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Okay, so, apart from posts to mark the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, I haven’t posted anything to this blog since the start of January 2025.  My first Broken Bay Pilgrim Stamp to be collected in the 'Jubilee Pilgrim Passport', featuring St John Vianney. This is mostly down to the year, for me, starting with a “sort of” setback which left me in a disoriented state for the first quarter of the year, or so, and not well disposed to doing anything particularly creative in the direction of new artwork. Nor did I feel it worthwhile to post anything about my father and I visiting the Sydney Bus Museum in Leichhardt for one of their open days, or our second visit to Hunter Valley Steamfest in Maitland either, or attending the 2025 Hunter Valley Airshow.  Inspecting the Riley Brothers Bus at the Sydney Bus Museum, Leichhardt, NSW. What has been occupying my attention, after a brainstorming session of possibilities with my mother, has been planning, mapping, testing, organizing, promoting, and leading Young Adult (18–35) Pilgrimages to the four Jubilee Shrines of Hope in the Diocese of Broken Bay for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope:
 Viewing the relic of St John Vianney at St Mary Immaculate Church in Manly, NSW. The whole effort was started, for the most part, because I didn’t expect anyone else to try and do something Young Adult-focused at a Diocesan–wide level for the Year of Jubilee, and because the Diocese itself had a reshuffle of ministry appointments and parish placements such that the former monthly Young Adult gatherings of previous years were dropped from the calendar without ceremony. For all appearances curial priorities had changed and if anything was going to happen Young Adult-wise it would have to be a self-initiated, grassroots affair, which I threw myself into with far more effort and emotion than strictly necessary. These pilgrimages are meant to give my fellow peers an opportunity for pilgrimage during this Year of Jubilee who aren’t able due to financial or familial circumstances to go overseas on pilgrimage to Rome like many others are doing. The four pilgrimages are spaced out to be once every second month to aid in giving a sense of the Jubilee truly being a year-long event and not just a blink-and-you-miss-it four-weekend marathon done-and-dusted, don’t-need-to-think-about-it-again situation.
It is a moot point as to whether a four-weekend marathon mightn’t have been a better draw card for the intended audience, given that there have been only a handful of pilgrims turn up for both the first pilgrimage to Manly in March for the relic of St John Vianney and the second to Chatswood in May to visit the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. It’s depressing when spur-of-the-moment picnics and such get higher turnout from young adults than the thing that’s had so much blood, tears, and effort poured into it to give them an opportunity to gain the Year of Jubilee Indulgence and a reduction of a chunk of our time in Purgatory currently accrued to each of us individually — and that is worthwhile! ¹ I have to regularly remind myself that these pilgrimages aren’t a “me”–thing, they are from and for God — He’s the one who sparked the whole idea of organizing these walks — for purposes that only He knows the end result of, I’m just here to organise them. If even only one person shows up, that pilgrimage was successful. If you or anyone you know would like to join along for next two pilgrimages, the dates are as follows:
 — Draft promotionals -- These walks are open to all pilgrims from surround Dioceses and not just the Diocese of Broken Bay, and starting with the St John Paul II Pilgrimage they will be opened up to all interested pilgrims from 18 years old to retirement. Keep on the lookout for further details and Facebook Event pages about each walk from myself on Facebook or here on the blog. I hope to see you there. Vincent Cavanagh 9 June 2025 ¹ The Jubilee Indulgence is explained in an accessible and down-to-earth way to all by Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes Columba Macbeth-Green in the video linked below: And in other news: I have turned OFF comments on all my blog posts, apart from those made by verifiable human beings, due to an influx of spam e-mail / robot comments over the past year. Moving forward I will be keeping the comments on this blog CLOSED until further notice. Thank you. There are so many holy places in Assisi! This is going to be an extra-long one. However, it will be only one photo from each place. Despite having far more photos than one from each place! On Wednesday 26 July when we arrived in Assisi, we went to visit the basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. On Thursday we did a LOT of walking; and visited a large number of the holy places. On Friday we farewelled Assisi with Mass at the basilica of St Francis of Assisi. Assisi itself is a large medieval town surrounded by a wall. It sits on top of a mountain some 400m above sea level. Walking is about the only way to