On 22 August, we had the privilege of providing our students with a deeply meaningful opportunity – A pilgrimage to St Mary MacKillop Catholic Church.
With 2025 being the Jubilee Year of Hope, we wanted to offer students a chance to experience faith as a time for renewal, forgiveness, and reflection. A time to recognise Jesus’ humble and supportive presence in our lives and in our individual faith journeys.
The day began with a short bus trip to Catholic Regional College North Keilor, where we joined students and staff from CRCNK for introductions and lunch in preparation for our pilgrimage. With full stomachs and open hearts, we set off, focused on the presence of Jesus in our lives and entered a space of prayer.
Along the way, we paused for moments of reflection, exploring Mother Mary’s vital role as a mother, a carer and a model of unwavering faith and love in both Jesus’ life and our own. We continued with a Rosary Walk, contemplating the lives of Jesus and Mary and their deep devotion.
Upon arriving at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Church, Fr Vinh Do assistant Parish Priest of St Mary of the Assumption Parish gave us a talk on the meaning of ‘hope.’ We were blessed to experience Adoration, allowing us to be still in the presence of Christ through beautiful worship music and were provided with time to reflect on our connection to Jesus. The pilgrimage concluded with opportunity for students to experience confession where they were encouraged to encounter God’s grace, healing, and forgiveness.
We would like to sincerely thank all the students who so beautifully said “yes” to this opportunity to encounter Jesus, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope. We are proud of the reverence, respect, and faith shown by students from both CRCCS and CRCNK.
A heartfelt thank you to the staff who made the day possible:
- Melissa Vickery – Year Level Leader
- Paul Sammut – Faith and Mission Leader
- Sr Lawrence – College Chaplain
- Angella Francis – College Youth Minister
- Leah Madigan – 2025 Jubilee year Ambassador
A special thank you goes to Angella Francis, whose vision, planning, and passion brought this beautiful, faith-filled experience to life. Her dedication ensured our students could meaningfully engage in this time of spiritual growth and reflection.
We hope this experience will continue to inspire and nurture our students, contributing meaningfully to their personal faith journeys and the ongoing development of our faith community here at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs.
Naomi Francheska Mallari, 7 Wurundjeri:
What was your favourite part of the pilgrimage?
My favourite part of the pilgrimage is when we went to the Church.
Did you make a special memory with your friends or classmates?
When we were on the walk, my friends and I were holding the college banner, this was memorable for me.
How did the pilgrimage help you feel closer to God?
The pilgrimage really helped me feel close to God because when we went to Church, there was confession happening. And when I confessed my sins, I felt like God will always be there to help me.
What is one thing you will always remember from this experience?
I will always remember the Church, St Mary Mackillop Church.
If you had to describe the pilgrimage in one word, what would it be?
Journey.
