St Joseph Men’s Camino 2026
A Day of Pilgrimage, Prayer, Brotherhood and Renewal
“Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them… is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock.” (Luke 6:47-48)
Step away from the demands of everyday life and spend a day walking with Christ alongside other Catholic men. Inspired by the ancient tradition of pilgrimage, the St Joseph Men’s Camino is a one-day, 25km guided pilgrimage along the beautiful Boyne Valley Camino.
Programme
7:30am – Registration outside St Peter’s Church, Drogheda.
7:45am – Morning Prayer in St Peter’s Church, followed by a moment of silence before the relic of Saint Oliver Plunkett.
We then begin our 25km circular pilgrimage along the Boyne Valley Camino.
Throughout the day we will:
- Pray the Rosary together while walking through the beautiful woodland trails of Townley Hall.
- Enjoy conversation and fellowship with fellow pilgrims.
- Spend time in reflective silence.
- Meditate in silence on the day’s Gospel using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina while walking along the peaceful Boyne Greenway.
We will stop at the historic Old Mellifont Abbey, where mid-morning prayer will be prayed in the ancient Chapter Room once used by Cistercian monks over 800 years ago.
A light lunch will be served in Tullyallen Hall.
Following lunch, we will spend time before Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration in Tullyallen Church. Priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation both in the church and, where possible, during the afternoon walk.
Returning to Drogheda, we will celebrate Holy Mass at approx 5:15pm in the Augustinian Church. Following Mass, pilgrims will have the opportunity to pray together the Consecration to St Joseph, entrusting themselves, their families and their future to his fatherly protection.
The pilgrimage concludes with an evening meal in the Marcy Hotel, followed by a keynote talk from Fr Mark Quinn, founder of the Men of St Joseph Fraternity in the Archdiocese of Tuam. Fr Mark will speak on “Spiritual Authority”, encouraging men to embrace their God-given vocation as leaders in faith within their families, workplaces and communities.
Practical Information
The 25km is recognised as part of the official camino, you can get a pilgrim passport from www.caminosociety.ie and get it stamped on the day. If you choose, the remaining 75km can then be completed on Camino Inglés in Spain to receive your official Compostela certificate in Santiago.
The pilgrimage covers approximately 25km and is suitable for men with a reasonable level of fitness. As preparation, we recommend completing a number of practice walks in the weeks beforehand to ensure you are comfortable walking this distance.
Please wear comfortable walking footwear that has already been broken in, together with weather-appropriate clothing. We also recommend bringing personal snacks and sufficient fluids to stay hydrated throughout the day.
All day parking is available at Drogheda Train and Bus Station for a small fee. Full parking information and event details will be sent to all registered pilgrims before the event.
Toilet facilities on route will be available at Old Mellifont Abbey and Tullyallen Hall.
Who Can Attend?
The St Joseph’s Men’s Camino is open to all men aged 18 years and over.
Leave strengthened in faith, renewed in spirit, and inspired to live your vocation with the courage, humility and faithfulness of St Joseph.
Cost
€65 (includes lunch and dinner)
Students: €55
Men aged 18+ only