Pilgrimage Mementos

Three special blessings of this year's Christus Rex Pilgrimage: the first blessings of two new priests – that of Bendigo's Fr Ashley Caldow on Friday (who was ordained on the 14th of September) and that of Ballarat's Fr James Kerr on Saturday (ordained on the 6th of September) – and the chance to attend what must be a first for this pilgrimage, the wedding on the Monday morning after (that is, yester-day the 28th of October) of two pilgrims, Jacob and Esther.

I say ad multis annos to all of them, and wish for them what my old parish priest, Bp Jarrett, told me ages ago: that happily married couples are the best role models and supports to the vocation of priests, and holy priests happy in their vocation are likewise the best examples and helps to husband and wife.

The two new priests kindly distributed holy cards as mementos of their ordination, seeking prayers; it strikes me that perhaps married couples ought do the same thing, and not merely provide a booklet for the wedding – for prayer is the great underpinning of all.

Fr Corrigan's Blessing

I was very grateful, while on pilgrimage, to be able to receive the blessing of a new priest, the well-known Fr John Corrigan (see his blog), who was, as he informed us, but six weeks and two days ordained.  As they say in Germany, one should travel far to get the blessing of a new priest – certainly, having walked over 70 km by that stage of the pilgrimage, I did!

He quite spontaneously prayed a special blessing for this blog, that it be a form of spiritual witness and edification: to which I add a hearty Amen, all unworthy as my efforts are.  As I said in my very first blog post, what else could I hope for?

Please pray for Fr Corrigan, "a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech": ad multos annos!