Scotland Pilgrimage 2007

Almost Home

2007-08-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

It was hard to keep up with the Pilgrim's pace
It would seem they're running a marathon race
With rushing here and busing there
Any other group would be pulling out their hair
But this is a special group, a one of a kind
Our youth of St. Joseph's, a truly rare find
They'll miss the cathedrals, shows, and talks
The abbeys, "Brit" food, and all of those walks
The swims, the grins, and rests in the shade
The love and friendships that were newly made
The leaders, the followers, and the rest of the crowd
The tears, the smiles, and laughing out loud
Some valley lows but many mountaintop highs
An occasional storm but mostly big blue skies
Great memories tucked away, never to forget
Now on a plane home, the perfect sunset

Chris Metzger

2007-08-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday (continued)

The driver in London knew not where to go
So we rushed to get ready for dinner and a show
The restaurant--way far to distant from us
So we hitched a ride on a double-decker bus
Keeping twenty-one together was getting out of hand
Until Mary fixed Dawna's shoe with a rubber band
But Dawna's a trouper she never did fret
Her theme song's from Spam-a-Lot: "I am not dead yet"
Our seats at the play were way up in the rafters
we were sure we'd be dealing with nose bleeds thereafter
The theater was hot for the production of Spam-a-Lot
We all waved our papers or programs as fans alot.

Sunday

A blue sky and sunshine in London is rare
But God gave us our Sunday without compare
We saw all the sights from Big Ben on down
But no tea with the Queen--she was out of town
We wound up at St. Paul's for a high Church sung mass
Wren's stone we sat under was incredibly vast.
The organ was loud but the chorus sang pretty
We left there to picnic down in the city.
A real gourmet feast from Mark's and Spencer's Simply Food
Under a St. James Park oak tree was incredibly good
While Kelley and the girls laid in the grass in the shade
Brandon and Corey and the other boys played
The tunes from the band we all did enjoy
Charles led the boys kicking their Hackensack toy
We practiced our thank you's before making the call
with Hackensack skill we did not let the phone fall
The applause from St. Joseph's was heard on speaker phone
Someone had a few tears and they were not alone.
On Westminster Abbey Mary gave her talk
And out of St. James Park to the Abbey we walked
Westminster Abbey was open so enter did most
We walked down Victoria's Street for an English dinner of roast
Our worship went long but the youth were all super
Patrick and Chelsea got tired but they both were real troupers
We ended at midnight then rushed off to bed.
For early tomorrow off to Canterbury we head.

Monday

At Victoria's Station we boarded the train
Most slept ninety minutes their energy drained
We arrived at Canterbury and walked the city wall
'Til we arrived at the gate and saw Cathedral spires tall
The group was slow moving and their weariness showin'
We toured the Cathedral walked on knees up the steps
Then had a great service downstairs in the depths
Where Beckett was murdered and revealed as a Saint.
Many mountaintops were shared and not one complaint
Our last supper dinner was incredibly fine
sitting outdoors on the river under beautiful grapevines
We had so much fun that we missed the early train
It looks like we'll have a late night again.

Dictated by Fr. Marty from the train as the group was headed back to London. They leave London tomorrow morning heading home. There will be no report tomorrow. He will call when they leave Miami on the bus. But the expectation is they will arrive at St. Joseph's about 11 pm.

The Journal of the Journey

2007-08-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

The pages are getting thin
We're nearing the end of the book
The journal of the journey
That St. Joseph's Pilgrims took
We shared the youth's adventures
Through Father Marty's poems
No Harry Potter novel compares
To the happenings he wrote home
As the trip comes to a close
It's no where near "the end"
The page has turned for our youth
As a new chapter for them begins

Chris Metzger

2007-08-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

The Melrose Mob had a lot to do
A maddening pace of a motley crew
Racing the gauntlet to get at some eats
Then reflecting the pause with grass under their feet
The Pilgrims gave their talk and the tombs talked of the dead
Tours and tales and hotels to dread
The youth were anxious, anxious to roam
We are anxious to, to have them back home

