Mercy…Our Pilgrimage of Hope – Concluding Ritual

October 31, 2025

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, sisters and  people of Mercy have joined with their hearts, minds, prayers, reflections and actions in bringing about a renewed sense of hope in their lives and the wider world.

Mercy…Our Pilgrimage of Hope commenced in June and concludes in December. During this time, our Mercy pilgrims have journeyed through steps that are typical to most pilgrimages: invitation; packing and leaving; becoming present and attentive; alone and in community; engagement; and, experience with the unknown. This month, pilgrims are being invited to encounter the sacred before concluding next month with the final step, pilgrim living.

Institute Leader, Sister Karon Donnellon said the pilgrimage journey has been an invitation to us to deepen our understanding about what it means to be a pilgrim of hope and has led to positive action in a world beset by many conflicts and crises.

“In proclaiming the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis said that setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning and called upon us as pilgrims to be tangible signs of hope for all who experience hardships of any kind.

“While widespread positive change is often the result of many individual actions, by undertaking the steps together we have been reminded that the seemingly impossible task of bringing hope is not something we are doing on our own as there are other people around to support and encourage us.”

Sister Karon said that she and the other members of the Institute Leadership Team have been delighted by the number of people who have journeyed with some or all parts of our Mercy pilgrimage.

“We constantly hear of small groups of sisters and Mercy people gathering for the purpose of sharing and reflecting using the resources and materials that have been produced for our pilgrimage.

“For many this pilgrimage journey has enabled them to let go of something that may have been standing in the way of them being a true pilgrim of hope, while for others it has brought new meaning and a new lens to their mission and ministry.”

Final Step of the Pilgrimage

The final step of the pilgrimage will take place on anniversary of the day the Sisters of Mercy was founded, December 12 with an online ritual on Zoom at 12noon AEDT.

“We have deliberately chosen Foundation Day as the day to conclude our pilgrimage as it is a day that is significant in the history of our mission of Mercy.

“The theme for the last step is pilgrim living which points towards a beginning rather an end to something. Changed by the experience of the past year, we will take some time at the ritual to reflect on what it means to live our lives as pilgrims of hope not just now but into the future.

“We will also express our gratitude to the many sisters and Mercy people who have contributed so generously with their time, insights and creativity to develop the monthly materials which have so vividly brought our pilgrimage to life.”

Mercy…Our Pilgrimage of Hope Concluding Ritual 

Friday, December 12 at 12noon AEDT

12noon NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS/11.30am SA/11am PNG and QLD/9am WA

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85258709453?pwd=cwNZSiwYxkBJG0ancnTMmdY9OURgOX.1

Meeting ID: 852 5870 9453
Passcode: 2025

The ritual will also be recorded and posted to this website.

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