Footsteps of St Mary MacKillop Pilgrimage

Theme: New Beginnings
Proposed Mass: Mary MacKillop Chapel, Melbourne

• Tour the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre and Museum where we will hear the story of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and her life and work and the work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
• Enjoy morning tea at the Heritage Centre.
• Visit the birth site of Mary MacKillop and view the beautiful statue of Mary.
• Travel south along the Great Ocean Road for an exhilarating drive via Lorne.

Apollo Bay overnight (BD)

Theme: Wonder of Creation
Proposed Mass: Lady of the Sea, Apollo Bay

• Celebrate Mass at the beautiful Lady of the Sea Church, Apollo Bay.
• Continue along the stunning Great Ocean Road.
• See the Twelve Apostles, the magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria’s dramatic coastline.
• Travel on via the colourful seaside village of Port Campbell.

Portland Overnight (BD)

Theme: Food for the Journey
Proposed Mass: All Saints Catholic Church, Portland

• Explore the sites of Mary Mackillop including Bay View House & Stables.
• Celebrate Mass at the All Saints Catholic Church in Portland where Mary was once a sacristan. Also see here the stained glass window depicting the young Mary teaching her students.
• Travel out to Cape Bridgewater for lunch.
• Afternoon at leisure (optional tram ride or visit to the Botanical Gardens).
• Sunset drive option to nearby Cape Nelson.

Portland Overnight (BD)

Theme: Springs of Living Water
Proposed Mass: St Mary’s Catholic Church, Hamilton

• Travel north to Hamilton, where Mary MacKillop spent her time during the 1860s.
• Visit the grave of Mary MacKillop’s father at the Hamilton Cemetery.
• Celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church and meet some of the local parishioners.
• Travel into South Australia via Dartmoor where we will have a lunch break and view the Avenue of Honour, where Atlantic Cedars have been creatively carved to commemorate the WWI service men and women from the region.
• Visit Mt Gambier and the stunning Blue Lake.
• Also visit the impressive Umpherston Sink Hole with its sunken cave garden.
• Arrive Penola.

Penola overnight (BD)

Theme: Grace Through Trials
Proposed Mass: St Joseph’s Church, Penola

• Visit Father Woods Tree for morning prayer as well as the old stable at Mary MacKillop Park.
• Celebrate Mass at Mary MacKillop’s church of St Joseph’s.
• Explore the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre where we will have a light lunch. View here the finely crafted chalice that belonged to Fr Julian Tenison Woods.
• Visit a local Catholic family winery, for a vineyard tour and wine tasting or spend the extra free time in Penola.

Penola overnight (BLD)

Theme: Spirit of the Pioneers
Proposed Mass: St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Robe

• Travel to Robe this morning.
• See Kingston’s Big Lobster.
• View the stunning Pink Lake at Meningie.
• Arrive at the riverside town of Murray Bridge.

Victor Murray Bridge (BD)

Theme: Hope & Inspiration
Proposed Mass: Most Holy Redeemer Church, Murray Bridge

• Wander through Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Take time to take in the atmosphere of this lovely town.
• Visit Lyndoch for a late lunch with a lovely ‘High Tea’ experience.
• Continue to Barossa Valley for our overnight accommodation, if time permits, visit Maggie Beer’s Farmshop.

Barossa Valley overnight (BLD)

Theme: Abundance of Blessings
Proposed Mass: St Aloysius Church, Sevenhill

• Visit the Sevenhill Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in the Clare Valley.
• Listen to an inspired talk here by one of the local religious.
• Explore Sevenhill Vineyards and enjoy a wine-tasting experience.
• Enjoy time in the groups of Sevenhill Vineyards (weather dependent) to eat your lunch.
• Travel south to Adelaide, the City of Churches

Adelaide overnight (BD)

Theme: Peace & Reconciliation
Proposed Mass: St Joseph’s Chapel, Mary MacKillop Centre

• Begin at St Mary’s College Convent on West Terrace to pray in the Chapel where St Mary was excommunicated.
• Visit St Patrick’s Church on the site where Mary MacKillop worshipped from 1867-1871.
• Visit the St Mary MacKillop precinct in Adelaide, where we will celebrate Mass at the St Joseph’s Chapel. Free time to wander around the centre and visit the Mary MacKillop Museum. Optional walk to St Ignatius Church at Norwood.
• Free time this afternoon to visit the Adelaide Markets.
• Farewell dinner celebration.

Adelaide overnight (BD)

Theme: Empowered to Shine

After breakfast, the pilgrimage concludes and we bid goodbye to go our separate ways, carrying the blessings of our journey home.