Father Ryan's Pilgrimage blog
June 13, 5:08 PM
Fr. Ryan’s Homily on Day 3 of the Pilgrimage.
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a providential gift that on this third day of our pilgrimage we find ourselves here at Mont Saint-Michel, celebrating Mass in St. Pierre Church, the parish church that has served the people of this remarkable island for centuries.
When we arrived at Mont Saint-Michel, we were greeted by a sight unlike any other in the world. Rising from the sea, crowned by the great abbey dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, this rocky island has drawn pilgrims for more than a thousand years. Through changing tides, wars, revolutions, and the passage of centuries, it has remained a beacon of faith pointing heavenward.
As pilgrims, we made our way here much like countless pilgrims before us. We crossed the bay, climbed the narrow streets, and ascended toward this sacred place. The entire experience is symbolic of the Christian life. We are all on a journey. We are all seeking God. We are all climbing toward heaven.
That journey is at the heart of today’s Gospel.
Mary and Joseph themselves were pilgrims. Saint Luke tells us that they traveled to Jerusalem each year for the feast of Passover. On one of those pilgrimages, they lost Jesus. For three days they searched anxiously until they found Him in the Temple.
Mary’s words are filled with the concern of a loving mother: “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
Yet what makes Mary extraordinary is what happens next. Saint Luke tells us, “His mother kept all these things in her heart.”
Those words reveal the meaning of today’s feast. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a heart that listens, trusts, and reflects upon the mysteries of God even when they are not fully understood.
As we stand here at Mont Saint-Michel, we can see a beautiful image of Mary’s heart. The abbey above us was built stone by stone over centuries. It was not completed in a day. In the same way, faith is built within us little by little. Mary’s heart became the dwelling place of God because she continually said “yes” to Him, one day at a time, one mystery at a time.
There is another lesson here as well. The tides surrounding Mont Saint-Michel are among the most dramatic in Europe. The waters come in and go out, changing the landscape throughout the day. Life can often feel the same way. Circumstances change. Joys and sorrows come and go. Successes and disappointments rise and fall like the tide.
Yet through all those changes, Mont Saint-Michel remains firmly anchored on the rock.
That is precisely how Mary lived her life. At Bethlehem and at Calvary, in moments of joy and moments of sorrow, she remained firmly rooted in God. Her heart was anchored in trust.
Our pilgrimage has already brought us through Lisieux, where we encountered the simple faith of Saint Thérèse and her holy family. Today, here at Mont Saint-Michel, we encounter another lesson: faith is a journey upward, but it is also a life anchored in God.
The pilgrims who came here throughout the Middle Ages often faced danger, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Yet they came because they believed that drawing closer to God was worth the effort. We too have left our homes and routines behind for a few days because we desire that same encounter with the Lord.
On this feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us ask Our Lady to give us hearts like hers—hearts that remain steady amid life’s changing tides, hearts that seek Jesus when He seems distant, hearts that treasure God’s presence, and hearts that never stop making the pilgrimage toward heaven.
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who always points us to her Son, guide us safely on our journey until we reach our true destination: the heavenly Jerusalem.
June 13, 5:06 PM
Saint David Parish Pilgrimage – Day 3
Today began bright and early… or perhaps more accurately, before bright and early! Many of our pilgrims were awake at “zero dark thirty,” with breakfast scheduled for 5:15 a.m. and our motorcoach departing at 6:00 a.m. for the two-and-a-half-hour journey to one of France’s most breathtaking spiritual treasures: Mont Saint-Michel.
Rising dramatically from the sea, Mont Saint-Michel traces its origins to the year 708 when Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to Saint Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, instructing him to build a sanctuary on this rocky island. Over the centuries it grew into a magnificent Benedictine abbey and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe. Today it remains one of the most recognizable and inspiring Christian sites in the world.
Upon arriving, our pilgrims began the climb through the narrow medieval streets toward the abbey. Reaching the top is no small feat—there are approximately 350 steps leading up to the abbey itself, not counting the many additional stairways and inclines throughout the village. Some of our group successfully made the journey all the way to the summit, where breathtaking views of the bay and the beauty of the abbey awaited them. Others chose to explore the lower town, enjoying its charm and history at a more leisurely pace. And for those wondering—yes, even I made the trek to the top!
