Elliston pilgrimage connects with past
Local
Making a pilgrimage on the Eyre Peninsula has a long history says Fr John Folkman
In this year of Jubilee 2025, one of the more inspiring activities that Catholics can engage in is to go on pilgrimage. We do this in response to the motto proposed by Pope Francis for this year, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
The Eyre Peninsula parishes of Port Lincoln, Cummins, Cleve and Streaky Bay/Ceduna have chosen Elliston as the destination for pilgrimage in this Jubilee Year.
One of the reasons why, apart from it being a destination of immense natural beauty, is that it provides the opportunity to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in locations that are among the more remote parts of what is now the Diocese of Port Pirie.
In pioneering days, Port Lincoln was the largest settlement on Eyre Peninsula with the area being called the ‘Eyre Peninsula Mission’.
Fr Modestus Henderson, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar, arrived in 1869 and was the first parish priest. He and other pioneering priests travelled on horseback, and later by horse and cart, to outlying destinations such as Elliston and Colton.
They did this to visit families, say Mass, celebrate Sacraments, and stay overnight, en route to Streaky Bay, Perlubie and Fowlers Bay. On the eastern side of Eyre Peninsula, priests travelled as far as Cleve and Cowell.
All of what became the four Eyre Peninsula parishes that we have today, remained under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Adelaide until June 7 1951 when they were incorporated into the newly designated Diocese of Port Pirie.
The program for the pilgrimage on August 31 is:
11am – Silent Prayer at Waterloo Bay Aboriginal Memorial, Little Bay Clifftop Drive
11.15am – Half hour pilgrimage walk to St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
12 noon – Mass at St Francis of Assisi
1pm – Shared lunch at the Elliston Districts Sports Club. Please bring a savoury or sweet plate. The bar will be open for soft and alcoholic drinks. Tea/coffee and water are provided.
On behalf of the Eyre Peninsula parishes, I hope to see you there.
Fr John Folkman is parish priest at Cummins.
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