Shirley's Reflection on the Pilgrimage

Sr Kathy, Shirley, Toots Nev and Lynn
This great photo was taken by Herbie O'Flynn

Here are some thoughts from Shirley Topp after reflecting on the Canonisation Pilgrimage to Rome-

“The pilgrims in our group were inspiring and motivational” 

 “There was always something going on - the time we had was used to the maximum” 

 “Personally for me it was something that I will remember forever.  Our moments of spirituality in the bus, while coming and going to events each day and the detail of Bishop Mark’s commentary as we went on our journey is etched in my memory. His spirituality and dedication were extraordinary and very inspiring to me personally”

 “Saint Mary has performed many little miracles for me. What a graced time we had in Rome."

Bishop Joe Grech a sad loss

The death of Bishop Joe Grech is such a great loss. He was a beautiful man, who has for many years been charged by the fire of the Holy Spirit and has had an enormous impact on many, many lives.

I caught up with Bishop Joe and Bishop Putney in the dining room after the Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross and asked them what impacted them at the ceremony -

Bishop Michael Putney  - I was waiting for the Pope to say Saint Mary MacKillop and he did when he was giving his English message at the end. He mentioned Australia for the first time and everybody cheered and screamed. That was the moment everybody was waiting for, to hear themselves named.

Bishop Joe Grech - It is good to see these terrific people, down to earth Australians with a big smile – ‘we have made it in the world’. Praise God, Amen

Bishop Joe Grech the main celebrant at Mass 6 May 2006 at Mary MacKillop Place North Sydney,this mass was offered for the Beaconsfield Miners in Tasmania and little Sophie Delezio.

Eternal Rest grant unto Bishop Joe Lord, may perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in your loving arms. Amen

Mark's Reflection

I asked fellow pilgrim Mark Oakly what his response to Sr Anne Derwent's question at the Thanksgiving Mass - how has this experience affected you?

"In relation to how I have become different from attending the Canonisation, it would be that, to use the concept from the Lectio Divina for this weekend, my 'God-shaped hole in my heart' has been enlarged by the experience so that I am aware it has happened (God has more room there) and I feel more confident in what I should be doing in my life and work.
The challenge is to keep it enlarging and not shrinking! 
I plan to keep the example of St Mary of the Cross before me, where it should be a great help."

Pilgrimage reflection - In the New Year

My passion is writing icons. I have painted on and off over many years but have not found satisfaction in portraits, flowers or landscapes.

As I look back on the canonisation pilgrimage, I now see I have a purpose to write the story of my faith through the medium of icons.

In Rome I found what wonderful roots we have as Catholics, followers of Jesus Christ.

As pilgrims for the week we walked together the steps of Mary of the Cross. We made new friends. We were in awe of the architecture, art, culture and beauty of Rome.

We were in awe of the lives of the saints whom we encountered along the route – Ignatius, Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio, Peter, Paul, Cecilia, those of the catacombs, awesome people who paved the way of faith for me. They held tight to their faith, and loved the Lord with passion, as did our own Mary MacKillop.

I, too, now believe I can put a few stepping stones of faith on this path for future generations. With conviction and passion I can go for what I know I can do; I have confidence to paint/write. What I do, what we all do, is important.

In 1874, Mary MacKillop told Monsignor Kirby in Rome:

“To me, the will of God is a dear book which I am never tired of reading, which has always some new charm for me. Nothing is too little to be noticed there, but yet my littleness and nothingness has often dared to oppose it, and I am painfully conscious that in many ways I still in my tepidity offend against it without perceiving what I am doing. But such dear lessons as you gave me the other evening then come to my aid and encourage me, for the love of my sweet Jesus is too strong, too beautiful, and His merits too great, for me not to cling to Him.”

At the churches where she prayed I found the crucifix and prayed before the cross of Christ – and wondered if Mary also knelt right there and prayed and worshipped.

The final church of my pilgrimage to Rome was the “Church of the Cross of Jerusalem”. Visiting there was a great gift from the Lord and St Mary. To kneel before the fragments of the Cross, crown of thorns, nail and inscription of Christ’s passion was an experience to cherish.

Back home in Canberra I revert to the “normal’ ways of everyday life – the beauty of the family, the place of work, the supermarket, the traffic and friends. But I have questions.

