Miracle Prayers Missionary Pilgrimage to Sydney

Travel across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the beautiful, lush Royal Botanic Gardens, Australia’s oldest botanic garden (established 1816) and home to an outstanding collection of plants and bird life. Enjoy a walk through the gardens and along the stunning foreshore of Sydney Harbour, to Circular Quay and the historic precinct of The Rocks. Spend some time exploring, including the renowned Rocks Markets, showcasing some of the best arts, crafts and food in Sydney.

Located in The Rocks is St Patrick’s Church, which has been a spiritual oasis in the city for over 170 years. Its history reaches back to the very beginnings of Catholic life in Australia and stands on the site of a home that housed the blessed sacrament in the early years of the colony when there was no resident priest in Sydney. It was a centre of prayer for the local Catholic people, who kept the faith alive until a priest was officially appointed to the colony. St Patrick’s was officially opened on 18 March 1844, a day after St Patrick’s Day, lest the rowdy revellers disrupt the liturgical celebrations. Spend some time praying here and attend the 12pm Parish Mass.

Continue exploring The Rocks and in the late afternoon take an iconic walk back across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to North Sydney and your lodgings at Mary MacKillop Place for reflection and prayer followed by dinner.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (BD)

Enjoy a morning of reflection at Mary MacKillop Place with a visit to the Museum and Tomb of Mary Mackillop. The Museum engages us with the remarkable story of Mary MacKillop (1842 – 1909), and the co-founder of the order of the Sisters of St Joseph, Julian Tenison Woods (1832 – 1889).

This afternoon, travel by coach to join with the Disciples of Jesus Community (Blue Mountains & North Sydney branches), for a Charismatic Healing Mass and time of ministry and fellowship at St Mary’s Church in the Parramatta Diocese.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

Begin with a morning Mass in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, located on the grounds of Mary MacKillop Place, and the resting place of Australia’s first saint. Engraved along the side of St Mary’s tomb are the words, “Remember we are but travellers here”, reminding us we are pilgrims on this journey. Take some quiet time to pray at the tomb and offer up any intentions you might have.

Visit Darling Harbour as well as the new harbourside precinct of Barangaroo. It was here that Pope Benedict was welcomed by the youth of the world when Sydney hosted World Youth Day in 2008 (marked by a plaque). A beautiful Stations of the Cross was also celebrated here during WYD08 with the spectacular backdrop of the Sydney Harbour. Enjoy lunch here before a short walk to St Brigid’s Church in Miller’s Point, the oldest surviving place of Catholic worship in Australia. We will pray a Holy Hour here.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

Travel this morning by coach to Eastern Sydney and stop at the world-famous Bondi Beach, frequented by visitors and reflective of Australia’s beach culture. Nearby is Waverley Cemetery, where we can visit Father Julian Tenison Woods’ grave. Father Julian Tenison Woods is known for his role in founding the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart alongside Saint Mary MacKillop. Situated on a beautiful plot of land overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this cemetery is renowned for its scenic outlook, as well as being home to the resting places of other notable Australians such as Henry Lawson, Henry Kendall, Dorothea McKellar, Jack Fingleton and Gwen Plumb.

Next stop at the Bali Memorial overlooking Coogee Beach, which honours the lives of the many Australians who died in the 2002 Bali Bombings. Walk along the Coogee Beach promenade, where Eileen O’Connor would have often visited. Not far away is her parish church of St Brigid’s Coogee and her home and resting place at Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor at Coogee. Eileen O’Connor, the co-founder of the Nurses, along with Fr Edward McGrath, is known for her life of suffering and service to the poor and has been proclaimed Servant of God by the Holy See, the first stage of the process of sainthood. Celebrate Mass here before returning to Mary MacKillop place for dinner.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (BD)

Journey West by coach toward the Blue Mountains, part of the Great Dividing Range of New South Wales renowned for dramatic landscapes and eucalyptus forests. The Blue Mountains takes its name from the blue haze created by the abundant eucalyptus trees, which release fine droplets of oil that scatter the sunlight. View the Three Sisters rock formation and see the spectacular Wentworth Falls.

Visit Cosi and Barbara Bastoli, founding members of the Disciples of Jesus Community. Celebrate a Mass together and enjoy a time of prayer and fellowship.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

Travel by coach to St Charbel’s Punchbowl which has recently become the world’s second shrine to St Charbel. At the opening of the Shrine in May 2024, 20,000 people flocked to St Charbel’s Church for the arrival of a tomb carrying a replica of the Lebanese saint’s body dressed in a priestly robe he once wore, along with a relic (a bone) of St Charbel. St Charbel Makhlouf is the much-loved saint of the Maronite community, which numbers almost 300,000 in Australia and 45,000 in Sydney alone. Today is the Feast of St Charbel, and we join in the celebrations with Mass and a Holy Hour.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

It’s time to go up the Sydney Tower Eye! Located 250m above the Sydney streets, enjoy unrivalled 360-degree views of the city and beyond. Look in any direction and spot the hidden gems of this beautiful harbour city. On a clear day you can see as far as the Blue Mountains! (From 10am)

In the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown, is the Eucharistic shrine of St Peter Julian’s Church, under the pastoral care of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, founded by St Peter Julian Eymard, known as the ‘apostle of the Eucharist’. The Church in Haymarket was first established in 1953, and the religious community of priests and brothers live in the monastery attached to the Church. Spend some time in Adoration here.

This afternoon we visit St Mary’s Cathedral, a grand beauty built of local sandstone in the Gothic Revival architectural style reminiscent of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe. Take in the magnificent stained-glass windows and treasures of the crypt with a guided tour. Construction of the cathedral began in 1868 and was completed in several stages over the course of many decades, with the final touches, including the spires added in the early 21st century. We will celebrate a healing Mass here this evening.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

After our early morning Mass at Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, begin our day with a walking tour of the Sydney Opera House. This special guided tour takes you beneath the magnificent sails of Australia’s most unique building, inside its spaces to discover the spaces and history up close and personal. (From 9am)

Wander from the Opera House to Circular Quay to catch a ferry to Manly. Since 1855, the famous Manly Ferry has been running from Circular Quay. Take this ferry ride and enjoy a view of the fascinating foreshores of Sydney Harbour along the way. Manly is known for its beaches and seaside. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon here before catching the ferry back.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (B)

Today we join with the Disciples of Jesus Sydney South Community at their Sunday Gathering, where we have been invited to run a Miracle Prayers healing service. Meet members of the Community and attend the Missionaries of God’s Love Parish Mass. Return to Mary MacKillop Place for our final group dinner.

Mary MacKillop Place, Sydney overnight (BD)

After breakfast, we farewell Sydney and travel to Sydney Domestic Terminal to catch our flight to Perth. (B)