Chris Metzger

2007-08-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Thursday(continued)

The "Melrose Place" extra made our schedule run late
But all seemed to agree: The addition was great!
We arrived into Durham about quarter past eight
Thanks to Roy at the college, who had the kitchen crew wait.
The bus had to squeeze down a twisty narrow street
the sides of the bus and the house walls did meet
Our driver courageous "the needle he threaded"
then we got off the bus straight to dinner we headed
With the cathedral rose window as a beautiful backdrop
we sat on the grass berm reflecting on our Holy Isle stop.

Friday

Moose and Danielle spoke on Durham and Cuthbert
Like most of our pilgrims they talked like an expert
We toured the cathedral and enjoyed it indeed
And stopped at the tombs of St. Cuthbert's and Bede
We shot straight to York for the youth to eat
And to have some free time to enjoy York's walking streets.
We met back at four for a tour of York Minster.
Jeremy, our tour guide--with tales a good spinster.
Two incredible cathedrals both in the same day
but the hostel wasn't as nice sad to say
The bland British food gave most of the youth sicks
The dorms were quite dirty "did someone say Auschwitz?"
We could have been miserable but laughed through it instead
All hotels look the same with the lights off in bed
With the late evening reflecting sandstone walls white
We worked on writing collects by the Minsters night light.

Saturday

The youth were all anxious the next morning to leave
We parted without needing to morn or to grieve
Our long ride to London is now done half way
The weather is perfect let's hope it will stay.

Reminder: The Pilgrims will be calling into the 10:15 service and all will speak during announcement time. Can't wait to hear their voices!!!

Quick update

2007-08-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

Fr. Marty called. They are too busy today for an official update. However he said they had a beautiful day visiting two of the most beautiful cathedrals--Durham and York Minster. Everybody is happy and healthy! More tomorrow!!

Another Chris Metzger Original

2007-08-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

A Dramamine bus ride and barfy B&B
All for the sake of a castle to see
The bangers and mash helped to save the day
Along with a frisbee and soccer in the field to play
Abbeys and isles were next on the list
3 miles no talking who could resist
A time to clean feet, a fun time for sure
Giving your neighbor a wash and pedicure
More abbeys and statues and touristy things
Then off to Melrose for the best ice cream

2007-08-02T13:31:00.001-07:00

Wednesday continued

A long afternoon headed South on the bus ride
Windy curves that made some feel not so good on the inside.
When the sight of the castle at Bamburgh came near
We knew that our stop for the night time was here.
A B & B hotel that's just renovated
Finding our rooms was a challenge and that's understated.
Up narrow stairways and down narrow halls
And hoping the luggage we dragged won't fall
We came down to dinner together to eat
Bamburgh bangers and mash--a real local treat.
Then down to the castle we walked up to see
The view of Lindisfarne on the North Sea
Then down to the park with the castle as backdrop
For frisbee and soccer a memorable rest spot
We shared our impressions gave thanks and then prayed.
Then walked up to bed as the sunlight did fade.

Thursday

We stopped at St. Adian's to make us aware
of pilgrimage history that fills Bamburgh's air
We then heard from Dylan and his report on Holy Isle
We'd be all at Lindisfarne in a short while
The weather was perfect for the pilgrimage walk
We walked the three miles without any talk.
One by one on the shore of the Isle did we meet
We acted as servant by washing each other's feet
Then up to the Abbey like pilgrims of the past
At the statue of Cuthbert a good outdoor mass
We drove on to Melrose an unscheduled addition
To tour the old Abbey and observe a tradition:
The best ice cream in Scotland at a Melrose confection.
We all did enjoy it thanks to the Wegners and Kristin.

Sidenote: The pilgrims are on their way to Durham for the night.

