Broome Diocese hosted a day of pilgrimage, Mass and gathering on Sunday to honour the story of Bungarun, the Darby Leprosarium that once cared for leprosy patients.
The day began with a Jubilee Year pilgrimage, a 14-kilometre walk across the Derby marsh, from the Derby Cemetery to the Bungarun Cemetery.
This journey was more than a physical act; it was gentle and prayerful, setting a peace-filled tone for the hours that followed.
Arriving at the edge of the marsh, pilgrims were joined by the wider congregation, and together continued the pilgrimage in a reverent procession praying the Rosary while walking behind a statue of Mary graciously donated by a local family.
At the Bungarun Cemetery, Broome Bishop Tim Norton SVD, Derby parish priest Fr Steve Casey and Broome Vicar General Fr Liam Ryan led those gathered in a spirit-filled celebration of the Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti.
The liturgy included a Water Blessing Rite from local Aboriginal people.
Following the celebration of the Eucharist, many took time for quiet reflection, visiting the graves of loved ones and pausing to honour the lives, stories, and sacrifices held in that sacred ground.
The final act of the day was one of community: a shared meal and shared stories of sorrow, resilience, love, and enduring faith.
Those with lived experience of the leprosarium, including individuals born there to parents with leprosy and those who were residents of the leprosarium, offered heartfelt recollections.
Some stories were painful — tales of children separated from their families, some never to be reunited. Yet, amidst the sorrow, there was also immense gratitude. Gratitude for the Sisters of St John of God and other religious who devoted their lives in service to the residents, and for the compassion that carried so many through dark times.
FULL STORY
A Day of Pilgrimage, Remembrance and Grace at Bungarun (Broome Diocese)
