Western Seeker

Theme: Spirit of the Pioneers
Proposed Mass: St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Geraldton

• Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Museum of Geraldton celebrates the rich heritage of the land, sea and people of the Mid West region. Discover ancient landforms, Yamaji history and
• culture, and the region’s unique natural landscapes and marine environment. The archaeological riches from four Dutch shipwrecks are revealed in the Shipwrecks Gallery. Continue on to visit the evocative HMAS Sydney Memorial. This National Memorial commemorates the loss of The HMAS Sydney II and the ships company of 645 men in 1941.
• We then embark on The Hawes Heritage Trail, which takes us on a journey to the buildings that Monsignor John Hawes created, where we will discover the fascinating story of his life and work. Monsignor John Hawes was a priest and architect who designed and built many inspirational churches and other buildings between 1915 and 1939.
• Visit the Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre Museum, where we can learn about the extraordinary man behind the buildings!
• Take a guided tour through St Francis Xavier Cathedral, designed by Monsignor Hawes and generally regarded as one of his finest works. Then it’s on to The Hermitage, a building designed by Monsignor Hawes and built as the Chaplain’s residence for Geraldton’s St John of God Hospital.
• After our tour, take an optional walk on the Esplanade along the Geraldton Foreshore, offering sprawling views of the city from a 360-degree viewing platform, spot the friendly local sea lions on iconic Seal Rock.

Geraldton overnight (BD)

Theme: Wonder of Creation
Proposed Mass: Mass Rock, Mullewa

• Departing Geraldton, we continue on the Hawes Heritage Trail through Wildflower Country, as we head west to discover small towns along the way. No matter what time of year you choose to explore this colourful and vibrant region – the backdrop is simply spectacular!
• Stop by the little stone chapel of St James Chapel in Kojarena. In 1934, Father John Hawes, who at the time was the Parish Priest at Mullewa, was asked by Bishop O’Collins to draw up a set of plans for a simple chapel. This “little church” in time, became the centre not only for the local Catholic community, but for the community at large.
• Nestled in the town of Mullewa is what is aptly named the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Monsignor John Hawes’s church designs. The Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel was built almost entirely by Hawes with help from local farmers in the district carting stone from the neighbouring quarry. Monsignor Hawes wanted his church to signify the antiquity, romance and quaintness of the old hillside churches of Southern Europe. He wrote to a friend, “my heart is in these stones”.
• Adjacent to Our Lady of Mt Carmel is the Priesthouse Museum where the visitor can find many photographs, art works, books, vestments and items used by Hawes during his time in Mullewa.
• Monsignor Hawes had a great affinity with the Aboriginal people and when he was appointed Parish Priest of Mullewa and Yalgoo in 1916 he began his ‘Mission Dolores’, an Aboriginal Mission. Because the Aboriginal people weren’t comfortable attending Mass in a formal church setting, he built Mass Rock, a shoulder of rock on the hill slope overshadowed by gum trees. Portion of the rock has been leveled to serve as an altar for the celebration of Mass. It is here that Monsignor Hawes would gather the local Aboriginals with the sound of a bell and encourage the young children to tidy and decorate the altar for Mass.
• We make our way south along the Midland Route. Numerous towns feature wonderful murals that depict the area’s history, wildlife and culture, mostly painted by local volunteers.
• Stop by Three Springs and take in the colourful murals around town. It is a beautiful little country town renowned for a its picturesque landscape and old style wheat silos. The Yarra Yarra Lakes nearby are home to various species of bird life including swans, pelicans ducks and the Siberian Stilt. Continue to Australia’s first talc mine, the largest talc mine in southern hemisphere and the second largest in the world. Take in the 360 panoramic view at the Talc Mine Lookout.
• Onto New Norcia – Australia’s only monastic town in WA, founded by Spanish Benedictine monks in 1847 with help from the Australian Aborigines, where you will see Baroque, Gothic revival, Byzantine, Italian and Renaissance architectural styles rising up between the eucalyptus trees and dusty scrub.
• Visit the Abbey Church, housing one of only two large Moser organs crafted in Germany and imported to Australia in the 1920s, and the old Flour Mill, dating back to 1879.
• A Deep Space Ground Station housing one of the world’s largest antennae was built near New Norcia by the European Space Agency. Learn the story of why it was built here and what it does!
• St Ildephonsus’ and St Gertrude’s Colleges are striking enough from the outside but the highlight is discovering what awaits inside! With your guide, you’ll discover interiors reminiscent of what you’d expect to find in the finest chapels in Italy.
• Take some time to wander New Norcia exploring sites of interest including the Art Gallery, the Museum Gift Shop, Education Centre with beautiful Aboriginal artwork, Mission Cottage, and the Heritage Walk, or take a more contemplative path and join the monks for the 1500 year old tradition of praying the Divine Office in their private chapel.

