Local Pilgrimage sites for the 2025 Jubilee year
Australia is home to over 5 million Catholics who make up around 20 per cent of the population. In the country, the Catholic faith had humble beginnings among the Irish minority in early colonial times. Today, churches and spiritual centres have been established across the continent.
These locations contribute to Australia’s rich Catholic history and offer spaces for prayer and renewal for locals and visitors alike. Three sites have been named pilgrimage churches for the Adelaide Archdiocese during the upcoming Year of Hope.
St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide South Australia
The Cathedral is dedicated to the great 16th century Spanish Jesuit missionary saint who is also a patron of the Church in Australia and patron of our first bishop Francis Murphy (1844-58). Initial construction began in 1851 and there have been various phases of activity leading to the installation of the tower in 1996. The building of the Cathedral began in 1851, making it the oldest cathedral in Australia. The tower was not completed until 1996 – 145 years almost to the day after workers had dug the first sod for the beginning of work on the Cathedral site.
The Cathedral is usually a busy place with several daily Masses, Rosary and confessions as well as weddings, baptisms and funerals. It is both a Cathedral and a parish church, so there are usually many diocesan and parish events held here.
For Mass times and other information: Find a Church/Mass
Mary MacKillop Penola Centre, South Australia
This museum centre was erected to highlight the impressive life of St. Mary MacKillop, a religious sister who founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (known as the Josephites) in 1866 to establish numerous schools for the poor throughout Australia and New Zealand. The centre contains two sections – one that focuses on St. Mary MacKillop, and the other on Fr. Julian Tenison Woods, the co-founder of the order. For information and to plan your visit: www.mackilloppenola.org.au
Sevenhill Winery and Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Clare Valley, South Australia
Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia (JISA) runs a retreat centre in Clare Valley known as Sevenhill, which was established in 1851 and is considered the birthplace of the Jesuits in Australia. The centre offers a space for prayer and contemplation according to the spiritual principles of St. Ignatius. It is also connected to one of Australia’s oldest and most famous wineries, originally constructed by the Jesuits to produce sacramental wine. For information and to plan your visit: jisa.org.au/sa-sevenhill/