The centenary of World Mission Sunday will be commemorated during the third annual Kirup Camino in the Bunbury Diocese on October 1. Source: The Record.
Held each year to launch World Mission Month in the Bunbury Diocese, the Kirup Camino also celebrates the feast day of St Therese of the Child Jesus, patron saint of the missions.
It is inspired by the Christian tradition of pilgrimage exemplified by world-famous routes like the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The 16-kilometre pilgrimage commences with a pilgrims’ blessing at the Church of St Therese in Balingup and finishes with a pilgrims’ Mass at the Holy Family Church in Kirup.
Pilgrims follow a picturesque walk trail along the rail reserve between Balingup and Kirup, passing through lush green paddocks and beside jarrah and marri forests.
Bunbury Bishop George Kolodziej SDS will preside at the pilgrims’ Mass and will launch the Catholic Mission appeal for World Mission Month.
This year, the Church celebrates 100 years of World Mission Sunday, which was established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 to foster a universal missionary spirit, encourage vocations, and support the growing needs of those involved in strengthening the Church’s activity, particularly in developing areas.
In his World Mission Sunday message for 2026, Pope Leo XIV focused on the theme “One in Christ, united in mission”.
This theme prompts reflection on the work of missionaries around the world and highlights the universal Church’s enduring commitment to support the life-giving work of mission.
The Kirup Camino was first held in 2024, attracting 25 pilgrims. Last year’s event saw more than 60 pilgrims from a number of parishes across the Bunbury Diocese and Perth Archdiocese participate, raising more than $1000 for struggling communities in Zambia.
It is hoped this year’s event will build further on those numbers as World Mission Month focuses on supporting Malawi, which has faced severe hardship in recent years due to devastating floods which destroyed homes, farmland and entire communities.
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Annual Kirup Camino to celebrate 100 Years of World Mission Sunday (The Record)
