Over three Saturdays from 30 November, participants walked from St Michael's Church to Macandrew Bay and on day two Macandrew Bay to Port Chalmers via Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua.

Day three (14 December) was described as “a Long Saunter with God”, which started at Holy Trinity Anglican church in Port Chalmers at and walked to the Cathedral, then onto the Rongo stone monument at Andersons Bay inlet. The pilgrimage ended where it began at St Michael's in Elliot Street. This last leg was around 18 km…and with a change in the weather, it had real challenges!

The video above captures some of day two. Vicar of the Parish, Rev’d Michael Holdaway, said of these three special days:

"We have so many sacred places that help us to pause and reflect on our own door step: what a privilege it was to be on this unique Advent journey with others. Through sunshine and rain we glimpsed a little of what those who went before us experienced coming to a new land, with all the joys, challenges and heartache that brought. Being on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua we were surrounded by the presence of many for whom this was their first glimpse of a new land, without actually making it to shore. How special it was to visit sacred spaces, from a humble chapel to churches of brick and stone, proclaiming the good news of God with Us. It was important to remember at the Rongo stone that there are places in our city built by others who suffered extreme hardship and injustice where the Good News of Christmas still matters ."

As we remember our Lord who is the source and inspiration of such journeys... and who knew what it was like to be displaced in his own country, we remember all who long to find a place to lay their head and food to eat this Christmastide.

Watch the Video...

Prayer used each day of the pilgrimage:

Bless to us, O God

The earth beneath our feet.

Bless to us, O God, the path whereon we go.

Bless to us, O God,

The people whom we meet.

Amen