Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 43 Sandhurst Diocese Pilgrims A key focus for SYM in 2023 was the Sandhurst Pilgrimage to the 27th World Youth Day festival event in Lisbon (1-6 August). The pilgrimage was coordinated and led by Ruth Lawlor. Ruth’s leadership was strengthened by the appointment of Fr Jackson Saunders as Chaplain and Michaela Brooks as Pilgrimage Assistant by Bishop Shane Mackinlay. Pilgrims were supported financially with part-sponsorship from either the Diocese or Catholic Education Sandhurst. Expressions of interest closed on 10 March and pilgrims gathered for the first time as a group on Sunday 30 April at the first of four pre-pilgrimage formation sessions. These young pilgrims wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to strengthen their faith and forge enduring connections with fellow pilgrims. The group was commissioned by Bishop Shane on 16 July before departing from Melbourne on 29 July. After Lisbon, pilgrims immersed themselves in a retreat in Avila, Spain (7-11 August) where they reflected on their experiences and their faith journey over the months since they had first gathered. A pilgrimage reunion in Shepparton on 8 October was well attended. Pilgrims, inspired by World Youth Day, are heeding Pope Francis’ words and being “protagonists for change in the world” by teaching and volunteering in their parishes and living as disciples of Jesus. Some pilgrims have also been appointed to the Sandhurst Youth Ministry Reference Group. Thirty-five young adults from across the Diocese spent months preparing for the pilgrimage where they joined over 345,000 registered pilgrims from 143 countries for five days of worship and fellowship. The 2023 WYD theme chosen by Pope Francis was from Luke’s Gospel: “Mary arose and went with haste” (1:39).
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