After exploring the abbey, we gathered for the celebration of Holy Mass in Saint-Pierre Church, the parish church of Mont Saint-Michel. Tucked among the village streets below the abbey, this beautiful church has served the island’s residents and pilgrims for centuries. Celebrating the Eucharist there was a powerful reminder that while the abbey draws millions of visitors, it is Christ’s presence in the Church that remains at the heart of this sacred place.
Following Mass, pilgrims enjoyed lunch and some free time to shop, explore the village, and soak in the unique atmosphere of this remarkable island. From its winding medieval streets to its stunning vistas overlooking the sea, Mont Saint-Michel offered countless opportunities for prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
Whether climbing hundreds of steps to the abbey, celebrating Mass together, or simply enjoying the beauty of this historic pilgrimage site, today was a day filled with blessings. As pilgrims, we were reminded that the journey of faith often requires effort and perseverance, but the reward is always a deeper encounter with the Lord.
Please continue to keep our pilgrims in your prayers as our journey through France continues.
June 12, 4:22 PM
Day 2 of the Saint David Parish Pilgrimage
Today we walked in the footsteps of one of the Church’s most beloved saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.”
Our day began at the Carmelite Carmel where Thérèse lived her vocation alongside her sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline. In the quiet simplicity of the convent, we experienced the contemplative atmosphere that shaped her spirituality and inspired her “Little Way” of holiness. We also had the opportunity to pray before the wax figure containing the remains of St. Thérèse.
From there, we returned to the magnificent Basilica of St. Thérèse. Built following her canonization in 1925, the basilica was constructed as a national act of gratitude for the saint whose message of trust and spiritual childhood touched the entire world. Its soaring architecture and beautiful mosaics stand as a testament to the countless lives transformed by her witness.
While visiting the Martin Family Chapel, the basilica’s newest addition dedicated to Sts. Louis Martin and Zélie Martin—the first married couple canonized together—I lit a candle and offered prayers for our entire Saint David family: our parishioners, school families, staff, benefactors, and all who have entrusted us with their intentions.
After lunch, we visited Les Buissonnets, the childhood home where Thérèse spent many of her formative years, before making our way to the beautiful Lisieux Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Pierre. Dating largely from the 12th and 13th centuries, it is one of the oldest churches in Lisieux and was the parish church of the Martin family. Within its walls, St. Thérèse prayed, worshipped, and grew in faith as a young girl.
We celebrated Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady, a particularly moving moment for our pilgrims. It was here in this cathedral that Thérèse received her First Holy Communion in 1884. Reflecting on that day, she would later describe receiving Jesus in the Eucharist as her “first kiss from God.” Standing in the very place where that profound encounter occurred was a powerful reminder of the gift of the Eucharist and the transforming love of Christ.
What a blessing to spend the day immersed in the life of this extraordinary saint who reminds us that holiness is found not in doing great things, but in doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us!
June 11, 4:14 PM
We arrived in Lisieux and had Mass this evening at the Basilica of Saint Therese. More to come!
June 11, 6:50 AM
Arrived in Paris, now off the Lisieux!
June 10, 6:59 PM
Today we begin an incredible journey of faith as our Saint David Parish Pilgrimage to France gets underway.
Over the next several days, we will walk in the footsteps of saints, celebrate Mass in some of the most sacred places in the Church, and entrust our prayers to the Lord through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Lourdes, and so many others. From Lisieux and Mont Saint-Michel to Paris and Lourdes, we pray not only for ourselves but for our entire Saint David family.
Pilgrimages are more than trips; they are opportunities to step away from the ordinary, draw closer to Christ, and allow God to renew our hearts.
Please keep our pilgrims in your prayers throughout this journey.
Know that we will be carrying your intentions with us and remembering you at every Mass.
Notre Dame de Lourdes, pray for us.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.