24/12/2025
Relections on the Pilgrim walk
PILGRIMAGE REFLECTIONS
✍️ Roberto Archie Riconalla Carampatan
Heat Index Warning & Fly Swarming – a pilgrim’s tale
13/12/25. In my three years now in Western Australia, I have never been warned on heat index until today when I got warned more than twice. Honestly the warning didn’t bother me at all as I travelled towards Bunbury from Dunsborough for the Diocesan Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was only a 2-kilometer walk from Hayward Street Carpark, Ocean Road, South Bunbury to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Money Street. Moreover, the timing was perfect: 9 o’clock in the morning, before the sun could be scorching.
The 2-km (45 min) walk started on the dot! Thanks to the Pilgrimage Committee (head: Fr. Christian of Dawesville Parish; members: Fr. Archie of Dunsborough Parish; Fr. Joel of Albany Parish, and Fr. Mars of Harvey Parish) who never left a stone unturned to make the event memorable and meaningful.
If the heat index warning did not scare me, it was the swarming of flies that put me on the edge. I take pride that as of this writing, I have never swallowed a fly yet. I have been told that I could only be fully acclimated in Australia when I would get three “Welcome to Australia!” after any of the many peculiar Australian incidents. I got my first “Welcome to Australia!” after surviving a vehicular accident in November 2024. I got my second when I evacuated the parish grounds from an approaching bushfire in Feb 2025. Swallowing a fly would be my third welcome! But not yet, and I am not in a hurry! (To friends outside Australia, please be aware that flies in Australia behave differently: they swarm and crawl on your face! I am still looking for a store that sells hats with a net drape.)
Not swallowing a fly during the pilgrimage was a real feat, a little miracle actually. I was asked to lead the rosary during the walk: mic on my right hand; left fingers were the beads. I could not keep my mouth shut because I was leading the rosary. I only had my left hand, to ward off the swarming flies. I reckon, my time to get my third welcome is not due yet!
But the real miracle I witnessed this morning was something quiet and gentle: my heightened awareness of the presence of my fellow pilgrims: young and old representing different parishes in the diocese, and the presence of people in the area who noticed our presence – some of whom smiled and waved at us.
Sometimes, we can be so distracted by warnings of every kind, that can dampen our spirits. Or we can be overwhelmed by various concerns swarming our heart and mind, so much so that we grow oblivious of the presence of one another.
This morning’s short, yet meaningful pilgrimage was for me an experience of being reminded of how important it is to take notice, and appreciate, each other’s presence, especially as our Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop George, looks forward to 2026 where all is called to connect deeply with one another. Connectivity presupposes presence. Hence, presence is crucial!
As the Jubilee Year of Hope approaches its final date to end, I look forward to the immediate future with much hope. I am hopeful that the journey ahead is never a lonely travel because I have the presence of my fellow pilgrims.
