Iona: Day 1 (Christa van der Veer)

Posted: March 27, 2025

The adventure begins today! 15 CHC pilgrims gather this morning at the Glasgow train station, for our trip to Oban. We divide into five buddy groups of three women each. Our buddy names are the Angels, the Unicorns, the Classy Chics, the Brigid Brigade, and the East Enders. Our buddy names are aspirational. Ann says a prayer in the train station, before we board. Many of us hold hands, as we circle around her.


I have excitement in my stomach. I feel about 8 years old, contemplating riding my first grown up roller coaster. Many of our fellow pilgrims feel the same way. What will the next week and few days hold? We hope to find our way closer to God and the Feminine Divine. Undoubtedly, we will get to know each other better, which will be a great gift. We know we will experience a lot of joy together.


We have much travel ahead of us, in the next 24 hours. Today, we will take a three hour train ride to Oban. Tomorrow we take two separate ferry rides and a bus ride to IONA. We pray for smooth ferry crossings, as several pilgrims have motion sickness. However, we know the ferry trips will likely be on rough seas, due to wind and rain.



We look forward to all that is before us. We ask you to remember us in your prayers while we are on our pilgrimage. We send our love back to everyone at Holy Comforter. We have started our pilgrimage!!


–Christa van der Veer

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