Homily for the Camino of Hope Mass
Cappabane Mass Rock, Scariff Parish
Diocese of Killaloe
Sunday, 2nd of August, 2026
“We are pilgrims of hope.”
A phobal Dé,
There is something deeply moving about arriving at a place like this after a journey on foot.
A pilgrimage is different from a walk. A walk changes our surroundings. A pilgrimage changes us.
Today, we have not simply travelled through the beautiful hills and valleys of East Clare; we have travelled through prayer, conversation, silence and reflection. We have walked together, and now we gather around the altar of God in this sacred place where generations before us gathered, often in fear, but always in faith.
This Mass Rock at Cappabane speaks without saying a word.
Its stones remember.
They remember cold mornings and hidden paths. They remember families quietly making their way through fields before dawn. They remember lookouts posted on nearby hills while Mass was celebrated in whispered voices. They remind us that there were times when simply attending Mass involved courage and risk.
Those men and women did not know whether easier times would come. Yet they believed that Christ was worth everything.
They were, in their own way, pilgrims of hope.
Today we stand in freedom because they stood firm in faith.
First Reflection
As we walked today, we paused at four moments for reflection.
The first was Faith and Doubt.
Every believer knows something about doubt.
Sometimes we imagine that saints never questioned anything. Yet the Scriptures tell another story. Thomas doubted. Peter faltered. Even the disciples on the road to Emmaus struggled to recognise the risen Lord walking beside them.
Faith is not the absence of questions.
Faith is continuing the journey even when not every question has been answered.
Many of those who worshipped here during the Penal Days must surely have wondered whether God had forgotten them.
Yet they kept coming.
Perhaps some among us carry doubts today—about the Church, about ourselves, about prayer, about family members who have drifted away from faith.
The Lord does not reject honest questions.
He simply says again what he said to the first disciples:
“Come, follow me.”
Second Reflection
Our second reflection was on Crossroads.
Life is full of crossroads.
Some are joyful: marriage, priesthood, religious life, welcoming a new child.
Others are painful: illness, bereavement, retirement, loneliness, difficult family situations or uncertain futures.
At every crossroads we discover that God rarely hands us a map.
Instead, he offers us his presence.
Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he was going.
Mary said “yes” without knowing all that lay ahead.
The disciples left their nets before they understood where Jesus would lead them.
Hope is choosing the next faithful step, even when the whole road is hidden.
Third Reflection
Our third reflection was Bridges.
A bridge exists to connect what has become separated.
Our world needs bridge-builders.
Families sometimes need bridges.
Neighbours need bridges.
Communities need bridges.
Our Church needs bridges between generations, between those who are deeply involved and those who feel distant, between certainty and searching.
Pope Leo XIV has spoken beautifully about the Church as a place of encounter rather than exclusion, a community where people can meet Christ and one another with openness, charity and hope.
Every kind word, every act of forgiveness, every listening ear becomes another small bridge that God builds through us.
Fourth Reflection
Our final reflection was Steep Hills.
Every pilgrim knows that the climb is always harder than it looks.
The Christian life has its steep climbs too.
Caring for an ageing parent.
Living with illness.
Remaining faithful when prayer feels dry.
Continuing to hope after disappointment.
Persevering when the future seems uncertain.
Yet every hill offers a wider view.
Sometimes we only understand God’s purpose after we have reached the summit.
Looking back over our own lives, many of us can probably see places where God was leading us, even when we could not see it at the time.
Steep Hills
There is another hill that shapes every Christian pilgrimage.
Calvary.
The Cross appeared to be the end of hope.
Instead, it became its beginning.
Every camino ultimately leads there—and beyond it to the empty tomb.
That is why Christians remain people of hope.
Not because life is easy.
Not because suffering disappears.
But because Christ has conquered death itself.
Cappabane Mass Rock
How fitting that this pilgrimage should end here at a Mass Rock.
The Eucharist has always been the destination of every Christian pilgrimage.
We have walked many kilometres today.
