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After school is out in spring 2025, a group of us will journey to the Isle of Iona in Scotland. This trip is a pilgrimage that will take us away from our everyday lives so that we can encounter God in a beautiful and sacred place. On Iona, we will stay in the ancient Iona Abbey, home of an ecumenical Christian community working for peace and social justice around the world. Our days will be filled with time spent outdoors on the rugged, beautiful island, worship, good conversation, silence, shared meals, and participation in the life of the Abbey community. We will also spend a day each in Glasgow and in Edinburgh on our way to and from Iona.
Why visit the Isle of Iona?
Iona is a beautiful, rugged island in the Hebrides, off the western coast of Scotland. It’s tiny and has 125 year-round citizens. It is thought by many to be a sacred, holy corner of the earth. Founder of the Iona Community, George MacLeod, called it “a thin place where only tissue paper separates the material from the spiritual.” For centuries pilgrims have travelled to the isle of Iona in search of the sacred, inspired by the example of St Columba, a 6th-century Irish monk who founded a monastery there, and whose influence is felt to the present day in the tradition of Celtic Christianity. We will follow in this tradition of pilgrimage, leaving the familiar and going on a long journey to encounter God and ourselves more fully in a holy place. Our lives in New York City are so full of busyness, to-do lists and goals. On the other hand, our purpose on this pilgrimage is not to learn or do, but to walk, listen, pray, and be. We pray that this trip will disorient us in the best ways and help refill what is depleted in our spirits so that we return home renewed.
What is the Iona Community?
The Iona Community is a dispersed ecumenical Christian community working for peace and justice in Scotland and throughout the world. The Community was founded in Glasgow in 1938 by Rev. George MacLeod. A visionary and a social reformer, MacLeod was driven by a belief that faith is grounded in action. In rebuilding the ruined accommodation at Iona Abbey, trainee ministers and unemployed workers lived, worked and worshipped together. Their legacy continues today in the community in residence in the Abbey, which is where we will stay during our days on the Island.
Dates & Logistics:
Below is our intended schedule for the pilgrimage. Because we have not yet purchased flights, a few details may change -- for instance, whether we fly in and out of Glasgow or Edinburgh. But the basic plan is as follows:
May 22 – Depart NYC
May 23 – Arrive Glasgow, Scotland. Explore city and stay overnight at hostel.
May 24 – Travel to the Isle of Iona via train, bus, and ferry
May 24-30 – Retreat at Iona Abbey
May 30 – Travel to Edinburgh via ferry, bus, and train. Stay overnight in a hostel.
May 31 – Day in Edinburgh. Stay overnight in a hostel.
June 1 – Depart for NYC
But seriously, what will we DO during our stay at the Abbey?
During our time on Iona, we will be more focused on being than on doing. Our days will have lots of free time but will include opportunities for the following:
Meals & Lodging
During our time on Iona, we will be guests at the Iona Abbey receiving the hospitality of the Iona Community. Guest rooms at the Abbey are mix of quads, triples, doubles and singles, all with shared bathrooms. The rooms will be simple but comfortable. Shared meals will be an important part of our days together on Iona. During our stay at the Abbey, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided each day. Some lunches are packed lunches in order to give us the freedom to explore the island at our leisure. In line with the Iona Community’s ethical food policy, food is mostly vegetarian. Locally produced meat is served once a week at Sunday lunch. Local fish is occasionally served too. Vegetarian options are available at every meal. The Abbey can meet most dietary restrictions if given advance notice.
In Glasgow and Edinburgh, we will be staying in local hostels, likely in shared bunk rooms. Our meals in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and on travel days will be hostel breakfasts and lunches and dinners out in local eateries.
Costs
We are doing everything we can to make this trip as affordable as possible for students. While the actual cost is around $2400 per person, we have obtained enough grant funding and donations to lower the contribution for each student to $700. This includes airfare from NYC to Scotland and back, transportation to and from Iona, as well as lodging and most meals. We know this is a lot of money and would love to help you brainstorm around fundraising as needed.
Signing Up:
To sign up, please contact Becca. The sign up deadline is Monday, December 2 and a deposit of $150 is due at that time. We have a limit of 8 spots for students, so please don't delay in signing up as soon as you know you want to go. We plan to have an information session in the fall for interested students as well - stay tuned for details on that.
Small Group:
All students who want to participate in the pilgrimage will be expected to participate in a small group during spring semester that will meet semi-regularly to prepare for our experience and build relationships with one another.
