J2A Youth Make Pilgrimage to Ireland

by Emily McDonald
Sixteen young people and three adult leaders from the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, spent part of their summer vacation on a pilgrimage to Ireland.

The 10-day trip was the culmination of two years of planning and fund raising and was a part of the church's J2A (Journey to Adulthood) program. Most of the young people were confirmed in May.

"It was a spiritual pilgrimage," said Telky Murphy, the church's youth director and one of the trip leaders. "We learned some about Celtic spirituality and ancient monastic life and it was also a time for fellowship."

Another purpose of the trip was to involve the young people more fully in the life of the church, Ms. Murphy said. They returned as young adults from their pilgrimage experience and were asked to get involved in things like teaching Sunday school or serving as a lector.

The group went to Glendalough, where they took a pilgrim walk through the monastic city and visited St. Kevin's Retreat House. They say the Book of Kells exhibit at Trinity College in Dublin and toured the National Museum.

On the Aran Islands, the Chattanoogans visited several churches and other religious sites and hiked to the Black Fort. The trip ended with an overnight visit t Lisdoonvarna in County Clare.

After their return, Ms Murphy asked the young people and leaders to jot down some of their impressions of the trip.

"My most memorable adventure of the pilgrimage was climbing up a mountain with Charlie, Ellen and a few other," wrote Stokes Doster. "When we reached the top and had a full 360-degree outlook, everyone gazed at the amazing sights in awe and in silence." Charlie Frazier and Ellen Moore were the other adult leaders.

Hunter Groves wrote that he didn't have a favorite day or favorite moment as the entire trip meant a lot to him. However, communion on cliffs of the Aran Islands sticks out in his mind as something very special "because everyone seemed touched by it."

"Of all the communions I've had in my day, that is one I'll never forget," Hunter said.

Ms. Moore told of a letter she received from one of the young people saying, "hopefully, during the coming years of my life, you and I will remain as close as we are now."

"That's the bottom line, I believe," Ms. Moore wrote. "The relationships formed through Christ by spending time together, whether it be cooking, cleaning, laughing or praying. Ireland was so much --green pastoral landscapes, warm friendly people, ancient monastic sites and hallowed ground of saintly struggles --but mostly it was about fellowship.

We learned to be still, to be quiet, to listen and pay attention. We learned to see Christ everywhere and we did it TOGETHER."

Emily McDonald South East Correspondent for The East Tennessee Episcopalian.