Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St Paul – Rome**
03 May 2026.

This morning we gather at San Silvestro, pilgrims drawn together from different places yet united in one purpose: to walk, to pray, and to allow the witness of St Paul to shape our hearts. As we greet one another, we remember that Paul himself arrived in Rome not as a tourist but as a missionary—led by the Spirit, strengthened by faith, and ready to give everything for Christ.

Our day begun as we set towards the Spanish Steps, we begin our day as Paul began his mission: step by step, trusting that God works through the ordinary rhythm of our movement.

The beauty of Rome surrounds us with a deep beauty of companionship. Paul never travelled alone; he formed communities, encouraged believers, and built up the Body of Christ. Our shared walk echoes that same spirit.

At Ss Ambrose and Charles Borromeo, we pause to reflect on the courage of the saints who came before us. Paul reminds us that holiness is not perfection but perseverance—choosing Christ again and again, even when the path is steep.

In Piazza del Popolo, we enter a space that has welcomed travellers for centuries.

At the Pantheon, we stand before a building older than Christianity itself—once a temple to many gods, now a church dedicated to the One who transforms all things. Paul preached this very message: that Christ enters every culture, every heart, every story, and makes it new.

In the Church of St Louis of the French, Caravaggio’s painting draw us into the drama of conversion – The calling of St Matthew, that reminds us of God’s invitation often comes unexpectedly, in the midst of ordinary life. Paul too was surprised by grace on the road to Damascus. We ask for the openness to be surprised today.

A well‑earned gelato stop becomes its own moment of grace—joy shared, laughter exchanged, the simple delight of being human together. Even small pleasures can become reminders of God’s generosity.

The Heart for Mission: At the Jesuit Chiesa del Gesù that housed the tomb of Ignatius Loyola,  we reflect on the missionary fire that burned in Paul’s heart.

Like Paul,  Ignatius centuries lived with a restless desire to bring Christ to the world. Here we ask: What is God inviting me to carry forward from this pilgrimage? Where is my mission field?

Finally, we return to San Silvestro for Mass, gathering once more as a community transformed by the day’s journey. The Eucharist becomes the summit of our pilgrimage—Christ feeding us, strengthening us, sending us forth just as He sent Paul.

Our day concludes with dinner at Le Grotte, where conversation, gratitude, and fellowship continue to deepen the bonds formed along the way. Paul often ended his letters with warm greetings, reminders of friendship, and encouragement.

Tonight, we echo that spirit as we share a meal and give thanks for the grace of this day.

Contributed by Josette Charles, Adelaide, South Australia.

01 May. We started the day with drizzling rain, but our spirit was high. We drove south along the water of Golden Horn. We got on board the cruise boat Basari on the west side of the water and started sailing south crossing underneath the Galata Bridge.

The boat turned north along the Bosphorus (Strait of Istanbul) which provides the connecting waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. We passed through a number of iconic structures and famous hotels such as the Ottoman Palaces, Albanian neighbourhood, Egyptian Consulate, Suleymaniye Cami (mosque), and the Leander’s Tower before we disembarked. We finished the 2-hours relaxing cruise, knowing that Fr. Chris could have spotted our boat while flying back to Manchester. We were pleased to know that Fr. Chris’s flight touched down safely in Manchester at around 2:30 pm.

The early lunch enabled us to look for authentic Turkish food which, honestly, is more appealing than the Greek one.

After lunch, we visited the famous Topkapi Palace. We started from the south gate of the Palace and walked through the Carriage Gate of Harem which served as the residential quarters of the concubines of the Sultan.

Other places of interest included the meeting place between the Sultan and his ministers, the Church of Hagia Eirene where the second ecumenical council was held in 381 AD (under renovation).

We finished the day by having a mass celebration at the hotel, thanking God for protecting us with His grace, love, and care throughout the journey. Seven of us will say goodbye to the rest of the group who will continue their pilgrimage in Rome tomorrow.

Bill Wong, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wattle Park, Victoria.

28 April 2026. We began the day in the cool stillness of an early morning, leaving the hotel at 7:00 am for our journey from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Istanbul, and onward to Izmir. There was a sense of transition, not just between destinations, but between chapters of our pilgrimage.

Our six days in Greece had come to an end. We said goodbye to Marianna, our gracious and passionate guide, and Alexander, our steady and kind driver.

They had been part of our journey in ways that went beyond logistics—they helped bring history, faith, and place to life. As we departed, we carried with us more than memories; we carried a deep gratitude for all we had seen and experienced in Athens, Corinth, Meteora, Vergina, Veria, Thessaloniki, and Philippi.

After six hours of travel, we arrived in Izmir, a vast and vibrant city—home to nearly 4.8 million people that carried the faint echoes of its ancient past.  From there, we made our way to the Agora of Smyrna, one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:8–11).

Walking among the ruins, we reflect on the enduring strength of faith that once filled this place.
Smyrna holds a profound spiritual legacy.

It was here that St. Polycarp, a disciple of John the Apostle and the city’s first bishop, lived and led the early Christian community. In 155 AD, he chose faithfulness over compromise, refusing to deny his beliefs or recognize Caesar as Lord. His martyrdom remains a powerful witness—tradition tells of his steadfastness in the face of death, and the ultimate sacrifice he made rather than abandon his faith.

As we walked through this ancient site, we were reminded that these were not just places on a map, but sacred spaces shaped by courage, conviction, and devotion. It is humbling to consider that the seeds of the church here may also have been influenced by St. Paul, as in nearby Ephesus, only 60 kilometers away.

Today was more than a day of travel—it was a crossing into another layer of history and faith, one that invites reflection, reverence, and a deeper appreciation of those who have gone before  us.

In the evening we took to the road for a two hour coach ride to Kusadasi or its ancient name Ephesus.

Father Alex Chow.

This is our first pilgrimage. We are thankful that we can make it amidst the conflict in the Middle East. We asked ourselves, what does it mean to be in the footsteps of St Paul, reading his letters while standing in the place that shaped them?

We arrived Thessaloniki yesterday afternoon, 26 April 2026 and went straight up to the upper city which offers a marvellous view of city port of Thessalonik, whichi is the second largest city after Athens with a population of 1.1 million.

Ancient Thessaloniki was a major Macedonian city founded in 316 BCE, later becoming a key Roman province and an important center of early Christianity.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, we stated with a beautiful mass with Fr Alex and Fr Chris at the Immaculate Conception Church’s chapel.

Among the historical sites we visited later were the remnants of the Roman Agora, the public space once used for assemblies and markets. Around this area is believed to have stood the synagogue where Paul reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths (Acts 17:1–3). It is disheartening to see that they are now reduced to mere rubble.

Thessaloniki has been destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries—under Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Greek rule.
This recalls Jesus’ words: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). What humans build proves fragile and temporary. The impermanence of the physical world stands in sharp contrast to the enduring nature of God’s Word.

The early church that Paul planted in Thessaloniki faced persecution and marginalisation, yet they remained full of hope. Paul, imitating Christ the Good Shepherd—as Fr Alex mentioned in today’s homily—shepherded the community with deep pastoral care. He encouraged and strengthened the church through his letters and by sending them young Timothy, a concrete expression of his concern and love for them.

The ruins remind us that what is visible is temporary—but what God establishes in Christ is eternal.

Kelvin and Susan Chen, St Timothy’s Church Forest Hill