Pilgrimage is a movement of the heart toward God as much as it is a physical journey, and the destination can often be unexpected.
In a moment of great joy, Deacon John Vespa of Melbourne was among 32 men ordained to the priesthood by Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Fr Vespa’s path to the priesthood has been a journey of dedication, set to continue as Pope Leo said in his homily, ‘transformed by the love that flows abundantly from the Heart of Christ’.
Back in Melbourne, the old seminary run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Croydon is now Sacred Heart Church, and one of our Jubilee pilgrim places. This historic spiritual haven invites the faithful to encounter God, as many of Melbourne's Catholics have already done at various pilgrim places around the Archdiocese. Hospitality and hope are also on offer at Caritas Christi, a specialist palliative care service run by St Vincent’s in Kew. It's where ‘the healing ministry of Jesus’ continues, as observed by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli during a recent pastoral visit.
Resurrection Parish’s work in Uganda demonstrates that pilgrimage extends beyond borders. Fr Gerard Keith and the parish's support of education in Buyaga, a small town in eastern Uganda, embodies the call to be pilgrims of hope. And in case you missed it: Archbishop Peter A Comensoli recently met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome, offering the prayers of the people of God in Melbourne. Rome was also host to the recent International Safeguarding Conference, attended by members of the Archdiocese's Safeguarding Unit.
