Way to St James Cygnet Pilgrimage goes virtual for 2021
Tasmania’s own version of the ‘El Camino de Santiago’ (Way to St James) is on again in 2021 – but with a difference to previous years’ events.
Scheduled for the weekend of January 9 and 10 next year, the Way to St James Cygnet Pilgrimage will be a virtual event hosted online.
Fr Michael Tate, convenor of this popular annual pilgrimage, launched the virtual version this week.
“I would like to invite pilgrims to join our virtual pilgrimage. Anyone can join us; all you have to do is walk up to 15 kilometres on the Saturday, and again on the Sunday wherever you may be in Tasmania, Australia, or around the world.”
Fr Tate encouraged participants to walk in natural surroundings wherever they may be in the world, and undertake the walk in a meditative way – in keeping with the ‘real’ pilgrimage.
“We are offering plenty of online support to encourage our pilgrims. We will livestream the opening of the pilgrimage from Mountain River in Tasmania’s picturesque Huon Valley; pilgrims can watch my talk on St Francis of Assisi, ecology and the beautiful natural and cultivated beauty of the Huon Valley, and the highlight of the second day will be the closing ritual by way of livestreaming from St James Church in Cygnet.”
Pilgrims are invited to upload photos and videos of their own walk to the Way to St James Cygnet Facebook page.
“This will turn out to be a fascinating part of the pilgrimage and a great way to connect pilgrims wherever they are walking in Australia of beyond.”
Fr Tate said a large icon of St James will be saluted with a Spanish hymn at the closing of the event and pebbles placed at its base on behalf of pilgrims from across the world. Passports are available to those who register and complete their pilgrimage.
“I am excited about the prospect of hundreds of pilgrims choosing many different routes as their Way to St James Cygnet Pilgrimage.
“Let us counter the global pandemic with a global pilgrimage!” Fr Tate said.
Register for the 2021 Way to St James Cygnet virtual pilgrimage walk on Facebook.