Bishop Richard J. Malone is making his first pilgrimage to Ireland in October. (WNYC File Photo)

Bishop Richard J. Malone invites you to attend an information session about his upcoming pilgrimage to Ireland, A Journey of Faith, which will take place from Oct. 20-29. The session will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Msgr. Britt Room at St. Joseph Cathedral (50 Franklin St., Buffalo, 14202). Whether you have already signed up as a pilgrim or are simply interested in learning more about the trip, everyone is very welcome to attend. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while learning more about the trip itinerary and what you can expect to see and do while you're traversing the Emerald Isle. You will also be given information on what to wear, what to pack and what the weather will be like during your 10-day trip.

Bishop Malone has never been to Ireland, although his roots run deep in the Emerald Isle. "Of course I want to see anything that has to do with the beginnings of Christianity in Ireland, anything to do with St. Patrick. That's very important to me," said Bishop Malone, as he looks ahead to a 10-day pilgrimage. It's a trip for which he helped craft the itinerary to ensure that it includes spiritual renewal and reflection as well as many "must see" tourist sites, such as Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher and the Titanic Museum.

"It is a pilgrimage," said Bishop Malone, who intends to celebrate Mass each day. "I would consider it more of a pilgrimage than a tour, but it's both. There will be a great deal of prayer and visiting of holy places, but also we will experience all the other beautiful things about Ireland."

The double occupancy rate is $3,799 per person. It includes round-trip airfare from Toronto, hotels, ground transportation and most dinners and breakfasts during the trip. The pilgrimage begins with Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Armagh, the spiritual capital of Ireland for 1,500 years. In Galway, the group will tour the coastal city's narrow streets and old wooden storefronts. The Cliffs of Moher, on the Atlantic Ocean, will offer one of the most spectacular views in all of Ireland.

Day six includes a stop in the village of Croom in County Limerick. That is the birthplace of Bishop Malone's grandfather, Samuel A. Malone, who came to the United States in the early 1890s and opened a blacksmith shop in Hamilton, Mass.

In late October, much of Ireland experiences daytime high temperatures in the mid-50s. The weather will be appropriate for a walking tour of Dublin, which will include a stop at the famous well where St. Patrick baptized many converts. The pilgrimage will also include a stop in Kildare to follow in the footsteps of St. Brigid. At Blarney Castle, travelers will have the chance to kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence.

Each day includes Mass and sightseeing as a group but, on many days, there will also be time for travelers to explore on their own. "We are really looking forward to it," said Bishop Malone. "I think it's going to be wonderful. Everyone knows the Irish countryside is glorious, just beautiful, and I'm told the people are incredibly warm and welcoming."

To RSVP for the information session, contact Siobhan at 716-847-5560. For a complete itinerary, visit: http://bit.ly/BishopMaloneIreland.