2007-08-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY CONTINUED

The water looked tempting to Hannah and Jack
So they jumped in the water with clothes on their backs
The stage was now set for the time after lunch
"The others will follow," we all had a hunch
Most youth took a dip, but with swimsuits on
It took some time after for their chill to be gone
Some went for a walk on our last afternoon
Inside all were sorry we're leaving here soon
As bad weather rolled in for the first time for us
A strong wind and cold rain made inside a must
So all packed their bags up right after our dinner
The youth planned our worship that was a real winner
Matt wrote a poem and others reflected
With Iona spirit we all are infected
With joy in our hearts and great memories to keep
With a short night upon us, we all went to sleep.

WEDNESDAY

Today a real sojourn, the longest one yet
We walked 30 minutes the ferry to get
Our load now much lighter, we moved with great haste
Though some of the "baggage" was inside our waists
The ferry to Fionport, the bus across Mull
Then ferry to Oban to meet driver Paul
We loaded the bus and then left without tarry
We made a lunch stop in town Inverrary

2007-07-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

Monday

A continental buffet was our food the next morning
And lack of its customers provided a warning.
So we rallied the troops to be ready for lunch
A baked potato bar they enjoyed a whole bunch.
The slow baking ovens gave time to absorb
The pre-lunch activity was a game known as orb
To keep the orb airborne became our concern
a positive outlook on life did we learn.
We walked into town for a tour of the Abbey
and gave them some free time so no one gets crabby.
A banquet surprise awaited at dinner hour
the table cloth covered with china and flowers.
The chaperones served while the youth pilgrims ate
But with guidelines to follow: "you can't fill your own plate
you must serve each other and fill each one's need
for yourself you take nothing, you can only receive".
A beautiful sight for the adults all to see:
the youth understanding "it's not all about me."
We walked down the path for the Abbey's night prayer
the Ceildh (pronounced Kay-lee) dance after
gave shy youth a scare.
But they all enjoyed it and had lots of fun
The youth performed on the stage before the evening was done.
Tomorrow's the last Iona day to discover
It's hard to believe the trip now was half over.

Tuesday

Today's Hannah's birthday and for a great breakfast treat
Fr. Stomski created a delicacy sweet
A casserole french toast that he used to make
at his B & B place for customer's sake.
We walked to the beach for a stretch led by Brie
the new Denise Austin she could turn out to be
the youth then reflected about leaving this space
Capturing the feelings they take from this place.

Love and kisses,
The Pilgrims

Sidenote: Fr. Marty said the weather has been incredible, although storms threatening while we were on the phone. The kids are great...some just went swimming and went back for hot showers. Tomorrow is the long trek and he will try to call when time and reception allows.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2007-07-31T04:05:00.000-07:00

Talks, ferries, luggage, and food
Buses and taxis moving the mood
Iona's experience is what you seek
Hiking high the prayerful peak
Journaling pens the journey's walk
Baggaged burdens in the water tossed
Airborne orbs the concern de jour
The Ceildh dance, the fun filled cure
Happy Birthday Hannah, 15 years old
The sweetest of treats and treasure of gold

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

2007-07-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY
Charlotte's talk on Iona was really a standout
The youth were amazed; she even had handouts
They looked at us all with a look of chagrin
"Her report was so good, prize money we never will win."

A three hour bus ride to Oban on the coast
Some watched the scenery, but dreams were seen by most
The adults shopped at Tesco for five days of food
While the restaurant Shenanigans gave the youth a good mood
Then carting the luggage up onto the ferry
Became quite a struggle with so much to carry

Across onto Mull, and then onto the bus
With all of our luggage the driver did fuss
To the west coast we made it and got off the coach
Then onto the ferry we made our approach
The lone highland taxi then came to the dock

When he saw all the luggage the guy was in shock
It took him four trips to pick all the bags up
We arrived at the hostel on pizza we supped
A misty rain fell in the damp windy night

As prayer meditations were read by flashlight
If you bought Pilgrim Stock, the value sure will make over
For tonight we began a true "hostel takeover"

SATURDAY
We walked to the top of Iona's highest peak
We hiked there in silence some prayer time to seek
A mountaintop experience with laying on of hands
Overlooking the ocean and the beach's white sand

