La peregrinación comenzó en la catedral de Perth Car Rally starting at the cathedral in Perth Die Berufungs-Rallye startet bei der Kathedrale in Perth
Auto "preparado" por la peregrinación A car "prepared" for the rally Startbereit - das Auto für die Oster-Rallye
Chicos entusiasmados Excited kids Die Kinder sind schon mal begeistert
Buscando "tesoros" de Pascuas Egg hunt Ostereiersuchen
Momentos del encuentro Moments of encounter Begegnungen
Regalo: "Horas de felicidad" Gift: Hours of bliss Geschenk: Glücksstunden
En el centro de Schoenstatt At the Schoenstatt Center Im Schönstattzentrum
Hna Lisette y la autora Sister Lisette and the autor Schw Lisette mit der Autorin Fotos: McCann © 2004

AUSTRALIA, Gemma McCann. All in all 24 Priests and Religious, such as Diocesan Priests, the Sisters of St. John of God, the Missionaries of Charity, the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Immaculate, the Focolare Movement and the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, worked together for the "Mystery Car Rally" for vocations, a thirty kilometre car pilgrimage from the cathedral in Perth to the Schoenstatt Shrine in Armadale, West Australia. This is the experience and testimony of this Easter Monday 2004…

Having never been on the Walk for Vocations before, this year’s Pilgrimage being a Car Rally was just too good to refuse (a walk from the Cathedral to Armadale would have been a little more than my poor legs could handle). Easter Sunday night is always a late for us, but this year I bid an early farewell to my family so as to be prepared for an early start the following day. After Mass and a blessing from His Grace, Archbishop Hickey, the pilgrims proceeded to eat through a multitude of yummy muffins (generously provided by the Schoenstatt Sisters), and then the fun began.

With our cars now looking quite the part covered in balloons and streamers we headed to our first stop: Isaiah House of Prayer. Here Fr. Armando gave an insightful talk providing practical advice for young men who may be discerning the Priesthood. Here we also prepared the birthday gift for Archbishop Hickey who would celebrate his birthday the following Friday. We said goodbye to our wonderful hostess Maria and to Fr. Armando and quickly got back into the "rally" mode making our way to the next destination, St Joseph’s Church in Queens Park. The Norbetines shared with us their charism and invited us to pray with them, truly a beautiful experience.

Easter egg hunt… and "vocation hunt"

An Easter egg hunt awaited us at our next stop, Good Shepherd Church in Kelmscott. Friar Gerard, from the Franciscans of the Immaculate, was some sight. With his hands full of Easter eggs he was chased by an army of children, amazingly he still managed to keep his usual Franciscan composure and eventually handed the eggs over to the unrelenting children. Here, we were privileged to be addressed by Fr Clesio. Father opened his heart to us and gave a powerful talk. He shared with us his own struggles on the journey to the Priesthood and how his trust in God’s Providence and love, even amongst great suffering, is what finally led him to fulfil God’s plan and enter the Priesthood.

After Father’s inspiring talk Sister Lisette suggested we now make the final leg of our journey in silence. This set the mood for the second half of the day; personal prayer and reflection.

Prayer and Reflection in the Schoenstatt Shrine

Back at the Shrine groups were sent to their different stations. My first stop was 45 mins of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During our Adoration we completed the birthday gift for Archbishop Hickey and everyone wrote their special contributions on a piece of paper and left them in the Shrine. The present consisted of strings of wool attached to a ring , each presenting an hour of happiness everyone wanted to offer up for the Archbishop. At the Sister’s house we watched an inspiring film on the history and charism of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and were able to get to know the life and mission of the religious communities who had set up inspirational posters of their communities. After this we were ready to hear the personal testimonies from the different religious on their vocations. The personal nature of these testimonies gave a deeper insight into the journey of each and helped us to reflect upon our own vocation and how we are responding to God’s call. The advice given by Sr Lisette to a young woman wondering how to discern her vocation was to pray, attend daily Mass, regular Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, to seek guidance from a regular Confessor and make little sacrifices of love for Jesus and his Mother Mary.

The mystery of vocation

There were all in all 24 Priests and Religious, such as Diocesan Priests, the Sisters of St. John of God, the Missionaries of Charity, the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Immaculate, the Focolare Movement and the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, to enlighten those who came on the mystery car rally for vocations.

The day concluded with Benediction and hymns in the beautiful chapel. Next year I hope to make this beautiful and important pilgrimage again. I have two young daughters (who also enjoyed attending) and I hope and pray that through being a part of days such as this they will be inspired to seek with all their hearts the vocation that God has willed for them from all time and that they fulfil their duty to pray for our Archdiocese that we may be blessed abundantly with many holy men and women who are willing to have courage and follow the call of the Lord when and where He may call them.