Pilgrim Jubilee Pilgrimage There are many ways to find yourself on a religious pilgrimage. Mine was simple. My eldest son Flynn asked me if I was interested to go with him, and Deacon Josh was organising it. In a heartbeat I said yes. To walk with God in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi was a blessing, and to walk in the company of the other 19 pilgrims from our diocese was truly special. Witnessing the faith journeys of our youth filled me with so much hope for the future of our church, and being the Jubilee Year of Hope is so fitting. I believe the Church is growing in strength with a deep burning love of our youth. For me, having the support from my family to switch off from the day to day so I could travel in faith and prayer to Italy was a great gift and I love them for this. I experienced the joy of shared prayer and masses celebrated by Fr Dong in a different chapel or church everyday as we travelled through the countryside and villages. The time I had alone on the path, while I walked to my own rhythm was as important to me as my moments of shared stories and companionship of the other pilgrims on the road. No matter the age gap, each one of these companions gave me a gift and I am blessed to know them deeply. And my own son, his gentleness, his strength, and his love of his faith was wondrous to witness. Rebecca Bennett (fb)

Blisters, God and Community – Walking the Jubilee Pilgrimage We arrived in Italy full of enthusiasm and energy, our hearts set on the Jubilee pilgrimage from Assisi to Rome. Even before we began walking, we experienced the assistance and hope that comes from being welcomed in a new place. Rev Tara Curlewis, from the Uniting Church and currently ministering in Rome, met us, helped us store our bags, and guided us on a gentle walk through the city to see some of its main sights. That evening, we settled in for our first night in Rome before catching the train to Assisi to begin our walk back. This pilgrimage was never meant to be a checklist of locations visited. It was not just about the Cathedrals, streets, or piazzas we passed. The deeper story was about the spiritual, physical, and communal journey we were each called into. Pilgrimage is about change—the change we undergo in body, heart, and soul. For me personally, the physical demands of walking from Assisi to Rome had always worried me. The first few days confirmed my concern: I hadn’t slept enough, I hadn’t found a rhythm, and I wasn’t at my best. But those physical challenges experienced in the group—blisters, illness, fatigue, sore knees, a couple of badly sprained ankles—became important teachers. They reminded us that we can plan every detail, but there will always be moments beyond our control. One of the most repeated lines of the pilgrimage was, “Each of us will have the pilgrimage that God wants us to have”. It’s not about a God who punishes, but about recognising that the literal path each of us walks will not always be the one we imagined. Some in our group were unable to walk when they wanted to, relying on lifts or help from others. That is not easy for Australians—we like to be independent, in control, and self-sufficient. But pilgrimage breaks that illusion. There were times when it was hard to take even one more step. I was tired, unsure if I could keep going. But then I thought of St Francis, whose desire to reach Rome was not for his own glory, but to renew the Church. That task is not just his—it is entrusted to each of us, in our own unique way. This awareness shaped our spiritual journey. We celebrated Mass, prayed the Rosary, and spent time in personal prayer. We joined local parishes for worship, shared meals with parish priests, and exchanged stories of faith. We saw first-hand that faith is not contained in buildings—it is lived out by a pilgrim people walking towards God, making radical choices to draw closer to Jesus. On the road, we passed other pilgrims: scouts, parish groups, and individuals from all over the world. The greeting, “Buon Camino, Pellegrino”—“Have a good walk, pilgrim”—was more than a pleasantry. It was an acknowledgment: may you walk the Camino God has set before you. The community we experienced was unlike anything I’ve known. We cared for each other when times were tough—carrying bags, tending to wounds, offering encouragement. We slept in shared dormitories, learning to live with snores louder than perhaps necessary. We didn’t all walk every single step, but together, we walked the whole way. We lifted each other in prayer, in companionship, and, at times, physically. This Camino has changed me. It has given me perspective—not just on what I can do, but on when I must step aside and let God act. Pilgrimage strips away the illusion of control and teaches you to trust the One who walks with you. I hope I can continue to have a “good Camino” here at home, stepping out in faith, and living as a pilgrim here in this time and this place. Buon Camino, Pellegrino. God works—and He did. St Francis: Pray for us. Deacon Josh Clayton More sharing and photos from our Pilgrims will be found here https://bathurst.catholic.org.au/bathurst-pilgrims-return-from-jubilee-pilgrimage/ (fb)