get around, since it is full of narrow streets that are either for pedestrians only or for one way traffic. Nativity high-relief, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 Inside this basilica is the little church which St Francis and his helpers restored, and around which the first members of the Franciscan order built their huts to dwell in. It was in one of these huts or cells that St Francis of Assisi died. That cell has been preserved, and is known today as the Chapel of the Transit. Basilica of St Clare, scenic view  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 Within this basilica is the tomb of St Clare, foundress of the Poor Clare order; and also the tomb of her sister, St Agnes. There was definitely a strong/calm presence in the chapel inside this basilica which contains the original San Damiano cross. That’s the cross Jesus spoke to St Francis through, and said to him, ‘Go, rebuild My Church’. Cloister of San Damiano  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 This is where the Poor Clare religious order began, and where St Clare and her nuns lived for the first 40 years, and where St Clare died. It was in this locality that the San Damiano cross was used by God to speak to St Francis. Eremo delle carceri Small isolated hermitages near a deep gorge; and further and higher up the mountain  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 This is the place where St Francis would withdraw from the world and pray for extended periods of time. Over the centuries these small, isolated dwellings have been built to house those called to live lives of prayerful solitude with God. Where we had Mass in the open air, in the vicinity of the hermitages  Outdoor chapel in the grounds of Eremo delle carceri ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 On the right-hand side of the chapel is Fr Sam French with white hat and with red ribbon on his backpack. He is the red bus chaplain. Near the altar Fr Roger Delmonte is about to put on the alb part of his priestly vestments. He is the yellow bus chaplain. Church of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, a.k.a. Santa Mary sopra Minerva  Ceiling of Santa Mary sopra Minerva, Assisi ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 Remember to always look up, and you will find treasures that others miss. This church used to be in Roman times a temple to the goddess Minerva. It became a church in the 16th century and was decorated in the Baroque style in the 17th century. On the ceiling is an image of St Philip Neri, in an attitude of prayerful supplication to God, and dressed in priestly robes. He is the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, a society of apostolic life for men. Brisbane has an Oratory in Formation.  Our guide for the length of our stay in Assisi, Eduardo Antonio ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 This seated gentleman is our guide through Assisi for both 27 and 28 July. He is like a loving, but firm, Italian grandfather. His sense and love of the Faith is evident in his whole person. Chiesa Nuovo, interior  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 This is a view of the impressive interior of the church that was built on the site of St Francis’ family home. Stable where St Francis was born  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 Just like Jesus, St Francis of Assisi came into the world in a stable. This same stable where we are standing with Eduardo our guide; where it is now possible to celebrate Holy Mass. Church of St Mary Major, including the sanctuary of the Renunciation (of St Francis)  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 Santa Maria Maggiore or St Mary Major is the title given to the most prominent church named in honour of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the various regions of Italy. This one is in Assisi. The most well-known one is in Rome. Part of this church contains an area called the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, remembering the exact spot where St Francis chose to reject the world and to live solely for God. It is in this sanctuary that the incorrupt body of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been placed. He died in 2006 from leukemia, at the age of 15, after a life of cheerfulness, computer skills and deep devotion to the Eucharist. He is one of the patron saints of World Youth Day Lisbon. Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, exterior  Vincent Cavanagh ©2023 This basilica has two levels, an upper level and a lower level. The body of St Francis of Assisi is in a chapel on the lower level. Before we went in for Mass, there was a group photograph. Mass itself was in the chapel of Fr Leo. While Fr Leo wasn’t a founding member of the Franciscan order, he still had a significant impact – being St Francis’ confessor until St Francis’ death, and he also assisted St Clare when she died. Fr Leo, a.k.a. Br Leo, is also buried in this basilica. Vincent Cavanagh #bbwyd 28 Jul 2023, 7.57am Italy | 28 Jul 2023, 3.57pm Sydney |
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