Hope-filled travels for Hills couple
People
When Adelaide Hills parishioners Deb and Des Stapleton decided to embark on a 100km walk from Lucca to Sienna in Italy, they were inspired by the prospect of being ‘pilgrims of hope’ in line with the theme of the Jubilee Year.
The active septuagenarians knew the five-day Via Francigena camino would be challenging.
Deb recalls seeing a poster promoting Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope above the altar at Mass in St Matthews Church, Bridgewater, on Good Friday.
“It went through my mind that we would be pilgrims when we walked part of Via Francigena…my ‘hope’ was that I would make the distance,” she said.
With Pope Francis dying before they left Adelaide on Anzac Day, the couple “tweaked” their itinerary to stay in Rome the night before his funeral.
“It was a pure fluke that we were there,” she said.
“We left our hotel before 7am on April 26 and made our way to the Vatican.
“It was the weekend of the Jubilee of Teenagers with thousands of young people from around the world converging on Rome. It was heartening to see faith in action, it gave us ‘hope’ for the future.”
Deb was not so optimistic when it came to passing through the three sets of barriers to enter St Peter’s Square for the funeral but “pass through them we did”.
“We were fortunate to secure a place close to a screen and quite close to the altar,” she said.
“We were surrounded by nuns, priests, groups of young people and a kind and generous woman from Spain who gave those near her a holy card of Pope Francis and bottles of water.”
There was also an Italian couple who had the foresight to bring stools for the lengthy wait and which the gentleman was happy to share with Deb from time to time.
They also chatted at length with two young men from Canada who were planning to return to Rome for the conclave. Deb described the crowd as respectful and reverent.
As they were leaving, some priests who had distributed the Eucharist were still making their way back from as far away as Castel San Angelo, so huge was the crowd.
Thousands of people also lined the route to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major where Pope Francis was buried.
Resuming their planned itinerary they caught the train to Lucca and a couple of days later began their walk.
St Michael’s Grotto in Monte Sant’Angelo
Via Francigena begins in Canterbury, England, and ends 2000km away in Rome. It was first recorded by Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who documented his return journey from Rome in the 10th century.
“It was historically a major artery for pilgrims, merchants and soldiers travelling to the heart of Christendom and traverses rolling countryside, olive groves, vineyards and hills (lots of hills!),” Deb said.
“As we walked on our own, we were able to appreciate the silence and pace ourselves to enjoy the magnificent, lush countryside.
“Another ‘hope’ that our own country would soon benefit from winter rains.”
The mother of five and grandmother of 16 said she had always felt an affiliation with Siena because of the family’s close association with St Catherine’s School over the past 42 years.
The feast of St Catherine of Siena is April 29, the day she and Des started walking, and it was celebrated the following Sunday when they attended Mass at the Siena Cathedral.
After returning to Lucca and meeting friends in Monopoli, the couple spent time in Assisi where many groups from all over the world were following Pope Francis’ directive to make pilgrimages to specific churches, including St Francis Basilica in Assisi.
“I felt a touch of nostalgia to see the Jubilee 2025 poster on the wall, just like the one above our altar at Bridgewater,” Deb said.
Their final religious destination was Monte Sant’Angelo where Saint Michael the Archangel is regarded as the protector of the people and who cast Lucifer out of Heaven.
A stairway of 86 steps leads down to a cave which houses St Michael’s Grotto where Mass is celebrated several times daily.
“It was a spiritually uplifting trip and we feel very grateful that we were able to travel this path in this Jubilee year,” Deb said.
The Stapletons have been active members of the Adelaide Hills parish for 50 years.
Des is a member of the parish pastoral council and Deb is doing her second stint on the finance council.
Adapted from an article in the Adelaide Hills parish magazine, The Bridge.
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