churches has been inaugurated by the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of the city.
Pilgrims will be issued with a 'passport' at the start of the walk, in St Ann's Church in Dawson Street, which must be stamped in each church to prove the pilgrim has completed the walk.
The pilgrim walk will run until Saturday June 16th and is estimated to take about four hours to complete if done in one day. It can however, be completed over a number of days.
The Camino is the first of its kind in Dublin and is being organised in preparation for the international Eucharistic Congress and, it is hoped, says the Archdiocese of Dublin, it will help pilgrims strengthen and renew their faith.
"Pilgrims walk with a clear intention to draw closer to God," said a spokeswoman.
The Congress, which takes place evry four years in a different city in the world, runs this year from June 10th to 17th in Dublin.
As well as a visit to St Ann's church the walk includes visits to St James church on James's Street, Our Lady of Mount Carmel church on Whitefriar Street, John's Lane church on Thomas Street, St Mary of the Angels church on Church Street, St Michans church on Halston Street, and, St Mary's Pro Cathedral on Marlborough Street. These churches will be open from 8 am to 8 pm and a Pilgrim Mass will be held daily in the Pro Cathedral at 5.45 pm.
A brief ecumenical service in St Ann's Church was presided over the Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Church of Ireland Archbishop Michael Jackson and attended by about 300 worshippers from both denominations.
They had their 'passports' stamped before proceeding to Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Whitefriar Street.
Dr Martin said such walks had become particularly attractive to those whose daily lives were full of responsibilities and commitments.
"We find ourselves longing to leave behind the mundane in order to seek that which is truly important. I invite as many people as possible to walk and pray with us in these days leading up to and during the Congress."
Dr Jackson said St Ann's was "delighted to be included" in the pilgrim walk.
"St Ann's is accustomed on a daily basis to people coming to seek God in the historic church. I wish everyone who participates in this pilgrimage the very best. everything we do here on earth is but the start of a journey."
