Hundreds go on jubilee pilgrimages in Canterbury

On September 6, more than 230 parishioners set out from Holy Family Parish (Christchurch West) on pilgrimage to Temuka, which is in St Mary MacKillop Parish, Opihi.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop visited Temuka several times during her visits to New Zealand. She prayed in the original part of the chapel beside which a heritage room has been built. She was, and continues to be, an inspiration to the people of Temuka and the surrounding district.

According to the Holy Family Parish Facebook page, the pilgrimage was a “grace-filled day”.

“Many thanks to our wonderful hosts from St Joseph’s, Temuka, who looked after us so well and who helped us come to know more of our first Australasian saint, St Mary MacKillop. Special thanks too to the priests from Opihi and Timaru parishes who joined our own priests in providing several hours of confession!”

Three days later, 30 people travelled by bus on pilgrimage from Christchurch to Akaroa.

St Patrick’s Church is the “cradle of Catholicism” in the Canterbury area. The pilgrimage marked the 185th anniversary of the first marriage in Akaroa. The weather was stunning as the pilgrims gathered for Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. One of the pilgrims was the great grandson of John Cullen, who built the church in 1865.

“It was a very blessed day and thanks to the Akaroa Parish for making us feel so welcome,” a Facebook post stated.

There are four designated pilgrimage sites for Christchurch Diocese. They are St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral; St Mary MacKillop Parish, Opihi; St Patrick’s Church, Akaroa; and the Sanctuary of Fourvière, Community of the Beatitudes, Leithfield.  

FULL STORY

Facebook (Holy Family Parish)

Catholic Diocese of Christchurch | Facebook

Jubilee Year Pilgrimage Sites Announced (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch)