ECM Pilgrimage 2024 Reflection

Read all about the ECM Pilgrimage 2024 from Roby’s perspective.

After a much anticipated 4:00am departure, Saturday 23 March, myself and near twenty other pilgrims and crew set off for the epic voyage of 300+kms towards First Nations Community, Cherbourg.

Bishop Tim provided the pilgrims with a commissioning prayer as we made an initial move towards Musgrave Park and onwards to Ipswich passing Correctional Facilities in Wacol, reflecting and praying for the many ECM visitors whom were held there, and the many whom had had their time in custody in this location.

As we passed through the Ipswich CBD we made a pitstop at St Marys Catholic Church whereby we were welcomed by local priest and past ECM Seminarian community engagement missionary Fr Minje. He offered the pilgrims a huge boost in energy and encouragement as we pressed on to complete the first of seven days at a total of 55kms.

After a great night of community, celebration and reflections of the day at the Fernvale Hotel, the pilgrims bunked down in swags for the night at the Lowood Showgrounds being taken well care of by logistics leader Lucas McArthur and team.  Lucas led a convoy of two main pilgrimage vehicles, the NET Ministries sponsored 12 seater Hiace van with trailer, and the mighty Troopy with hybrid caravan hub ensuring comfort and provisions for all pilgrims. We are so thankful for their oversight of the week!

In the days that followed we would camp at the local campgrounds of the scheduled towns on the 7 day itinerary, along with a meal each night at the local hotel or pub. These included Toogoolawah, Linville, Blackbutt, Nanango and Wondai. Each town had it unique beauty and hospitality, providing a strong foundation for the pilgrims to build relationship, share rich conversation and reflect upon the common baseline that each pilgrim shared, the ECM front door at 19 Merivale Street South Brisbane.

To note a few of the pilgrims on this years 2024 ECM Pilgrimage; pilgrimage co-founder and ambassador Mick McDade, returning pilgrim Elder Uncle Joe Kirk, Indigenous Educator Marlon Riley, Bishop Tim Norton – Bishop Brisbane Archdiocese, Lachlan Furnell – CEO QLD Cricketers Club, Members of ECM and Emmanuel Community Board, ECM staff and volunteers, community partners, donors and a few honorary pilgrims Luke Wilson and Latreya Boundy, Cherbourg descendant.

This years pilgrim group created a tight bond and spent many hours in rich conversation, deep dives into social issues, Prayer and Lenten Reflections, Indigenous learnings and cultural conversations, right through to daily Facebook Live updates and visitor prayer reflections. This investment into relationship was life changing for all pilgrims and fast became a highlight of this walk.

The reason for the walk is not only to raise much needed community funds, however it is a long time honouring of our near 10 years of serving and building relationship with many First Nations Peoples, many of which have family or cultural connections back to Cherbourg. This walk expresses the depth of our commitment to these relationships and allows ECM to make its response to Reconciliation in our time.

A highlight for all Pilgrims was walking beside First Nations People along the way.  One of those being ECM community member Latreya Boundy-Saunders. Latreya is connected through family to Cherbourg through her mothers side yet had never had the opportunity to visit the community having grown up in North Queensland. We had only met Latreya a few months prior to the Pilgrimage via the ECM daily services, yet when she heard of the opportunity, asked if she could be considered to attend and walk to this very special place for her cultural identity. After a short discernment we agreed she should attend as a pilgrim, and each of the pilgrims would agree it became one of the many highlights of the journey, a young First Nations lady travelling back to a place of cultural significance after seasons of hardship and struggle, yet in a season of grace having found break through a fresh start to her future. This was an honor to see unfold!

As the days got more damp, four wet days to be exact, the sun showed its true self on the final day, day seven – Wondai to Cherbourg via the Wondai Forest. Uncle Joe Kirk, Cherbourg senior man led the final day through the forest sharing landmarks of cultural significance, sacred sites and his rich knowledge of his Country and Lore. As we passed through the various important crossings speaking appropriate words of greeting, we had finally made it to the sacred place of journey, Cherbourg.

Four of the pilgrims had completed the entire 7 days and 300+km journey - Lachlan Furnell, Jeff Hoffard, Bishop Tim Norton and myself.

We were greeted by an incredible audience at the Rations Shed hosted by Uncle Eric Law, along with Wooroolin Cricketing Legend and Qld Cricketers Club Ambassador Carl Rackermann and family, Cherbourg Radio host Arleen Langton, and family, Burnett Today journalists, Crow FM Radio crew and many Cherbourg and ECM community members all around. It was an overwhelming entry and completion to a profound 7 days of walking. 

The pilgrimage formally came to a close with a very special Good Friday Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Tim at the St Peter Claver Catholic Church in Cherbourg. Huge thanks to Aunty Janelle Carlo, Jodi Carlo and all the Carlo families for having made us feel welcome in our shared Catholic Traditional on a day of significance for believers. This was a simple yet most meaningful way for the 2024 pilgrimage to officially close and to give a prayer of thanks to Jesus for having sustained our group and made a way through all blisters, shin splints, soggy shoes, sore knees and anything complex the group was presented.

Huge thanks to so many of the supporters whom made this years Pilgrimage a life changing season; ECM home staff (Glen, Jean, Dave, Rob Senior) and volunteers and board, Emmanuel Community, Qld Cricketers Club, Mosaic Property Group, Renegade Roasters, Caroline Sarra Mt Maria College, Fina Ingledew, Jill Dunning, Mick McDade, Britt Kimber, Rob and Rita Curtis, Villanova College, San Sisto College, Aunty Ravina Waldren, Kathryn Curtis and kids, Maria McArthur and kids, and if I missed anyone – I will make it up to you,  and finally the incredible People of Cherbourg Community, forever in our hearts and prayers.

Pilgrimage – A spiritual journey, travelling to a sacred destination to experience God in a unique way.

This is was my experience…