We all then had free time to search and explore
They enjoyed it so much they left wanting more
Our late night together with prayer and devotion
Brought wonderful sharing with lots of emotion

SUNDAY
A great morning walk to the abbey to pray
Led by the youth for they all knew the way
They waved us all seats for the main Sunday service
Remembering new words for African hymns made us nervous

An epic adventure began after lunch
We departed at 3:00 hiking with the whole bunch
A nine mile hike down to Columba's Bay
We saw the Hermit Cell for we took the long way

Some detoured to visit Iona's marble quarry
Though it meant much more hiking, none of them were sorry
We arrived at the bay where Columba first landed
After writing in journals, together we banded

Each held another's burdens: A stone into the water to throw
We came up two by two and our "baggage" let go
We took the long walk home through fields and wild flowers
The total time hiking was over six hours

We crashed into bed by light of full moon
We told them to sleep in tomorrow we'll gather at noon.

Iona

2007-07-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Fr. Marty called us this morning and apologized for not calling with any update for the last couple of days. He has been busy cooking for the Pilgrims 21 and reception is poor except for a couple of spots on Iona. They are well and all is going great! When he called about 10:30 am they were taking the walk to Columba Bay and he looked at his cellphone and had reception so gave us a quick call. He is hoping to call tonight with an official update. Peace and love

Wish We Were There

2007-07-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

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TOO COOL
by Chris Metzger

Too cool for words, wish we were there
Lots of walk'n, and lunch'n, and lectures of where
Closer knit group, a reduction of flavors
Like the 12 unlikely friends of our Lord and Saviour
Iona, the place that will never be the same
As the group from St. Joe's is about to make its claim
"All" luggage in hand and smiles on the faces
Hello to the journey with love and God's graces

Days 3 & 4

2007-07-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

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Edinburgh
by Fr, Marty

Wednesday continued

In Edinburgh city is St. Mary's Cathedral
A 40-voice choir gave pilgrims a real thrill
They sang evening prayer from psalms through to blessing
To follow the service left most of us guessing.

We then went to dinner at Hard Rock Cafe
With the rock 'n roll decor in the usual way
Most opted for burgers , some for barbecue
An ice cream dessert, and then we were through.

We slept in a new hostel they call it Smart City
The halls and the rooms there are real itty bitty.
An extra "door prize" came to Dawna and Sharon
when they entered their room: a man jockies a-wearin!

The chaotic hostel was too loud for a meeting
So we went for a walk, for a park we were seeking
We found some green grass down by Holy Rood Park
the youth climbed the hill quick, before it got dark.

Praying psalms for our night prayer was a sight to be seen:
Shouting responsively across the ravine.
We walked back by moonlight, but stopped for a chat.
Our sharing revealed the good place everyone's at.

Thursday

The reports done by youth have all been quite stellar
like the one on St. Mungo the first day by Scott Geller.
Then there was Kelly - about St. Mary's well-given
Their intensity shows that this group is real driven.

This morning Edinburgh Castle - a short lecture by Matt
filled with such detail - even the guide tipped her hat.
Then off to Rosslyn Chapel with excitement from Kristen
Even though we were tired, each pilgrim was listenin'.

We did tour the castle, and sang in St. Margaret's and St. Giles
from the positive reaction, we must have been the first in a while.
We all had some free time to shop and to lunch,
it rained and turned cold but all enjoyed it a bunch.

And then off to Rosslyn the DaVinci Code treasure
Our post-tour Communion we enjoyed beyond measure.
A walk after dinner down to the Parliament green
The youth created a service in a beautiful scene.

We shared how we're doing as we finished our day:
it would be an understatement to say all are okay.

What an incredible day for everyone! Capped off by the arrival of Dawna and Brandon's luggage. Tomorrow off to Iona -- everyone is SOOOO excited.

