‘Life is a pilgrimage towards the glory of Heaven’
By Josh Low
A weekend of beautiful weather saw more than 40 pilgrims this year participate in the eighth St Patrick’s Pilgrimage, covering 40km over two days from Colebrook to Richmond.
Held over 16 and 17 March, the pilgrimage began with Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Colebrook celebrated by Archbishop Julian, who was joined by concelebrants Fr John Joseph Martin LEB and visiting Dutch priest Fr Michel Remery.
Following Mass, pilgrims began the journey on foot across hilly terrain before setting up camp in Campania for the night.
Eucharistic Adoration was led by Archbishop Julian, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation also offered by the clergy present to anyone seeking Confession.
The next morning saw the pilgrims make their way through farmland and continue on the journey to St John’s Church in Richmond.
Speaking to the pilgrims, Archbishop Julian encouraged them to reflect on how to live the faith more completely, and the hope of being united with Christ in heaven as their final destination.
“Knowing Christ is everything – He is the Way, the Truth and the Life,” he said.
“He is the meaning and purpose of human existence; the source of our salvation and the means of our eternal destiny.
“We walk this pilgrimage in honour of St Patrick; our walking is in one sense a parable of life -because life is a pilgrimage, we’re all on a pilgrimage, and our life’s destiny is full, final and complete union with God and the glory of heaven.”
St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute teacher cadets Meg Pinelli and Jenna Hollis came to the pilgrimage following an invitation from Archbishop Julian.
“It was a really good experience to grow in faith, meet other young people with the same beliefs and make new connections,” Meg said.
“I’ve never done Eucharistic Adoration before – I’ve been going to church my whole life but I’ve never participated in one; it was a new experience for me and one I actually found quite rewarding.”
Jenna said the opportunity to spend time in silence and prayer was what she found beneficial.
“There was so much time for reflection which you don’t normally have at home, so it was nice to have some quiet time to pray.
“It also feels like we’ve accomplished something really great,” she said.
This year saw several interstate participants from Victoria and New South Wales take part in the pilgrimage.
One of them was Cryste Degollacion of Western Sydney, visiting Tasmania for the first time after finding out about the pilgrimage online.
Meeting young people with a “burning desire to know Christ and on fire for the faith” was a highlight for her on the pilgrimage.
“It’s definitely physically demanding,” she added.
“But with the people around me and knowing there were others who were going through the same thing together, especially during this season of Lent, inspired me to keep going.”
“It has been a challenge but one that’s worth it.”