CEWA’s Executive Director, Annette Morey joined students and staff from Irene McCormack Catholic College, Sacred Heart College, and St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School at a special Liturgy for the Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross. The liturgy was hosted by Sacred Heart College in Sorrento.
28 Apr 2026
Executive Director attends special liturgy for the Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross
The cross will be visiting 8 parishes on the weekends and 8 Catholic schools during the week including Sacred Heart College, Ursula Frayne Catholic College, Mercy College, St John Bosco College, Corpus Christi College, Servite College, John XXIII College, and Newman College.
The national pilgrimage was launched on 5 October at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Canberra to coincide with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and the Jubilee of Migrants as part of the 2025-2026 Jubilee Year.
Carys, Year 12 and Catholic Identity Captain at Irene McCormack Catholic College said:
“The Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross liturgy at Sacred Heart, highlighted the idea of belonging and the importance of welcoming others and recognising the journeys people take. It encouraged me reflect of how our community plays a big role in showing compassion and inclusion for others in everyday life and it made me more aware of the experiences of those around me.”
Amber, Year 6 at St Anthony’s School said:
“Our experience with the Jubilee Cross was excellent because I never thought I would see an amazing artefact that had been kept for so many years. We were lucky enough not only to see it in real life but also to learn about it during a Mass held at Sacred Heart College. It contained relics such as a chip of Mary Mackillop’s coffin, a part of baby Jesus’ crib, and a little bit of Joseph’s cloth.”
Ethanyl, also Year 6 at St Anthony’s added:
“The Jubilee Cross is about remembering and honouring God’s love for migrants and refugees and honouring their courage, resilience, faith and gifts that they bring to the Church. The jubilee makes us feel happy because the Year of the Jubilee is a time for hope and pilgrimage.”
The Migrant Jubilee Cross symbolises the faith, gifts, contributions and resilience that migrant communities bring to the Church and the wider community. It is crafted from Australian timber and mounted on a boat-shaped base, reflecting the migrant journey and the Church’s call to be a refuge and home for all.
It contains relics of the Holy Family (from the manger, veil and cloak, on loan from the Order of the Discalced Augustinians), and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, gifted by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
The Cross will travel to 28 dioceses and four eparchies across Australia. It was welcomed at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday, 18 April 2026 and remains in the Archdiocese until 3 May.