·      How long does the buzz last – what is it that is changed in me?

·      How can I keep hold of that?

Pilgrimage was time out to see the face of God and find out how Mary of the Cross achieved that and how to apply it in my life.

How does someone make the best olive oil from Cootamundra with the trees they have?

How do they be the best doctor they can be in Tathra with the God-given gift they have?

How do they become the best teacher in Goulburn?

So, I seek to be what God has created me to be and to be the best I can.

To be His hands and feet in my small part of the world the three-feet square that I affect each moment of each day.

It is an ideal I know I fall short of constantly but through the memories and experience of the canonisation I can be refreshed and reminded of the goal. Looking into the eyes of Mary of the Cross I can keep walking the Way.

I remember the story of the young Polish priest who walked from Poland to Rome – then became ill and died. His most remarkable thing in life was to walk. What is my most remarkable thing?

Two Aboriginal seminarians many years ago were taken to Rome to further their studies but became ill and died. But, they had an extraordinary effect on people in the short time.

One of the personal outcomes of the pilgrimage was finding a new cousin and so discovering more about my family history.

Jan from Kincumber rang after reading my article in the Broken Bay diocesan magazine. She is also a great-granddaughter of Mary and John Woodward. Her great-grand father is my great-grand father’s brother.

Her family legend is that he rowed Mother Mary of the Cross from Woy Woy to the orphanage at Kincumber. She has another cousin (recently discovered) whose forebears gave Mother Mary bed and lodging on her trip from Eden to Bombala. She was originally going to stay only one night but a storm forced her to remain with them for two.

People remembered and treasured encounters they had with Mother Mary of the Cross. What was so special about her?

Over the past few months we as a nation and many of us personally have learnt our own answers to this question.

It is good to stop and take a drink of Living Water.

How has this Woman of God - St Mary MacKillop of the Cross - changed your life?

Popes and Artists

Yet another surprise packed day. We set off to check out the transport for our trip to the airport tomorrow, bought tickets and are prepared to hop on the train tomorrow afternoon. Goodness, home again very soon. It has been a wonderful trip and it will be nice to get home to the family.

We went to the Spanish Steps and into the Church della Trinito dei Monti, with the fresco “the Demountation from the Cross”.  There were several other beautiful frescoes there also, particularly one to the Nativity – the light on the Christ Child and the face of the Madonna was magnificent.

As we arrived at the Spagna Station we found a tourist reference to the Café Greco, 1760. The foot note said it was the meeting place for intellectuals and artists. So as several of our acquaintances over the past few days had called us artists we decided to celebrate and affirm to ourselves that indeed that is what we are!

At the Cafe 1760 Greco near the Spanish Steps

for "intellectuals and artists"



Then we went on to the Scarvi. The Scarvi is an excavation site of the Necropolis beneath the crypt of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Excavation was commenced in 1940 but no part of it was opened to the public until the 1970’s. St Peter was buried near where he was slain and the tomb very early became a destination for pilgrims. When the Emperor Constantine built the first Basilica it featured the monument that marked the site of Peter’s burial. When St Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in the 16^th Century the altar and the central dome were positioned over the tomb and memorial.  It is humbling to be allowed access to this sacred site.

The Chair of St Peter, where we attended Mass for the 9th International Festival of Sacred Music and Art

I am still trying to absorb the experience. Being able to pray at the tomb of Saint Peter brought to mind the role of the papacy in the life of the Church. This was emphasised then when we attended Mass in the Basilica which was celebrated at the Chair of St Peter – that is behind the main altar and under the Holy Spirit Window.


So much to see and do - so little time

The Mass was celebrated as part of the Ninth International Festival of Sacred Music and Art, dedicated to His Holiness Benedict XVI in the fifth year of His Pontificate.

So today has been all about the papacy and celebrating Sacred Art and those who make it and we felt part of that. It was not quite the day we had planned or expected but neither of us are complaining!!!!!!

It was quite late when we left the Basilica of Saint Peter.

Train to Rome

This morning we were blessed to find Mass being said in the Chapel where Padre Pio celebrated Mass and reconciliation on numerous occasions. I then went to the hill of the Stations of the Cross.

