Rome: Archbishop Martin leads St Oliver Plunkett pilgrimage for peace

St Oliver Plunkett

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, is leading the Saint Oliver Jubilee Year of Mercy pilgrimage to Rome from 13 - 17 June.

Before departing on the pilgrimage Archbishop Eamon said: "One hundred years on from the Easter Rising, we pilgrims will thank God for the huge steps that have been taken in Ireland towards peace and reconciliation. However, with pervasive crime, gangland killings and the continued threat of paramilitary violence, with poverty and increased homelessness north and south, we recognise that much still needs to be done to create a culture of life and prosperity for all the people of Ireland."

On Tuesday 14 June, the pilgrims will undertake the Pilgrim Walk of the Seven Churches in Rome, as referred to by Saint Oliver Plunkett in his letters.
Assembling for Morning Prayer in Saint Peter's Square, pilgrims will proceed to walk the 20km route, visiting seven basilicas, and entering through the Holy Doors of Mercy at the four major basilicas of Saint Peter, Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul outside the Walls and Saint Mary Major. The prayer intention for the pilgrim walk will be 'Peace and Reconciliation through the intercession of Saint Oliver Plunkett'. The pilgrims will invoke God's loving mercy for Ireland, for the continent of Europe and for the world.

Archbishop Eamon said: "At this time the world needs our prayers and we will be conscious on our pilgrim walk of how much the world needs to see the face of God's mercy. The work of mercy is needed today more than ever, especially in the face of mass hunger, injustice, wars, discrimination and violence in so many parts of the world. Remembering my predecessor Saint Oliver Plunkett, I will also be praying for Christians who are persecuted around the world today."

Mr Tommy Burns from Drogheda, organiser of the pilgrimage and author of a recent biography of Saint Oliver Plunkett, said: "2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and we will also remember the horrific loss of life of the youth of Europe at that time. While Europe may seem at peace today, Ukraine tells a different story. I sometimes think that the continent suffers from a collective loss of memory, as many people seem to have forgotten the important treasures of its Christian heritage. We are beset with shocking acts of terrorism, and Europe has difficulty in accepting its humanitarian responsibilities towards the many refugees on its borders. Why can we not welcome the many gifts which migrants can bring to our communities?"

Most of the 40 pilgrims on the Saint Oliver Jubilee Year of Mercy Pilgrimage to Rome are from the Archdiocese of Armagh. Some are from Meath, which was the diocese of Saint Oliver's birth, and a number are from Lamspringe in Germany, location of the oldest Shrine of Saint Oliver, where bone relics of the martyred Archbishop of Armagh have been venerated since 1684.

Each year thousands of pilgrims visit Saint Oliver Plunkett's shrine in Saint Peter's Church, Drogheda, in the Archdiocese of Armagh, to venerate his relics
and to learn about the saint's extraordinary life story. Pilgrims pray for the sick and troubled, for family and friends. They fittingly turn to Saint Oliver, who was martyred for his faith in a time of political, religious and social turmoil, to pray for his intercession concerning conflict areas at home and abroad.

Born in the Diocese of Meath, Saint Oliver Plunkett was ordained a priest for, the diocese in 1669, and each year celebrations of the life of Saint Oliver take place at his birthplace. Saint Oliver, a former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, was martyred in Tyburn, England, in 1681. He was canonised
as a martyr by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1975. Along with Saints Patrick and Malachy, Saint Oliver is a patron saint of the Archdiocese of Armagh.