Unity in faith marks pilgrimage for Richmond Parish

By Catherine Sheehan

Unity as a parish community, and as the one, holy catholic and apostolic Church, was the overriding theme for Richmond parishioners as they made their Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Ross on Sunday 30 March.

Richmond Parish Priest, Fr Fidelis Udousoro, said the unity of the Church was at the heart of the meaning of pilgrimage, and therefore it was important for the parish to make a pilgrimage together during the Jubilee Holy Year.

“It is important because in the Catholic Church we are one, and we profess our faith in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” Fr Fidelis said.

“Just to be one with the rest of the Church, one with the Pope… just being one with the universal Church.”

The 48 parishioners who came together at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Ross journeyed from Richmond, Triabunna, Koonya and Sorrell, with some driving up to two hours for the special occasion.

They prayed the rosary together and then Fr Fidelis celebrated Mass. Following Mass, he led parishioners in praying the Jubilee Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father. The group then enjoyed lunch at the Ross Hotel.

The pilgrimage was an important opportunity for Richmond parishioners who attend the parish’s four Mass centres—St John’s Richmond, St Anne’s Triabunna, St Thomas’ Sorrell, and Koonya—to catch up, or even to meet for the first time.

For Louise Izzard, who has attended Mass at St Anne’s Triabunna for the past 55 years, the pilgrimage was a family affair. She travelled to Ross with her husband, children, and grandchildren, for the day. She was attracted by Fr Fidelis’ invitation for parishioners to step out of their comfort zones and try something new.

“Father was talking about when you make a pilgrimage, you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone,” she said.

“And my husband and I had a chat and we thought it would be good to make the extra effort to go to Ross. It’s about an hour and 45 minutes from where we live, and that’s a fairly long trip.”

She described the Ross church as “beautiful” with its “amazing” stained-glass windows.

The pilgrimage was “very successful” she added.

“Every now and then you need to catch up with other people from different parts of your parish.

“It’s nice to feel that you’re part of the group, part of the family.”

David Barker, who has attended Mass at St John’s Richmond for 42 years, said he appreciated the opportunity to visit another church.

“I saw a good opportunity to go to another Catholic church, and also the opportunity to meet some of the other people from the different churches,” he said.

“Everyone had a good time,” he added.

Fr Fidelis said the success of the pilgrimage was beyond his expectations.

“For us it was a source of unity,” he said. “Getting all the churches together and celebrating the Holy Mass as one, as the Richmond Parish, was a source of unity.

“It was such a deeply moving experience.”