moree pilgrimige

St Francis Xavier Pilgrimige

April 2023

Just after Easter, four parishioners from St Francis Xavier Moree, accompanied by Father Damien Locke, set off on pilgrimage for the United Arab Emirates, the Holy Land and Italy.

The preparations started several months prior with some group formation sessions which included understanding the difference between a holiday and a pilgrimage and some familiarisation of the places to be visited.

They started their journey in Dubai where they visited four parishes and were inspired by how vibrant the Church is in this part of the world. They visited Father Damien’s former parish of St Francis of Assisi, Jebel Ali and it was a great joy to be able to see him celebrate Mass there for the first time.

In Dubai they were joined by Father Damien’s long term friend from Uralla, Jo Darnell (nee Miller) for the remainder of the pilgrimage. They then set off for Israel where they spent 3 nights in Galilee exploring sites such as the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha and Mount Tabor and 3 nights in Jerusalem where they visited the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem and Jerusalem and celebrated some very moving Masses in the Grotto of Gethsemane, the Shepherd’s Field and the Upper Room to name but a few.

The final leg of their pilgrimage took them to Italy where they were joined by Father Damien’s colleague from the seminary, Father Tony Grant. In Rome they were blessed to stay at Father Damien’s alma mater, the Pontifical College of Saint Bede, just opposite the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. From there they were able to explore the four papal basilicas of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major, celebrating Mass in the Chapel of the Lithuanian Saints in Saint Peter’s.

The Bursar from the Beda College took them behind the scenes for a look around the Vatican Gardens and they also embarked upon the Scavi Tour in the necropolis beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica and were able to pray before the remains of Saint Peter – incredible! They also managed a visit to the Catacombs of Saint Callista where they celebrated a Mass for all of their deceased family members and friends before a very moving visit to the Ardeantine Caves – the site of a mass killing of 335 civilians in Rome in 1944 by German occupation troops during the WW2.

From Rome they travelled north to Tuscany to the quant village of Poppi to visit Father Damien’s former parish priest and good friend from Dubai, Father Eugene Mattioli OFMCap. It was such a joy for Father Damien to celebrate Mass with Father Eugene for the first time. They then embarked on a journey in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi travelling to Mount Laverna, the site where Saint Francis received the stigmata and finally to the beautiful town of Assisi. The entire experience was most remarkable and on Sunday 18th June, they were delighted to be able to share the experience with a large gathering of parishioners back in Moree. It is hoped that Father Damien will be able to arrange another similar pilgrimage in the not too distant future.