Pilgrimage ‘a time of grace, forgiveness and spiritual renewal’

By Wendy Shaw

The driving time between Riverside and the Westbury Catholic Church in Northern Tasmania is the perfect distance to pray the Rosary, as West Tamar parishioners discovered when they embarked on a pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Hope.

Maria Amore has been a West Tamar parishioner for 70 years. She hadn’t been on a pilgrimage since her secondary school days when students from Sacred Heart in Launceston used to make ‘absolutely amazing’ annual visits to the Carmelite nuns who were then based at Longford.

“That experience contributed to what my faith is today,” Mrs Amore said.

“There was lovely singing and prayer and playing. As an adult, I did not know what to expect from a pilgrimage.”

What struck her the most after visiting Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Westbury, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, was the belief that “God’s church will never end”.

“The church at Westbury is old – I got the feeling this is 150 years of faith in that church – and it was almost like, ok, we are continuing it. It is never ending.”

Mrs Amore carpooled to Westbury with Jadwiga Izbicki – “a 92-year-old lady who does everything for our church” – and parish priest Fr Martin Aye Ngwe.

“Usually, on pilgrimage you are praying as you walk to your destination. And in car you feel you are lacking as you do not have a few hundred people around you. But if you have to drive, you might as well go with the perfect solution and the distance was perfect for one rosary there and one rosary back. It was extraordinary.”

Mrs Amore was one of about 80 West Tamar pilgrims who visited Westbury on the Feast of Holy Trinity, on June 15, where Fr Martin celebrated Mass.

He said afterwards: “For us in this Jubilee Year of Hope, if we can, we have to go to St Peter’s Basilica [at the Vatican] to enter the Jubilee Door, but we can’t go there, so we organise this pilgrimage.

“It is a time of grace, forgiveness and spiritual renewal. It invites the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, seek repentance, forgive others, and deepen their relationship with God.

“During the Holy Mass, we were nourished with the spiritual food by the body, blood, soul and divinity. After the Mass, we all got together for lunch in the parish hall and shared our food by bringing a plate.”

Parishioner Bruce Nash, of Trevallyn, said it was a perfect day and the Westbury church was ‘absolutely beautiful’. In fact he was so taken with it that he hopes to have two of his grandchildren, who live overseas, baptised there when they visit at Christmas.

Mr Nash added that the pilgrimage was “a coming together for all people”.

“It is a great thing and to take it to a church outside our parish was also a marvellous idea,” he said.

“It was on Holy Trinity Day and to find a Holy Trinity Church was job well done for Fr Martin.”

Parish Pastoral Council chairman Brett Henry, of Riverside, said the pilgrims enjoyed a wonderful time at Mass and afterwards sharing fellowship over a meal.

“It was a cold, lovely day in winter in Tasmania and it was a great time to bring the parish together, celebrate Mass together and share meal together,” he said.

Fr Martin thanked Meander Valley Parish Priest Fr Ben Brooks for his support with the pilgrimage.