BALLINA, Ireland – A nine-day Diocesan pilgrimage to Ireland, led by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, offered more than 50 travelers an opportunity to deepen their faith while exploring the country’s rich Catholic heritage and learning more about longstanding connections to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Organized in partnership with TravelWorld, the pilgrimage took place Sept. 20-28, 2026, with stops in Dublin, Ballina, Westport, Galway, Connemara, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Blarney and other destinations.
Besides the Bishop, the pilgrimage group included Father Gerald W. Shantillo, Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton; Father Andrew Hvozdovic, Diocesan Coordinator of Pilgrimages; and Father Jeffrey Tudgay, Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Immaculate Conception Parishes in Scranton.
One of the trip’s most significant highlights was a visit to Ballina, County Mayo, Scranton’s sister city since 1990.
On Sept. 22, Bishop Bambera and the pilgrims celebrated Mass at Saint Muredach’s Cathedral before visiting the Clarke Museum of Irish History, where they met local civic and tourism representatives and learned more about the generations of family, cultural and community connections linking the two communities.
The pilgrimage also included a visit to the Father Peyton Center in Attymass, which shares the life and mission of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. Born in Ireland in 1909, Father Peyton became internationally known for promoting family prayer and maintained important ties to Scranton, where he worked at the Cathedral of Saint Peter before entering the seminary.
The pilgrimages also visited the Knock Shrine, one of the world’s major Marian pilgrimage sites, commemorating the reported apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1879. Other highlights included the scenic Connemara region, Mass at Galway Cathedral, the dramatic Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle.
The pilgrimage concluded with a visit to Dublin, where the group celebrated Mass at Saint Mary’s Pro Cathedral on Sept. 27, the final full day of the journey.