New Norcia overnight (BD)

Theme: Springs in Dry Places
Proposed Mass: Abbey Church, New Norcia

• Join the monks in prayer before heading south through the Western Australian Wheatbelt to the quaint historic country town of York, the first township founded in the Avon Valley.
• Our next stop is Quairading where we view the Pink Lake. At certain times of the year the left side of the lake is a distinctive pink colour while the right side remains blue.
• Leaving town we drive by the bank at Shackleton – it’s said to be the smallest bank in Australia.
• Bruce Rock is renowned for its plentiful wheat, lupin and barley crops, and Kokerbin Rock is an impressive granite outcrop 45km west of the township.
• Continue to Wave Rock and the small town of Hyden. This magnificent rock formation resembling a gigantic wave, was formed over three million years ago and is one of the most famous rock formations in Western Australia’s rugged golden outback. Explore the formation then take a short walk to discover Hippo’s Yawn, another fascinating rock formation and explore Humps and Mulka’s Cave to take in the ancient Aboriginal cave paintings.
• Settle for the night in Hyden – a town renowned for its rare white kangaroos, and interesting local history.

Hyden overnight (BD)

Theme: Peace & Reconciliation
Proposed Mass: Our Lady of Sorrows, Hyden

• Departing Hyden we continue our exploration of WA’s Wheatbelt following the Public Silo Trail, an ambitious project that has brought internationally renowned artists to regional Western Australia to transform a string of massive grain silos into works of art. We head south to Newdegate, where Perth muralist Brenton See has depicted, on an epic scale, the area’s local wildlife.
• We then pass through the small farming town of Pingrup, where we view a 25m high mural depicting the renowned Pingrup Races, its local farming community and agricultural heritage.
• Travel through the rugged beauty of the Stirling Ranges National Park, which has one of the richest areas for flora in the world.
• Then on to the Porongurup Range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, more than one billion years old. Head up to the famous Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park, where we enjoy sprawling views over the ranges.
• Continue to Albany, rich in Anzac history, and home to one of the most beautiful and diverse coastlines in Australia.

Albany overnight (BD)

Theme: Grace Through Trials
Proposed Mass: Holy Family Church, Albany

• Enjoy a guided tour of the National ANZAC Centre and Heritage Park. Discover Albany’s role in Australia’s ANZAC story, see the Brig Amity convict ship and enjoy a coffee break at Middleton Beach.
• Afternoon free to further explore this historic town on your own terms or relax.

Albany overnight (BD)

Theme: Healing & Restoration
Proposed Mass: Sacred Heart Parish, Pemberton

• Depart Albany and visit the Valley of the Giants to explore the canopy of the tingle forest along the beautiful Tree Top Walk.
• Drive on to Pemberton, where we board the Pemberton Tramway that journeys through towering Karri & Marri forests; over trestle bridges spanning rivers and streams along one of Australia’s most majestic rail lines.
• Continue to Margaret River, one of Australia’s premier wine growing regions.

Margaret River overnight (BD)

Theme: Food for the Journey
Proposed Mass: St Thomas More Church, Margaret River

• We begin our day with a visit to Lake Cave, where we’ll see spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and shawl formations.
• We then drive through the vineyard lined roads to our Margaret River.
• Visit a local Margaret River winery where we will experience the best of West Australian wines and enjoy a group lunch in the vineyards.
• Take in more of the region with time to explore the quaint town of Margaret River before returning to our hotel.

Margaret River overnight (BLD)

Theme: Hope & Inspiration
Proposed Mass: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Bunbury

• Leaving wine country behind we hug the coastline north and continue along Australia’s exquisite southwest coast to Fremantle and on to Perth.
• Visit the coastal town of Busselton to explore the historic wooden jetty. Enjoy breathtaking views above and below the Indian Ocean from the Busselton Jetty – the longest tourist jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and second longest in the world! Spanning over 1.8km, it is home to one of only six underwater observatories in the world. Ride the electric Jetty Train along the length of the Jetty, with 360-degree views across the ocean, and take a tour of the Underwater Observatory at the end. Descend 8 metres beneath the water’s surface to view more than 300 different marine species in an awe-inspiring forest of vividly coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals and fish.
• On to Bunbury to celebrate our last Mass in the impressive St Patrick’s Cathedral. After a devasting tornado in 2005 shifted the grand 85-year-old cathedral on its foundations and forced its demolition, the Church community, though devastated, gathered together in resolve to rebuild a modern Cathedral worthy of its legacy.
• Then head to the lovely coastal town of Rockingham to visit The Holy Family House of Prayer, which was established in September, 2002, after a statue of the Virgin Mary started weeping tears of a perfumed oil.
• We continue travelling further back up the coastline to the port city of Fremantle where we have the afternoon to explore. Visit the colourful Fremantle Markets, for the chance to purchase local arts and crafts and taste local delights.
• Bid farewell to your fellow pilgrim travellers when our pilgrimage concludes on arrival in Perth.

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