Why visit the Isle of Iona?
Iona is a beautiful, rugged island in the Hebrides, off the western coast of Scotland. It’s tiny and has 125 year-round citizens. It is thought by many to be a sacred, holy corner of the earth. Founder of the Iona Community, George MacLeod, called it “a thin place where only tissue paper separates the material from the spiritual.” For centuries pilgrims have travelled to the isle of Iona in search of the sacred, inspired by the example of St Columba, a 6th-century Irish monk who founded a monastery there, and whose influence is felt to the present day in the tradition of Celtic Christianity. We will follow in this tradition of pilgrimage, leaving the familiar and going on a long journey to encounter God and ourselves more fully in a holy place. Our lives in New York City are so full of busyness, to-do lists and goals. On the other hand, our purpose on this pilgrimage is not to learn or do, but to walk, listen, pray, and be. We pray that this trip will disorient us in the best ways and help refill what is depleted in our spirits so that we return home renewed.
What is the Iona Community?
The Iona Community is a dispersed ecumenical Christian community working for peace and justice in Scotland and throughout the world. The Community was founded in Glasgow in 1938 by Rev. George MacLeod. A visionary and a social reformer, MacLeod was driven by a belief that faith is grounded in action. In rebuilding the ruined accommodation at Iona Abbey, trainee ministers and unemployed workers lived, worked and worshipped together. Their legacy continues today in the community in residence in the Abbey, which is where we will stay during our days on the Island.
Dates & Logistics:
Below is our intended schedule for the pilgrimage. Because we have not yet purchased flights, a few details may change -- for instance, whether we fly in and out of Glasgow or Edinburgh. But the basic plan is as follows:
May 22 – Depart NYC
May 23 – Arrive Glasgow, Scotland. Explore city and stay overnight at hostel.
May 24 – Travel to the Isle of Iona via train, bus, and ferry
May 24-30 – Retreat at Iona Abbey
May 30 – Travel to Edinburgh via ferry, bus, and train. Stay overnight in a hostel.
May 31 – Day in Edinburgh. Stay overnight in a hostel.
June 1 – Depart for NYC
But seriously, what will we DO during our stay at the Abbey?
During our time on Iona, we will be more focused on being than on doing. Our days will have lots of free time but will include opportunities for the following:
- daily morning and evening worship
- shared meals
- sharing in the practical tasks of the Abbey's communal living (including helping with cooking, cleaning and hosting)
- enjoying the wild and rugged scenery (including lots of hiking and a dip in the ocean for the bold and cold among us)
- joining a walking pilgrimage to St Columba’s Bay
- participating guided reflection and small group conversations around pilgrimage and Celtic spirituality
- creatively exploring issues of concern such as inclusion, ecological justice and peace
- enjoying creative art opportunities
- silence and contemplation
- a boat trip to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, including hopefully seeing some puffins
Meals & Lodging
During our time on Iona, we will be guests at the Iona Abbey receiving the hospitality of the Iona Community. Guest rooms at the Abbey are mix of quads, triples, doubles and singles, all with shared bathrooms. The rooms will be simple but comfortable. Shared meals will be an important part of our days together on Iona. During our stay at the Abbey, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided each day. Some lunches are packed lunches in order to give us the freedom to explore the island at our leisure. In line with the Iona Community’s ethical food policy, food is mostly vegetarian. Locally produced meat is served once a week at Sunday lunch. Local fish is occasionally served too. Vegetarian options are available at every meal. The Abbey can meet most dietary restrictions if given advance notice.
In Glasgow and Edinburgh, we will be staying in local hostels, likely in shared bunk rooms. Our meals in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and on travel days will be hostel breakfasts and lunches and dinners out in local eateries.
Costs
We are doing everything we can to make this trip as affordable as possible for students. While the actual cost is around $2400 per person, we have obtained enough grant funding and donations to lower the contribution for each student to $700. This includes airfare from NYC to Scotland and back, transportation to and from Iona, as well as lodging and most meals. We know this is a lot of money and would love to help you brainstorm around fundraising as needed.
Signing Up:
To sign up, please contact Becca. The sign up deadline is Monday, December 2 and a deposit of $150 is due at that time. We have a limit of 8 spots for students, so please don't delay in signing up as soon as you know you want to go. We plan to have an information session in the fall for interested students as well - stay tuned for details on that.
Small Group:
All students who want to participate in the pilgrimage will be expected to participate in a small group during spring semester that will meet semi-regularly to prepare for our experience and build relationships with one another.
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