I gathered you up with me as I walked this road of Calvary.  The sky was a beautiful clear blue. Each station was sculptured in bronze and silver with figures, about a meter in height, set amongst green trees and ferns. Each station dramatically portrayed the tragedy of the murder of Jesus.

 The victory of Christ’s resurrection was the summit of the journey.

We also were shown the thurible (‘incensor’) that Nicola and Corrando had made in 2002 for the formal celebrations of the New Church. They used gold and silver, and incorporated a disc from an ancient farm plow to include the history of the area into this sacred item.

We then caught the bus from San Giovanni Rotonda to Foggia and then the train on to Rome. The train has proved to be a fascinating experience both times. We have met wonderful people who have helped us plan our journey and made sure we arrived at the right station.  We share this journey with three lovely travelers – Maria Grazia, Giovanni and Giuseppe. We had so much fun sharing stories about our pilgrimage, our family, our wonderful countries and our faith journey. It was so much fun the trip took no time at all. It was amazing to learn that Maria Grazia is passionate about Icons and has acquired several beautiful works. She is a primary school teacher and Giovanni was a medico.



Wendy and Maria Grazia



Giovanni and Giuseppe



It was a laugh to share the photos of the trip and some ones from home – so if you were on my phone camera you were introduced to our new friends – sorry kids I particularly showed them how special you are.

I was also able to show off our beautiful Australian beaches and Sydney Opera House.  

We had to have a photo shoot to keep the memory of the new friendship alive.

Saying goodbye to Donato who had looked after us at the Hotel.
He was off to have a day on his Kawasaki 750

This morning when we were saying goodbye to Nicola, he commented about the stars in the Australian sky. We take them for granted. I was surprised that when I looked up at the sky in Rome tonight the only lights that could be seen were Venus and the full moon. How strange – ‘I love a sun burnt country a land of sweeping plain, of rugged mountain range...’.



Love the Car
I had to show you this one - the bike is as big as the car! I love it!
I am going to bring one home in my suitcase, I am sure it will fit!

Saint Michael the Archangel Shrine and Pulsano Abbey

Who would have thought the amazing experiences of this trip would continue? We walked through the picturesque narrow streets of the old town of San Giovanni Rotondo and visited four of the churches including one the locals call the Mother Church, which is the oldest parish church of the city and is dedicated to the Mother of God; the people of the area have a special veneration to the Madonna. The steep streets are paved with white marble and the houses are usually white with an occasional yellow or orange and decorated with an occasional window box or Yucca pot plant.



Door of Catherine of Sienna sculpted  by Nicola our host



Today we went with our host Nicola to Monte San Angelo, to the Saint Michael Shrine on the Gargano. Several years ago when I visited North Sydney near Mary MacKillop Place I stayed at the guest house which is part of the Sisters of Mercy, Monte San Angelo complex. So when I saw there was such a place I was very keen to visit. Nicola and his artist friend took us to the shrine.

The origin of the shine dates back to the end of the 5^th century. This is linked to the memory of three apparitions which are related with extraordinary and moving vivacity and testify to the miraculous events which followed. Within a span of fifteen centuries Christians from the whole world have come to the shrine of the Gargano, ‘the house of God, and the gate of heaven’.

We arrived just in time for Mass, and the penitential rite was particularly poignant as it is a place of healing and forgiveness. It was an open cave reminiscent of the cave/stable of Bethlehem. It is said that it was Saint Francis of Assisi’s favorite place to pray and he fasted and prayed there for forty days and forty nights.

We then visited the museum with memorabilia of life of the area, including a tatting roll, ink pot in the child’s desk, a horse collar and plough, axe sharpener and hundreds of other exhibits.

Nicola and Wendy at Monte San Angelo

We then went on to the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano. When we arrived we had to open an electronic gate which kept the cattle out, not in!! The landscape is so rocky that the cows roam free to find whatever food they can, they do not produce much milk but what the do is turned into a wonderfully scrumptious cheese.

The Abbey produces beautiful Icons, written by the monks and sisters. They have Iconography schools in summer and accommodation is available. It is built into the rock and faces out across the Port of Manfredonia and the open sea. You can also spot the hermit caves across the ravine. The church is arrayed with a number of beautiful Icons produced by the monks. Wendy and I were able to visit the workshop of the monks to see where they produce such beautiful works. We very extremely fortunate to be given such a privileged tour.

The views were breathtaking.