More than a ‘party on legs’
Mary-Anne Johnson
Mary-Anne is a freelance journalist
As we are more than halfway through the Jubilee Year – which has the theme Pilgrimage of Hope – it is pleasing that hundreds of thousands of Catholics have already made the pilgrimage to Rome.
I plan to travel to Italy later this year, but that is not possible for everyone. Luckily, other options are available. Parishes in my Tasmanian diocese have been travelling in groups to one of the churches designated as a pilgrimage site by our bishop. My parish had a day’s bus outing to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church at Ross, Tasmania. We prayed and sang hymns on the bus and then prayed and meditated at the church.
Another option is The Way to St James that has been held in Tasmania in January for the past ten years. I wrote an article in The Majellan about the Way to St James in Tasmania’s Huon Valley several years ago.
The brainchild of Fr Michael Tate, he was awestruck by the beauty of the area and St James’ Spanish style building. He had been to the famous Santiago de Compostela in Spain, which is a major destination of pilgrims. As Santiago is Spanish for St James, Fr Tate decided Tasmania should hold its own event, but over a much shorter distance.
The Walk is held over two days in January, coinciding with the Cygnet Folk Festival. Starting at the picturesque Mountain River, pilgrims walk through farmland to Ranelagh for an overnight stop in the grounds of St Mary of the Cross Catholic Church and the adjacent St James Anglican Church.
The next day, they make their way to the town of Cygnet where they process with music and singing, carrying a large icon of St James through the streets to the Church of St James, a distance of around 33 km.
In 2020, the committee had to re-think the pilgrimage due to COVID. However, if it could not be held because of government restrictions, people could be united through social media.
What a boon this has been! This year’s Tasmanian pilgrimage was at capacity with 160 walking in the Huon Valley, while 1000 global pilgrims walked the same distance at the same time in about 40 countries. Videos, live streams and pictures of participants were shared on the Facebook page, Way to St James Cygnet.
Looking online, you could be forgiven for thinking the experience was, as one pilgrim described it, “a party on legs”, which it is, but it’s also much more.
Second time participant Brett thinks the walk is now a “rite of passage for anyone with a pilgrim heart and a sense of community belonging in Tassie (and beyond)”. He says, “This was my second walk, and each year seems to get you more connected and inspired. The two days go by so quickly and the walk is populated by the most wonderfully interesting pilgrims. I am already looking forward to 2026.”
The flexibility of the on-line Facebook component means a greater number of people can be accommodated. Some pilgrims come to Tasmania after walking the global Camino, while some Tasmanian pilgrims walk the Camino while travelling overseas.
Joe has walked the global Camino in New Zealand a few times, and was inspired to join in person this year, while Polly had previously walked the Way in the Huon Valley, but this year joined the Global walk from her hometown in Scotland.
Seasoned pilgrim Mark describes the entry to St James Church in the township of Cygnet:
“A group of pilgrims carried a larger-than-life icon, and we were accompanied by a walking orchestra—with instruments this time—and the Cygnet folk festival choir. Upon entering the church, we were greeted by Kavisha Mazzela, who performed a beautiful song called Viva Sara about a Romani saint who is believed to be connected to the mother of St James, the apostle. Each year, Romani from across Europe travel to Les Saintes Maries de la Mer in the Camargue in the south of France on a pilgrimage to honour her. She also added a special chorus of Viva Santiago. I’m looking forward to returning to lutruwita in January to walk the Way to St James Cygnet again.”
Mark adds, “On the Way to St James Cygnet, I experienced kindness, hospitality, and generosity from pilgrims, volunteers, and others supporting the pilgrimage. We walked and ate together, sang, told stories and shared moments of silence, prayer and ritual. All of this embodied a deeper connection: that of the pilgrim to the divine Mystery. For this, I am truly grateful.”
The Way to St James Cygnet website states: ‘Every person, of any religious denomination or none, is welcome to join us to walk in company with other pilgrims. Through fellowship, reflection, rejoicing and ritual you will find an opportunity to reconnect with the spiritual dimensions of your life.’
The walk will be held on January 10-11 in 2026. Details at: www.waytostjames.com.au
Image: Suzy King, Sonja Preston and Sonja Preston have participated in every Way to St James Cygnet pilgrimage since 2016.
Image: Global pilgrims at St James church, United Kingdom.
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