Draft:Christus Rex Pilgrimage



The Christus Rex Pilgrimage (English: Christ the King Pilgrimage), or CREX, is an annual Australian pilgrimage in the state of Victoria from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat, to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. Pilgrims spend 3 days walking approximately 90km between the two cathedrals, concluding with a Solemn Mass upon arriving in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. The pilgrimage is organized by the Christus Rex Society Inc, a Catholic lay volunteer organization. The pilgrimage takes place during the last weekend of October, celebrating the Feast of Christ the King which Pope Pius XI originally instituted on the last Sunday of October each year in his encyclical, Quas Primas.

Background
Prior to modern transportation, Christian pilgrimages were understood to be arduous journeys undertaken on foot or horseback to a holy site. The challenges which these journeys entail (e.g. rain, heat, fatigue, cold) are seen by Christians as an allegory of the daily challenges of earthly life, while their holy destinations are symbolic of the joys of heaven. For this reason, medieval pilgrimage routes which require walking such as the Way of St. James are still popular today amongst some Christians.

History
The Christus Rex pilgrimage is based on the French Pentecost pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres. Both pilgrimages are primarily attended by Catholics who are attached to the Tridentine Mass, although registration is open to everyone, including non-Christians. Each day of the pilgrimage, Solemn Mass is celebrated according to the Roman Missal in force before the liturgical reforms related to the Second Vatican Council. Similar pilgrimages also take place around the world.

The annual event began in 1991, where around two dozen pilgrims were accompanied by Canberra priest, Fr. John Parsons, as their chaplain. The number of pilgrims have grown over the years, and the event is now attended by hundreds of Catholic Christians from across Australia, as well as pilgrims from other countries. The event is popular amongst students and young adults. Some of the Australian and New Zealander bishops have publicly supported the event by concluding the annual pilgrimage with a Pontifical High Mass at the Bendigo Cathedral. Bishops Peter Elliott, Basil Meeking, Columba Macbeth-Green, and Richard Umbers have celebrated the closing Mass in past years.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the pilgrimage was temporarily suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the public health restrictions in the state of Victoria. In 2022, the pilgrimage was resumed, and celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Registrations for the pilgrimage open after the Feast of Pentecost each year.