On Saturday 12 October 2024, 100 Pilgrims united for the annual 7 Churches Pilgrimage in Sydney. Organised by the Emmanuel Community in Sydney, pilgrims prayed at and learned about significant historical and sacred sites of Sydney.
The pilgrimage started at Mary MacKillop Chapel with a time of praise and prayer at the tomb of Mary MacKillop. Then began the walk across the iconic harbour to St Brigid’s, Millers Point, the oldest consecrated Church in Sydney where Mass was celebrated. Pilgrims then visited St Patrick’s, Church Hill, St Mary’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart, Darlinghurst for times of prayer and reflection. The long walk from Sacred Heart to the National Shrine to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick offered pilgrims a time of silence to reflect on God’s providence in their life. The final place was the Eileen O’Connor Centre where pilgrims prayed for the Cause of Canonisation of Eileen O’Connor.
“An excellent day of prayer, being with other Catholics, and reflection. I met some incredible people on this walk and it was special to experience the rich history of the Church in Sydney’.”
“I only knew my housemate, who I came with on the day, but at the end of the day knew many more others of all ages and walks of life and it was a blessing to have such diverse fellowship. The walk was really well paced and planned out, I felt I could just follow ‘blindly’.”