But Christ has travelled infinitely further.
He crossed the distance between heaven and earth.
He crossed the distance created by sin.
He crossed even death itself to meet us.
Now he comes to us once more in the breaking of the bread.
Pilgrims of Life
As we leave Cappabane today, our pilgrimage does not end.
It simply changes direction.
Tomorrow’s camino begins at our own front door.
It continues in our homes.
In our parishes throughout the Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area.
In the kindness we show.
In the prayers we offer.
In the hope we refuse to surrender.
May the courage of those who worshipped here in secret strengthen our own faith.
May the beauty of these Clare hills remind us that creation still speaks of God.
May Our Lady, who walked every stage of faith with her Son, accompany us.
And may Christ, the companion of every pilgrim, continue to walk beside us until that day when every journey ends in the Father’s house.
Amen.
Prayers of the Faithful
Camino of Hope Mass
Cappabane Mass Rock, Scariff Parish
Celebrant
As pilgrims of hope, gathered around this historic Mass Rock where generations before us remained steadfast in faith, let us bring our prayers before our loving God.
- For the Church
That the Church throughout the world may continue to be a beacon of hope, welcoming all who seek Christ and faithfully proclaiming the Gospel with courage and compassion.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For Pilgrims
For all who have taken part in today’s Camino of Hope, that the graces received along the journey may deepen our faith, strengthen us at life’s crossroads, help us build bridges of reconciliation, and give us courage to climb the steep hills that lie ahead.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For Peace in Our World
For peace among nations, for an end to war, violence and hatred, and for all who suffer because of conflict, especially innocent families forced from their homes, that God may touch hearts with the gift of peace.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For Our Local Community
For the people of Scariff Parish, the Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, and the whole Diocese of Killaloe; for those who have cared for this sacred place over many generations; and for all who seek to hand on the gift of faith to future generations.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For Those Carrying Heavy Crosses
For those burdened by illness, grief, loneliness, anxiety or disappointment; for those whose faith has been shaken by life’s difficulties; that, like the pilgrims who worshipped here in Penal times, they may find fresh hope and strength in the Lord.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For Young People
That our young people may discover Christ as a faithful companion on life’s journey, find wise guides along the way, and have the courage to respond generously to God’s call in their lives.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
- For the Faithful Departed
For all who worshipped at this Mass Rock in centuries past; for the priests who celebrated the Eucharist here in dangerous times; for our own deceased relatives, neighbours and friends; and for all the faithful departed, that they may now share in the eternal banquet of heaven.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Celebrant
God of our pilgrim journey,
you never abandon those who seek you.
As you guided our ancestors in faith
and have walked beside us this day,
hear the prayers we make with confidence.
Keep us faithful in hope,
joyful in service,
and steadfast in your love,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Final Blessing for Pilgrims
Cappabane Mass Rock – Camino of Hope
Celebrant
Dear friends,
Our pilgrimage has brought us to this holy place, where generations of faithful people gathered in hope around Christ’s altar. As we prepare to return to our homes, let us ask God’s blessing upon one another and upon the road that lies ahead.
May the Lord,
who called Abraham to set out in faith,
walk beside you on every journey.
Amen.
May Christ,
who met the disciples on the road to Emmaus
and made their hearts burn within them,
remain your companion
through every joy and every trial.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens the weary,
comforts the anxious,
and renews the hopeful,
give you courage at every crossroads,
steadfastness on every steep climb,
and generosity to build bridges of peace wherever you go.
Amen.
May the witness of those who worshipped faithfully at this ancient Mass Rock
inspire you to cherish the gift of faith,
to love the Eucharist,
and to hand on that faith with joy to future generations.
Amen.
May Our Lady,
Mother of Hope and Comfort,
who journeyed faithfully with her Son,
watch over you and those you love,
and bring you safely home.
Amen.
And may Almighty God bless you,
the Father ✠, and the Son ✠, and the Holy Spirit ✠.
Amen.
Go in peace,
continuing your pilgrimage as men and women of hope,
to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.