While it is only in its infancy, the Kirup Camino Catholic pilgrimage is already attracting a strong supporter base among the faithful.
Held near the end of 2025 to launch World Mission Month in the Bunbury Diocese, the 2025 Kirup Camino was attended by more than 60 pilgrims – more than double the number of participants of the 2024 event.
As part of the 2025 event, more than $1,000 was raised for struggling communities in Zambia.
Parish priests Fr Edwin Ocho (Bridgetown), Fr Roshan Fernando (Leschenault), and Fr Archie Carampatan (Dunsborough), joined parishioners from Kirup, Donnybrook, Balingup, Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, Manjimup, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany, Pemberton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Leschenault, Brunswick, Capel, and several Perth parishes for the pilgrimage.
The 16-kilometre walk follows a trail through lush green paddocks and jarrah and marri forest, with a half-way stop at the Mullalyup Bush Fire Brigade’s fire station. It is jointly organised by Catholic Mission’s Diocesan Director for Bunbury, Shendelle Mullane, and the Spirituality Hub at the Church of the Holy Family, Kirup.
The Kirup Camino is inspired by the Christian tradition of pilgrimage exemplified by world-famous routes like the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
It also celebrates the feast day of St Therese of the Child Jesus, patron saint of missions, and it was at the Church of St Therese in Balingup that the pilgrimage commenced.
It concluded with a pilgrims’ mass held at the Holy Family Church in Kirup, celebrated by the Bishop of Bunbury, George Kolodziej SDS.
This year’s Kirup Camino will be held on Thursday 1 October 2026 and all are welcome to participate.