Hope in every step

Participants from Our Lady of the Way Parish in North Sydney walked 2 to 4 km in solidarity with the people of Myanmar

In the week coinciding with the feast day of St Ignatius of Loyola, Australian Catholics of all ages participated in Jesuit Mission Australia’s One Foot Raised campaign to raise awareness, prayers, and funds for the people of Myanmar.

Inspired by the example of St Ignatius the Pilgrim, who lived with “One Foot Raised”—ready to take action for justice and help those most in need—participants raised over $53,000 for people affected by conflict, oppression, and poverty and, with every step taken, offered their prayers and intentions for the suffering people of Myanmar.

The Jesuit Mission Sydney team walked 10 km, including across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge, after a shared prayer for Myanmar

A number of Australian Jesuit schools, parishes, and ministries participated, including, Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview (NSW), Our Lady of the Way Parish North Sydney (NSW), The Cardoner Network (NSW), Saint Ignatius College Geelong (VIC), Sevenhill and Riverton Parishes (SA), and Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia. Additionally, Xavier College Kew (VIC) will undertake One Foot Raised later in the year.

“This was such a moving expression of solidarity with those communities experiencing suffering and conflict,” says Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission Australia.

“Now with two feet rested and hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate our Australian Catholic community’s response to Myanmar’s cry for help.”

Sevenhill and Riverton parishes walked the Sevenhill Heritage Trail involving prayers at St Aloysius Church, the Marian Shrine, the St Ignatius Shrine, and the Weikert family plot in Sevenhill Cemetery, the resting place of Franz and Fransiska Weikert, who brought the first Jesuit missionaries to Australia in 1848

In Myanmar, over 18 million people, including 6 million children, are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Internally displaced people are living in temporary shelters built with tarpaulin sheets and bamboo, unsafe from the rain and wind and the increasing indiscriminate artillery and air strikes from the military.

Jesuit Mission’s partners continue to prioritise urgent emergency relief such as medicines, shelter, food, and clothing for those who are displaced and trapped. The Jesuits are also providing thousands of children and youth with quality education and formation to make positive change for their country in the years to come.

We continue to pray for peace and justice for all those affected by conflict. Jesuit Mission hopes to raise $75,000 for One Foot Raised this year. Those who want to donate to the cause can visit onefootraised.org.au.