Wow! Everyone talks about how good the Camino pilgrimage is. But there is a new kid on the block. Just 33 years old and a quiet achiever on the pilgrimage front, as every year the numbers swell. This year over 750 pilgrims trekked 90kms from Ballarat Cathedral to Bendigo Cathedral.
Now you must be thinking can anything good come out of Australia?
Yes there were some classic blisters, nagging body aches and an enduring feeling of why am I doing this, when I could be travelling via a tonne of metal in air-conditioned comfort. But as our spiritual directors reminded us on the route – don’t complain and offer it up for the souls in purgatory.
Alright I hear you, all your rello’s, are already in heaven. It’s an Aussie tradition to canonise our dearly departed as saints. Oh yes I can feel their gaze now as they look down on us from heaven. Unfortunately the Maccabees have a more impartial logic on this front.
Even if all your ancestors have made it through the pearly gates then don’t despair and offer it up for the first and last members of the purgatory queue. Let’s keep that line moving.
If you are into classic conversations then the Christus Rex is the place for you. They ranged from the priest who overcame more than 10 years in the humidity that is India, a drone driver from California, a French ex-banker that has visited over half of the countries on this planet to a bloke carrying a white cane and who sang an Irish ballad that had over 10 stanzas. What a memory!
Honestly everyone is a genius, you just have to get them onto their favourite topic and they will blow you away with their knowledge. It might not be on the academic front, but on difficult skills like humility, charity, compassion etc. Listen hard and you will find.
Onto the important subject of ‘grub’. Foodies would be pleasantly surprised on this front. Friday brekky consisted of every cereal imaginable. My choice hot porridge with sliced banana and a teaspoon of brown sugar. Lunch meant various sandwiches with a variety of fillings. For me curried egg sangers won through. Dinner that night had us choosing between a vegie lasagne and a curried stew. I had both (what a guts) but the caramelisation of the crust on the lasagne was the highlight.
Saturday morning we awoke to the sounds of various spiritual bugle reveilles. Now things got a little chilly in Smeaton town and fingers were not so adept at dismantling our tents in near minus degree temperatures. But we all got there. Must say the Gothic music chants during breakfast time rejuvenated the pilgrims no end.
Around midday was the pièce de résistance – Holy Mass at Campbelltown. The choir was sublime. You should have heard the local bird life chirping joyously amongst themselves after the end of Mass.
Pictured are just half of the eight paella dishes that were skilfully put together by the volunteers under the expert guidance of head-chef Gus.
Dinner that night consisted of a barbecued roast and potatoes. The gravy was magnificent. I always like to have a little meat with my gravy!
Sunday brekky had the majority leaving their usual porridge and cereals for the mouth watering wrap-filled scrambled eggs and bacon that was on offer. Must admit I did one hear one complaint on the pilgrimage, and that was the food was more resort like and not penitential enough. Well an army marches on it’s stomach and one doesn’t have to eat everything put before it.
Have attended the Sacred Heart Cathedral hundreds of times previously and this year I have never seen it so full, the place was packed to the rafters with a 1000+ congregation.
Twas full as a goog!