The centenary of World Mission Sunday will be commemorated during the third annual Kirup Camino that will be held on Thursday 1 October.
Held each year to launch World Mission Month in the Diocese of Bunbury, the Kirup Camino also celebrates the feast day of St Therese of the Child Jesus, patron saint of the missions.
It is inspired by the Christian tradition of pilgrimage exemplified by world-famous routes like the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The 16-kilometre pilgrimage commences with a pilgrims’ blessing at the Church of St Therese in Balingup and finishes with a pilgrims’ Mass at the Holy Family Church in Kirup.
Pilgrims follow a picturesque walk trail along the rail reserve between Balingup and Kirup, passing through lush green paddocks and beside jarrah and marri forests.
Bishop of Bunbury, George Kolodziej SDS will preside at the pilgrims’ Mass and will launch the Catholic Mission appeal for World Mission Month.
This year, the Church celebrates 100 years of World Mission Sunday, which was established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 to foster a universal missionary spirit, encourage vocations, and support the growing needs of those involved in strengthening the Church’s activity, particularly in developing areas.
Through shared prayer and generosity, World Mission Sunday has made and continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of people around the world.
In his World Mission Sunday message for 2026, Pope Leo XIV focussed on the theme One in Christ, united in mission. This theme prompts reflection on the work of missionaries around the world and highlights the universal Church’s enduring commitment to support the life-giving work of mission.
Pope Leo encourages the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit, saying “the more united we are in Christ, the better able we will be to carry out together the mission that he entrusts to us.”
The Kirup Camino was first held on 1 October 2024, attracting 25 pilgrims. Last year’s event attracted more than 60 pilgrims from a number of parishes across the Bunbury diocese and Perth archdiocese, raising more than $1000 for struggling communities in Zambia.
It is hoped this year’s event will build further on those numbers as World Mission Month focuses on supporting Malawi that has faced severe hardship in recent years due to devastating floods which destroyed homes, farmland, and entire communities. For many families, daily life has become a constant struggle for survival.
The Kirup Camino is organised by Catholic Mission’s Province Director for WA and Diocesan Director for Bunbury, Shendelle Mullane, in conjunction with the Spirituality Hub at the Church of the Holy Family, Kirup.
For further information, contact Shendelle on 0423 219 665. To book Camino tickets visit: https://www.trybooking.com/DNKPE
