St Mary’s hosts Bishop Hans for the 2025 Pilgrimage Walk of Hope

POSTED May 8 2025 , News, Parents & Community

This week, we proudly welcomed Assistant Bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Perth, Bishop Hans Christiansen, during his 100km Pilgrimage Walk of Hope. During his five-day journey, he will visit 10 Anglican schools across Perth’s northern suburbs.

Starting at St James’ Anglican School in Alkimos, Bishop Hans had walked 42km before arriving at St Mary’s. Joined by Reverend Dr Eleanor O’Donnell, the walk of faith on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar People is in conjunction with the nationwide Anglican initiative of HOPE25 and is raising money for Anglicare WA Sleepout and Trillion Trees Australia.

The Bishop said, “In a complex world of great uncertainty, increased loneliness, isolation and climate change, we will slow down, worship and walk together. As we do so, we will get to know each other as we connect with our local environment, create new friendships and grow a sense of our shared Anglican identity and community.”

Reverend Ruth, staff and about 100 Junior School girls walked down to Clarko Reserve in Trigg to greet Bishop Hans and the St Mark’s Anglican Community School students who had accompanied him on the three-hour walk from their school to ours.

Reverend Ruth planned a wonderful afternoon of activities for Bishop Hans, starting with a short service in Chapel Valley, followed by lunch with the Chapel Prefects, School Community Captains and Year 10 Anglicare Ambassadors in the Boarding House. He then took in all the action at our Boarders vs Day Girls netball match and concluded with a visit to the Junior School for an engaging Q&A.

Despite Reverend Ruth sporting a broken rib, she joined Acting Principal Mrs Rebecca Payne, staff from both the Junior and Senior School, plus students from St Mary’s and Hale to walk alongside Bishop Hans for the next eight kilometres of his journey to Hale School.

You can find more photos from the afternoon here.