Peace & Love,The Pilgrims

Day 3

2007-07-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

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Glasgow to Edinburgh
By Fr. Marty

Tuesday Afternoon

We went to St. Mungo's
our traditional first pilgrimage spot
We paused at his tomb, had midday prayer
then journaled a lot.

Two hours of free time
to walk Glasgow's downtown
the record low exchange rate
caused many to frown.

Some found a good place
for a small bite to eat
Some shopped for some knick knacks,
other shoes for their feet.

A haddock fish dinner
that tasted quite good
After night prayer and sharing -
to bed as fast as we could.

Wednesday

Most luggage arrived
by dawn's early light
The rest has been promised
to be with us tonight.

A change in our schedule
allowed for a pilgrimage addition
cruising to Inchcolm Island was so great
from now on it's a tradition!

An incredibly preserved abbey
known as the Iona of the East
we roamed all around it
after a small picnic feast.

A highlight for sure
was Charles' "umm" meditation
we sang in "one-accord"
in an acoustically perfect destination.

As a sidenote--We arrived in Edinburgh safely. Had a great evening together. Please offer prayers for patience for Dawna and Brandon since their suitcases have not arrived.

Peace and love, The Pilgrims 21

Days 1 and 2

2007-07-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

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Miami to Glasgow
by Fr. Marty

Ms. Estella Pino
The first angel that we met
at the Miami United counter
She was as nice as one could get.

A dedicated first class check in line
for our group of twenty-one
And with airport seeming empty,
in a short time we were on.

An uneventful flight
from Miami to DC
And when we transferred to our London flight
eighty boy scouts did we see.

They performed an impromptu can-can dance
That bought some uncomfortable stares,
Some asked, "Are they all on our flight?"
(It was more like we were on theirs.)

Yes, we were all on the same flight
A wide-body number 918
but they all had to sit in back
And for us "economy plus" was great
(Thank you angel Estella).

Our blessings seemed short-lived
for when at Heathrow we arrived
the flight to Glasgow was canceled
and for the later 11 am flight we then tried.

It was looking great
when the agent told us "Yes,
don't worry about your luggage
It's checked through-you can avoid the customs mess."

Even then it was lines through security, and then immigration
and more security still
But we finally reached the gate
with three hours left to kill.

In compassion for our trouble
they gave us vouchers for food and such
the pilgrims learned that three pounds worth
didn't buy you very much.

Then out of the blue with less than an hour
with energy starting to sag
the same agent came back up to us
and said, "you must go collect your bags."

"But you told us 'no' not long ago,
and now you've changed your mind?"
There's forty-five minutes before the flight -
you've put us in a bind"

But teamwork won the day for us
the pilgrims twenty-one
they girded up their loins and off
we charged from where we once had come.

A half mile trek to terminal one
we moved with a rapid flow
only to find when we arrived
we didn't have to go.

"You mean we've come this far without a need?
What was that agent drinking?"
The look and words from the supervisor's face
revealed what he was thinking.

So off we charged back through the lines
back where we all had started
we all arrived back at the gate
for last call and departed.

This more than had done us in
we boarded Glasgow bound
the entire group fell fast asleep
before we left the ground.

The adventure then continued
when we reached our destination
The airline that confounded us
would cause more consternation.

Our thirty-three bags did not arrive
we have no clothes, no rations
We've been awake now a day and a half
this pilgrimage is no vacation.

But the mood of the group is still so high
their endurance is beyond belief
They've gone to bed to rest their heads
some sleep will bring relief

What have we learned in just one day?
That a pilgrimage is not just "church stuff"
Its the bond that forms between the ones
united for a purpose.

Fr. Marty dictated this to Barbra Wegner and added a footnote that 27 of the 33 pieces of luggage have arrived and will be distributed to the pilgrims in the morning They are all sleeping now. Tomorrow they are off to Edinburgh.

Day 1

2007-07-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

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On The Way

Our intrepid pilgrims departed this morning on the bus for the start of their Adventure with weigh-ins, passports, hugs and prayers.

Godspeed and safe travel!