Catholic Identity and Mission 

Reflecting, Reconnecting, and Walking in the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop

Recently, the two of us—Amelia and Claire—alongside Ms Ronchi and Mrs Cassidy, had the incredible opportunity to travel to Tasmania for the 2026 AJASS Pilgrimage at the end of Term 3. Throughout our journey, we visited key historical locations, walked in the footsteps of St Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods, and made lifelong memories with students from all across the country.

Day 1: Arriving in Hobart and Making New Connections

After touching down in Hobart, we headed straight to MacKillop College in Mornington. We began our trip with a welcome Mass and explored how their school brings its rich Josephite charism to life every day.

After dinner, we joined a discussion-rich presentation and group activities to explore what it truly means to be on a pilgrimage. Ending the day back at our accommodation with a reflection session gave us a great chance to break the ice, get to know all the other students travelling with us, and share our goals for the trip.

Day 2: Sacred Heart New Town, Richmond, and Oatlands

We started our first full day at Sacred Heart College in New Town, where we took a tour of the school and learned how their history connects back to Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop. It was inspiring to see how the students stay connected to their faith, with quotes and statues all over the grounds representing their values.

Next, we travelled to Richmond for a mini-pilgrimage, exploring historic sites while taking time to connect with the beautiful nature around us. We finished our afternoon in Oatlands, diving deeper into Mary MacKillop’s story in the region, which helped us follow even closer in her footsteps.

Day 3: Inspiring Words in Geeveston and Walking Above the Trees

On Day 3, we travelled south to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Geeveston. We were lucky enough to meet a Sister of St Joseph, who shared her personal journey of becoming a nun and spoke about the rich Josephite history in the area. One quote she shared really stuck with both of us: "Prayer without work is dead."

After visiting the school, we headed into the Huon Valley to Tahune Adventures. We spent the afternoon exploring the breathtaking landscape and walking along the Airwalk, which reaches high above the treetops with amazing views right over the Huon River.

Day 4: Mountain Snow, Reflections, and Final Goodbyes

We started our final morning with a reflection session, discussing what we wanted to bring back from this pilgrimage to our own school and how we could share our journey with the wider community.

Before heading home, we had the amazing opportunity to go up to the summit of Mount Wellington, where we even got to enjoy the snow! We finished our trip spending our last few hours in Hobart—doing some shopping, making final memories, and saying goodbye to all the wonderful new friends we made before catching our flight back.

"Overall, we had an unforgettable time in Tasmania. We met so many amazing people, learned things we wouldn’t have had the chance to learn at home, and connected deeply with nature and sacred history. We are both so grateful for this incredible experience!" —

 Amelia & Claire

All Saints Reflection 

By Fr Darren Howie, Parish Priest Foster and Yarram Parishes.

In the Church’s liturgical calendar, we regularly commemorate the lives of canonised saints.  This is different from the celebration of people’s birthdays which is an affirmation of lives lived now, which we do to show love, and appreciation for family and friends.  We do this to support them, because no person is an island.  Our most important and basic need after the satisfaction of those things required to sustain life is the need for love. The Church tells us if we do not experience love, receive and participate in it our lives are meaningless. If you doubt this bear in mind that the time before and after Christmas are times of great sadness for those who do not have family because it highlights that they are on their own.  What would be  the point of a having a luxurious house, as in the case of a young computer software creator in California who is a multimillionaire but is depressed because he does not have a partner.

In commemorating the lives of the saints, we honour God because their lives show the power of his grace at work.  People celebrate moving into a new home, getting established by having housewarming parties, having a place to call home is very important.  The Church celebrates the lives of the saints on the date of their death because it marks their entry into their eternal home, which as the name says lasts for ever.  As members of the Church, we are part of a loving family, so we celebrate the fact that these who are examples have gone to their heavenly home.  People own their home because they have saved and prioritised.  People go to heaven because they have made the choice for God that is a reason to celebrate. As family we support each other in our lives, and though the saints have gone to their heavenly home, they can still help us through their intercession.  St. Therese of Lisieux expressed the desire to spend her time in heaven interceding for us here on earth.   

The saints are quite simply those who in heaven.  The Feast of All Saints is the celebration of the lives of all those people who are in heaven but are not officially declared to be there as in the case of the canonised saints. It is perfectly legitimate for us to pray to deceased relatives and friends who have passed away to intercede for us on our behalf, and they can certainly help us, and they want us to be with them at the end of our lives.  Pope Francis referred to these people as the working class saints.  I know of people who have lost a child at a very early age, days old and newly baptised and though that is a great cross they take comfort in the fact that they have their own little saint in heaven to pray to, and they are convinced that prayers are answered through the intercession of their own little saint.

In summation all the saints are in heaven because they have loved God and their neighbour, they have chosen God’s will over their own.   They are like the wise virgins who kept the flame of faith, love and hope burning, so when they were summoned to the wedding feast, they were ready.  They were wise because they have chosen the greatest, good God, they have been prepared to set aside lesser loves and friendships for the source of love who can fill their hearts and welcome them to be part of the heavenly family forever.  They have a home.