Each year, the Emmanuel City Mission Pilgrimage offers more than just a walk — it’s a spiritual journey of reflection, solidarity, and purpose. For Director Roby Curtis, this year’s pilgrimage was a powerful reminder of why ECM exists and who we walk alongside every day.

In his own words, Roby shares a personal reflection on the experience — from the moments of quiet prayer to the conversations with visitors, supporters, and volunteers that brought the journey to life. Through blisters, breakthroughs, and a shared sense of mission, the 2025 Pilgrimage became a moving testament to community, compassion, and faith in action.

Dry feet, what a blessing!

Well at the end of our third annual ECM Pilgrimage to Cherbourg, I can give thanks for another incredible journey with brothers and sisters whom have once again truly become family. If our common ground servicing at the front door of ECM wasn’t enough, we have hurt, bled, shared vulnerably, welcomed the sun each day, laughed cried, prayed continuously, all while putting in extraordinary efforts to achieve great distance and personal goals underfoot.

I am so pleased to share that this year six pilgrims were graced to have completed the entire 300+kms, embracing the highs and lows, and all done in a spirit of prayer and reverence for our visitors whom walk in our front door daily.

As always the Cordelia Street facility is open daily throughout the pilgrimage, and we cross live numerous times in the day to the main screen at ECM to ensure that our visitors are on the journey with us, and their needs and intentions are heard and carried with us.

Huge word of gratitude to the team that opened the front door as the pilgrims set out for the seven days; thank you Glen, Jean, Jill, Joseph, Dan, Matt, John and all the volunteers whom gave of their time with a skinnier team that week! You are our mission, you are the keepers of the integrity and I am eternally grateful for the release to fulfil this pilgrimage mission each Holy Week!

Whilst our pilgrims are a good mix of ECM staff, regular volunteers, visitors, supporters and partners, it’s always so humbling to share a week such as this with what fast becomes friends and companions. I’d like to take this opportunity to honour the core team; Tim Noonan, Lisa Forbes, Jeff Hoffard and Lucas McArthur. Each of these pilgrims play a vital role in the contract of the journey, and they embody the pilgrims spirit and the intention of this particular experience.

Outside of the core team, I’d like to pay tribute to the most senior pilgrims who complete the entire journey, good friend, fellow missionary, Shepherd of our city, father to many, fellow pilgrim, Pastor Glen Cochrane. Both he and his family and congregation have impacted hundreds of vulnerable lives through their constant giving of time and treasure. Pastor Glen volunteers every Wednesday at ECM, so he is accustomed to our front door and the many of whom he walked in their honour.

I got to see Glen chart out from day 1 with many of his congregational members behind him cheering him on the street out of South Brisbane, right through to walking him towards Ipswich. Pastor Glen had an overwhelming notion of support through his personal fundraising contributions, exceeding his target numerous times and enabling mission as he walked.

Pastor Glen felt the pinch of a very long first day beyond Ipswich, all the while embracing profound conversations, impacting many wisdoms and contributing in prayer. All pilgrims came to see his determined and trusting spirit unfold in the days that followed as he embraced much physical pain and discomfort, all the while internalising and pressing on towards the next target or destination. Glen carried a spirit of joy and positivity, and enabled other pilgrims to press on towards their goal and to be encouraged to pull up if required, reassuring them of the heart of pilgrimage.

To see Pastor Glen humbly hobble victorious into Cherbourg on the final day led by Indigenous Elder Uncle Joe Kirk and the swag of pilgrims, was an absolute gift, and it was no surprise that Glen had a personal welcoming group of people, a local family whom he knew who came to cheer him on. This says it all, this is who this brother is, and we are richly blessed by his many roles he plays in the ECM family and beyond.

A very complimentary highlight on the final day was at our breakfast pit stop in Wondai, whereby in their usual fashion both Lucas and fellow support crew Peter Gabauer would grace the team with Australia’s finest breaky burritos, Renegade Roasters cold press coffee and many other much needed resources.

A man named Mark lined up for a breaky with the pilgrims. Mark was with his little pet dog and he exclaimed to the group that ECM helped him years ago when he was in Brisbane, homeless. Mark was living at the free camp in Wondai, and he described meeting many others along his journey in this part of the world whom had walked through our ECM front door over the years. This came as an important reminder to me of the power and breadth of the reach of the team at ECM over the past number of years. Mark was not an isolated incident, we met others along our way whom also testified to having been supported by ECM, one whose life is turned around and working in one of the towns we stayed. This was such a rich pilgrimage blessing for the team to celebrate in light of long days and sore feet.

Luke Wilson from our ECM staff and long term lived experience member was able to assist a single mother who was living with her daughter in a car at another free camp earlier in the week. This lady saw the new ECM van with it vinyl wrap, fresh off the showroom floor, compliments of the Gambling Benefit Community Fund super round (a grant successful under the legend and pilgrimage co-founder Mick McDade), whereby she approached the pilgrims earlier that morning for assistance. Luke with consultation, actioned a very kind gesture of provision and allowed this lady to at least put a tank of fuel in her car which she saw as beneficial in the midst of rural crisis. What a blessing to be with like minded, full time pilgrims, who live our mission, kindness and bold service in their day to day lives. This provoked very vulnerable conversation and prayer along the trail that followed.

Its at this time that I wish to pay my respects to my many First Nations brothers and sisters whom have lit a fire in my life over the years, always resulting in friendship and deep mutual respect. I pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and to a future filled with deeper cultural understanding and value. From the next door neighbours, the Donald family, to my Arrente family in the desert, I honour you through this walk, each step is for you and your bloodlines.

Next year we will set off on our fourth pilgrimage leaving from Emmanuel City Mission on Palm Sunday 2026. This year will mark 40 years since Saint John Paul II visited Australia and paid respects to the First Nations brothers and sisters in Alice Springs. Alice Springs is the clue to what will be an extended pilgrimage post Cherbourg next April, and I look forward to officially sharing that with you in coming months!

To my wife Kathryn and my children, thank you for coming out every night to have dinner at the local hotel or pub, the many kilometres and efforts you made, and for joining us to ensure we are a family on mission on the final two nights, this completes the journey for me, and this is what keeps Emmanuel City Mission one big family where everyone belongs.

To the people of Cherbourg, Aunty Janelle Carol and families, Ellie Douglas and families, Pastor Max Conlan and AIM community, St Peter Claver Catholic community, thank you for the simple welcome and time shared.

To cricketing legend Carl Rackermann, Qld Cricketers Club ambassador connected through 2024 pilgrim and QCC CEO Lachlan Furnell, we appreciate your presence and hosting us on our final night at The Grand Hotel in Wooroolin, your hospitality and support has enriched this pilgrimage in ways only friendship is able.

To the poor of this city, we took your every need with us each day, and all we do is to love and honour you.

Much love

Roby

Walking with purpose