Bruny Island pilgrimage marks end to anniversary of foundation celebrations

Walkers on a hiking path in Bruny Island

10/12/2024

We’re delighted to close our year of celebrations to mark 80 years since our foundation with a pilgrimage to Bruny Island, Tasmania, a place of deep significance to the MSS. From 21-24 November, 25 friends of the MSS, including Highways and Byways board members and partners, Stewardship Council and partners, and a relative of Fr John Wallis, joined us on this special pilgrimage, deepening their knowledge and connection with our story, both past, present, and into the future. We also welcomed Tani Langoulant from St Helens, Tasmania, who has received funding from Highways and Byways, for Free to Be Girls program and Maria Attard from Mary MacKillop Today. It was a deeply moving and profound time of pilgrimage, with people sharing a range of reflections:

“The ‘gold’ for me this weekend included the richness of each person and the strong sense of shared endeavour. Thanks to all who participated and best wishes to all other members of the MSS extended community.” Denis Fitzgerald, Patron of Highways and Byways

“Gathering with friends and strangers to share a deeper experience of the MSS charism, in Christ, to reanimate our spirits for life in our world.” Catherine Carr, MSS Co-ordinator

“It’s been an immersion in to the MSS charism, and I think we bottled it this morning, when we invited everyone to share what drew them in.” Corrie van den Bosch MSS

Strengthening bonds with like-minded people in sharing in the depth and wealth of their connections with the MSS in a gospel-centred environment.” Marg Casey, Chair, Highways and Byways Board

Across the days, we enjoyed a range of walks, time for shared meals, and deep reflection and sharing. On the Sunday afternoon, long-time friend of the MSS, Fr Graeme Howard, came to St Brendan’s Catholic Church in Alonnah for the monthly Mass and the local community of four people hosted around 30 pilgrim participants (by Sunday, we’d added five people who came from Hobart for the day, including Sr Lorraine Groves MSS, Liz Jordan, Eva Dunn and Julia Walsh. Fr Graeme also brought some friends from Ballarat!

On Monday 25th November, some of our Melbourne sisters gathered with members of the John Wallis Highways and Byways Hobart branch, to acknowledge their wonderful work with the John Wallis Memorial lectures, walks, and supporting all the MSS celebrations of the last 13 (and more) years. And on Tuesday 26 November, we had the ‘official farewell’ for the MSS archives from the Diocese of Hobart Archdiocese. We have some photos, below, and some more info, here. It’s certainly been a special time of gathering and pilgrimage on Bruny Island, in Hobart, and beyond. We can only express our gratitude again and again.