In this Jubilee Year of St Francis, members of the Secular Franciscan Order in New South Wales hosted a Lenten pilgrimage from St Fiacre’s Church, Leichhardt, to the tomb of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in North Sydney on 21 March.
This marked the second consecutive year of the pilgrimage, with this year’s journey taking on special significance as it commemorated the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.
The day began with Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Lam Vu OFM Cap, followed by a pilgrim’s blessing before departure. Beginning at this Franciscan church also enabled participants to receive a plenary indulgence, a fitting grace during the Jubilee Year.
The 10.3-kilometre journey led pilgrims through parklands and along Sydney Harbour, passing through Darling Harbour and Barangaroo before crossing the Harbour Bridge. Along the way, there was a brief stop at the Sydney Fish Markets and a visit to St Patrick’s Church in The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest surviving Catholic church.
Praying the Rosary and carrying Franciscan banners, the pilgrims offered a visible witness to the Gospel in the heart of the city. Many people along the route responded with reverence—some making the sign of the Cross, while others expressed their affection for St Francis as the group passed by.
Upon arriving at Mary MacKillop Place, pilgrims spent time in silent prayer at the tomb of Australia’s only saint. This period of quiet reflection marked the spiritual high point of the day, drawing together the themes of pilgrimage, penance, and trust in God’s providence.
The region of NSW plans to continue this Lenten pilgrimage as an annual tradition and warmly invites the faithful to join in the years to come.
