Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage – Formation Day in Cowra

Nineteen pilgrims from across the Diocese of Bathurst are preparing to take part in the Diocesan Jubilee Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in July 2025—an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of saints, deepen their encounter with Christ, and share in the Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis under the theme Pilgrims of Hope.

On Sunday 1 June, eleven of these pilgrims gathered in Cowra for a formation day, a vital part of the spiritual and practical preparation for the journey ahead. The day began with Sunday Mass at St Raphael’s Church, celebrated by Fr Garry McKeown, followed by a warm and generous morning tea shared with the Cowra Parish community. Their hospitality and prayers reminded the group that this pilgrimage is supported by a wider family of faith.

The heart of the formation day came in the form of a 12-kilometre reflective walk around Cowra. With its undulating hills, riverbank paths and rich natural beauty, the area drew comparisons to Assisi from those who had previously visited the Umbrian town. As the pilgrims walked, they not only tested their physical preparedness for the journey ahead, but also reflected prayerfully on the readings from the day—especially poignant as they approached the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp site, a place marked by both conflict and reconciliation.

The walk concluded with a shared meal in town, where pilgrims discussed practical matters such as packing light, risk assessment protocols, and the essentials for walking in a spirit of simplicity and attentiveness. Yet even these logistical conversations unfolded in the context of something deeper: how to journey not as tourists, but as Catholic pilgrims.

During the afternoon, group reflections turned to central themes of the pilgrimage: What does it mean to be a Catholic pilgrim rather than a traveller? How can I grow in my encounter with Jesus Christ—before, during and after this journey? How can I pray more intentionally during this time? How do sacred sites help form our hearts for mission? What role might journalling and silence play?

Pilgrims shared their hopes for renewal, inspired by the example of St Francis of Assisi and the call of Bishop Michael McKenna for the Church in Bathurst to walk together in faith and rediscovery. The Jubilee Year, with its invitation to reconciliation and mission, sets the tone for this journey—one not only of kilometres, but of conversion.

The pilgrimage itinerary will take the group from Rome to Assisi, through sacred valleys, hilltop monasteries and vibrant parishes, culminating in a visit to the tombs of the Apostles and participation in Jubilee events in the Eternal City. Along the way, pilgrims will be invited to walk slowly, to listen deeply, and to open their hearts anew to the voice of the Lord.

The Cowra formation day was a gentle but powerful reminder that a pilgrimage does not begin when we step onto a plane—it begins in the heart. As these nineteen pilgrims continue their preparation, they carry with them not only passports and walking shoes, but the prayers of a whole Diocese.

May their journey bear fruit in grace, and may all of us be inspired to walk this Jubilee Year as pilgrims of hope.