Dipping Into Hope: An Anchor in Stormy Waters Alan Hilliard | Messenger Publications

Pope Francis, in one of the final gestures of his papacy, opened the door to St Peter’s Basilica in January 2025 to welcome a Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church, bearing the theme, Pilgrims of Hope.  This is an invitation to look at the world through the prism of hope. Letting hope into our hearts and allowing hope to guide us in our thoughts and actions can bring encouragement and strength to those journeying in darkness and to all who witness the turmoil and suffering in these uncertain times.

Inspired by his ministry in a Dublin city centre parish and his time spent overseas with people from different cultures and creeds, author Fr Alan Hilliard has written forty reflections rooted in an outlook of hope, entitled Dipping Into Hope: An Anchor in Stormy Waters. Hilliard believes that hope isn’t just an aspiration or a distant reality, but can be found in the present moment, in the ‘bits and pieces of everyday life’ as the poet Patrick Kavanagh put it.

Each reflection tells a succinct story using often recognisable situations taken from everyday life. Although the word ‘hope’ does not appear in every reflection, it is implicitly referenced in the wisdom drawn from the circumstances and conclusions. Each of the forty reflections are accompanied by photos taken by the author. This book is an ideal companion for pilgrims of hope as we progress through this Jubilee Year.

About the author
Alan Hilliard was Director of the Irish Bishop’s Commission for Emigrants and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas and led campaigns to highlight the plight of forgotten of undocumented Irish in Britain and the USA. He was coordinator of the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Service at TU Dublin and currently works in parish ministry in Dublin city. His previous books with Messenger Publications include Dipping into Lent, Dipping into Advent and Dipping Into Life.