02/09/2025
AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
Dear friends, I just wanted to share with you a treasured desire that I have held onto for 20 years that I finally have the opportunity to embrace - to walk the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James). This ancient pilgrim walk (over 1,000 years old) is the most popular of its kind on the planet. So I will be setting off from the south of France (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) to Santiago de Compostela in mid September as part of my sabbatical leave and just can't wait to soak up the entire experience (caminodesantiago.com.au)
But first I make my way to Rome (via Paris) this week to participate in the beautiful Mass at St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City State, with Pope Leo (and countless thousands of young people). This is because on Sunday two new incredibly inspiring young men will be canonised saints: Carlo Acutis 1991-2006 (carloacutis.com/en/association) and Pier Giorgio Frassati 1901-1925 (piergiorgiofrassati.net/en). These beautiful young men lived their short lives completely dedicated to God and the service of the poor. Such amazing stories!
Then I'm off to one of the most dearly loved Catholic Shrines in honour of our Spiritual Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary - Lourdes, France (lourdes-france.com/en). You just have to go there!
After a short 124km walk from Lourdes to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port through the Pyrenees Mountains I begin my Camino adventure. It will be totally unforgettable. I plan to add on the final walk from Santiago to the coastal region of Finisterre to make the entire walk 1,000km. Please pray for me that I can complete it all and have a truly enriching time on every level. I will most certainly do my absolute best.
All this mean I will be away for the next 3 months (until 28th November). I am so grateful to Fr Pat Austin who will be celebrating holy Mass at St Dympna's, Balranald, at 10am every Sunday and Fr James Kerr will offer Mass at Our Lady, Help of Christians, Tooleybuc, at 5pm on Sunday 5th October and 2nd November. Fr Adam Carroll will be offering Mass at 12noon every Sunday at St Fergal's, Hay. For any urgent pastoral care during this time in Hay please contact the parish of Deniliquin (03 5881 1482), Barham (0423 336 871) or Hillston (02 6967 1149).
Please be assure of my heartfelt prayers for the good Lord's abundant blessing on you all during this time. I can't wait to tell you all about it on my return.
