Roby Curtis is walking from Brisbane to Alice Springs in the spiritual footsteps of his hero, St John Paul II. Source: The Catholic Leader.
He and his companion Jeff Hoffard are just past halfway at the 1360km mark in a nine-week trek.
It is not a holiday in the ordinary sense, but it acts as a sabbatical of sorts after 16 years at the coalface of Brisbane’s homelessness crisis.
The people he serves are still on his heart – the journey from Brisbane to Alice Springs is to raise $1 million to support a “night sanctuary” for people sleeping rough.
Twice a day, Mr Curtis broadcasts live updates via Instagram.
Back in Brisbane, the visitors to Emmanuel City Mission gather around digital notice boards to watch.
“They’re really excited to be on the journey with us,” Mr Curtis says.
Their belief in him is a source of motivation when the kilometres become punishing.
He says knowing that his team at home is providing beds for 13 women and 29 men makes the early morning starts easier to bear. The vision to see that service expand is what gets him to the end of the day.
Mr Curtis is following in the spiritual footsteps of one of his heroes, St John Paul II, who took an historic pilgrimage to Alice Springs in 1986.
He has read the late pope’s words to the Alice Springs community many times.
The 40th anniversary of St John Paul II’s visit, which Mr Curtis describes as “definitive” for the Church in Australia, made 2026 the obvious year for the walk.
“We’re walking for homelessness in the spirit of honouring John Paul II,” he said.
To date, the total fundraising tally has surpassed $508,000.
To find out more about Mr Curtis’ walk, visit: www.robyswalk.com.au.
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Roby Curtis is walking to Alice Springs in the spiritual footsteps of his hero St John Paul II (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
