A priest, a piper, prayer and dozens of pilgrims at God’s pace
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Bishop John Roundhill covered over 120 kilometres across three cities during his third biblical-worthy Holy Week pilgrimage, and his highlights included prayer, fellowship and a surprise piper
Bishop John Roundhill covered over 120 kilometres across three cities during his third biblical-worthy Holy Week pilgrimage, with a fitting shepherd’s crook in hand – and he invited the community to join him.
Bishop Roundhill said that the highlight of his seven-day church-to-church pilgrimage across the Gold Coast, Logan City and Brisbane’s south was the time spent praying and in fellowship with parishioners and clergy.
“Each stage of the pilgrimage was about 20 kilometres, and it was a privilege to be prayed for by each parish as we set off and it was a delight to be welcomed as we arrived at the next church,” Bishop Roundhill said.
“As I made my way along the beautiful Marine Parade on the Gold Coast near St James’ Church in Biggera Waters, I was greeted by a bagpiper, Barry Cathcart, who piped me into St James’.
“I found the beauty of the place, the power of the bagpipe music and the warmth of the Christian welcome humbling, and I was moved to tears.
“I enjoyed a marvellous morning tea with members of the St James’ congregation and more prayer, before setting off for Holy Rood Church, Oxenford.”
Bishop Roundhill said that the highlight of his seven-day church-to-church Holy Week 2023 pilgrimage across the Gold Coast, Logan City and Brisbane’s south was the time spent praying and in fellowship with parishioners and clergy, including folk from The Parishes of Sunnybank and Algester
This year Bishop Roundhill acknowledged the Traditional Custodians at each of the 20 churches he stopped at.
Bishop Roundhill said it was powerful acknowledging the Traditional Custodians in each place.
“Whether I was walking on beachside footpaths, busy arterial roads or beautiful mountain paths, I thought about what pilgrimage on this land means because this land has had humans walking on it for 60,000 years continuously,” he said.
“Whether I was walking on beachside footpaths, busy arterial roads or beautiful mountain paths, I thought about what pilgrimage on this land means because this land has had humans walking on it for 60,000 years continuously,” (Bishop John Roundhill on the way to St Peter’s, Southport during his 2023 Holy Week pilgrimage
Dozens of fellow Anglicans and wider community members, between the ages of 4 and 84, joined him at different stages of the walk.
The bishop said that he and his fellow pilgrims walked at an average speed of three miles, or 4.8 kilometres an hour in the spirit of Japanese Christian theologian, Kosuke Koyama’s book, Three Mile an Hour God.
“Jesus of Nazareth, who is God, walked at three miles per hour. God, who is love, walks at three miles per hour. Love has a speed, Koyama says, and that speed is slow,” he said.
Bishop Roundhill said that he enjoys walking with people on pilgrimage because it helps build community.
“We are living in an increasingly fractured society and walking together allows for differences to be aired in a less confrontational way,” he said.
“Walking in groups allows for conversations to come and go at ease – because people chatting can always walk more slowly – and so community builds naturally.
“For me, walking and talking are two of the simplest pleasures in life and I love chatting with people as we walk together.
“I believe that great conversations come from a shared activity, and who knows what solutions or ideas we might come up with when we’re on the road together?”
Bishop Roundhill said he is grateful to those who accompanied or supported him during his pilgrimage.
“My thanks to all the church communities who welcomed, fed and watered us, and to the generous folk who provided a bed for me each night,” he said.
Pilgrimage is an ancient Christian tradition, with early church theologian and ascetic Origen of Alexandria one of the first to comprehend and communicate the concept of the Church as a “pilgrim people”.
Bishop John Roundhill and fellow pilgrims took this sign as “a good sign” while on the final stretch to St Gabriel’s, Carindale on Holy Saturday
The first Christian pilgrimages were walked in early times to sites connected with Jesus’ life, especially to the sites of his crucifixion and resurrection.
So Christians consider Holy Week an especially fitting period to take time out for this ancient spiritual practice.
The recent pilgrimage was Bishop Roundhill’s third “Walking the Walk” Holy Week walk, following his 2019 and 2021 journeys, and after his 2020 and 2022 plans were abandoned because of COVID-19 or injury.
While encouraging community members to join him on the walk, Bishop John said that he invited people to reflect on Jesus’ walking journeys.
“The annual week in the lead up to Easter Day commemorates events from Jesus’ life 2,000 years ago, and there is much walking in those stories,” he said.
“Some of life’s biggest themes – love, betrayal, death – were in front of us in the Holy Week Bible readings.
“I encounter God in a different way when I am truly engaged in a simple physical activity, and always I find that the walking is transformative for me and all those who join me.”
Readers can see Bishop Roundhill’s complete route in his “Walking the Walk 2023” blog post.
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