Mayo priest invites others to minister on Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday

Fr John Kenny of St Mary’s Church in Westport has invited other priests around the country to Minister on Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday.

The theme for Reek Sunday this year is ‘to pray for and honour grandparents and the elderly’.

This year, the annual pilgrimage takes place on the weekend of July 26-28, when thousands of pilgrims are expected to scale Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, to pray and participate on the summit in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and of the Eucharist.  

Father John Kenny, Administrator of nearby Westport Parish, is ‘delighted’ that the three-and-a-half year ‘undertaking to complete the Pilgrims’ Path on Croagh Patrick has now been completed’.

“Accordingly, and on behalf of the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders’ Group, I welcome all to our annual Reek Sunday weekend pilgrimage that will start on Garland Friday, 26 July,” he added. 

_{Poster for Reek Sunday's National Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick 2024 (Catholic Communications Office archive)}

Calling the work of the stakeholders’ group ‘monumental’ in preserving and safeguarding the mountain, Fr Kenny said for this large gathering on the Reek, it is essential that pilgrims ‘play their part in maintaining the mountain’. 

“In this context, I am highlighting that we all have a responsibility to share in the protection of the mountain’s fragile ecosystem, and I encourage all climbers to stay on the Pilgrim’s Path.  This request is made in the interest of the safety of climbers themselves, to preserve the mountain’s habitat, and to sustain this special pilgrimage for future generations,” continued Fr Kenny. 

Fr John Kenny is asking priests from around Ireland to contact him if they are in a position to assist with the celebration of Mass and the hearing of confessions on the summit to contact him on +353 (0) 98 28871 or +353 (0) 87 240 1533

Additionally, if other priests can assist the pilgrimage by advising their parishioners by way of including the following newsletter notice in their July bulletins:

'2024 is the dedicated Year of Prayer and Reek Sunday is on 28 July. This year, the annual pilgrimage takes place on the weekend of 26 – 28 July. On this day, we also celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly #ElderlyandGrandparents’.

Parishes are also asked to display the Reek Sunday poster to help promote this year’s Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage.

See the schedule for Reek Sunday weekend pilgrimage below:

Garland Friday, 26 July – Local Pilgrimage

10:00am. Mass on the summit of Croagh Patrick, celebrated by Westport

native, Father Tod Nolan PP Newport

7:30pm. Mass at Murrisk Community Café – Croagh Patrick Car Park

Reek, Saturday, 27 July

8:30am. Tóchar Phádraig Pilgrimage begins at Ballintubber Abbey.

6:30pm. Vigil Mass in Saint Mary’s Church, Westport, Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam.

Reek Sunday, 28 July

7:30am until 2:00pm, Confessions will be heard on the summit.

8:00am. First hourly Mass on the summit.

2:00pm Last Mass on the summit

(TBC. Aifreann Lán Gaeilge ar barr Cruach Phádraig)