Fr Laurence Flynn, prior of Lough Derg Lough Derg’s Prior has encouraged pilgrims to make space for God as the island’s Three Day Pilgrimage season begins, saying the Lord often speaks to people in ways they do not expect.
Fr Laurence ‘La’ Flynn, who marks 50 years of priesthood this July, told The Irish Catholic that the ancient pilgrimage remains a powerful invitation to “come apart” from ordinary life and allow God to work.
The Three Day Pilgrimage begins on May 29 this year, earlier than usual, to allow pilgrims to take part over the June bank holiday weekend. Fr Flynn said the season is already underway through one-day retreats during May.
This year’s season is also expected to be Fr Flynn’s last as Prior. Having turned 75 last year, he offered his resignation, but Bishop Larry Duffy asked him to take Lough Derg through one more season.
Reflecting on the pilgrimage, Fr Flynn said people often come to the island with particular intentions, burdens or prayers, but discover that God may have something different in store.
“The programme of the pilgrimage… the fasting, the barefoot praying, the vigil, that essentially is scaffolding for the real work,” he said, describing that real work as “the work that God wants to do and invites us to work with him on”.
“I might go to Lough Derg thinking, well, I want to pray about this, or I want to offer it for that,” he said. “But the Lord has His own agenda, and has the sovereign freedom to decide where the experience is going, or what He brings me to pray about, or to ponder… how he decides to give me his grace.”
Fr Flynn said pilgrims frequently speak about the significance of crossing the water to the island, even though the boat journey takes only five minutes. That crossing, he said, reflects Christ’s invitation to “come apart and rest for a little while”.
Encouraging those considering the pilgrimage this year, Fr Flynn said the question is not whether someone has “done Lough Derg”, but whether they have done it “yet”, adding – “We’ll make you welcome.”