In an age where young men can struggle to find authentic role models and meaningful community, the Camino of St Joseph offers something different—a call for the ordinary to become extraordinary.
More than 1,000 men are expected to walk through the night across seven churches from Como to Cronulla and for them the overnight pilgrimage is more than just a spiritual journey—it’s become an annual call to authentic Catholic manhood.
For Elio Haddad, team leader at Macquarie University Chaplaincy, this year will see him transition from participant to volunteer, after experiencing the walk’s transformative power.
The appeal is clear: “I think a lot of young guys like to be challenged. I think that’s an element of Christian faith that can sometimes go under-appreciated. A lot of the challenging aspects, walking through the night, no sleep or food, really appeal to a young man’s desire to do something worthwhile, to do something that pushes them and something meaningful.”
In this way, the physical and spiritual challenge becomes a doorway to a deeper encounter with Christ. “It’s a physical challenge and also a spiritual challenge, and it combines both those elements,” Elio explains. “I think you’re invited by the challenge, but then in that challenge, you’re brought to a spiritual experience within it.”
Cam McAuley, a resident of Sumner House—a discernment house for young men exploring vocations to priesthood, walked last year with eight others from the house. He believes the camino is special because of the brotherhood it fosters among participants.
“Last year we came together as just ‘a bunch of nobodies’ from different backgrounds and families, united by a common desire to become better men. Today we are tighter than ever because of the walk,” he said.
“We tried to follow in the footsteps of Christ and St Joseph, being the father figure of Christ himself and there’s no better example than that.”
“It was definitely like a communal and spiritual experience to do it with a group of friends,” said Elio of the camino. “And to have religious deacons and priests doing it alongside you, it gives you strength. You need it, because it’s a very long night, and you go through different phases throughout the night, and it can be really tough.”
One of the most challenging parts of the overnight journey, said Elio, is between 2am and 4 am, “when participants might consider quitting but ultimately push through”.
But it is this shared struggle of body and mind that creates lasting bonds.
“You have to push through, you can start thinking about grabbing an Uber or just quitting but as a group you find strength in hanging in there, people around you can encourage you, or someone starts with the rosary or a hymn and before you know it, those thoughts go away,” he noted.
The choice of St Joseph as patron for this pilgrimage is particularly significant. As Cam noted, at each church stop pilgrims learn more about St Joseph, that he “had the capacity to nurture God” and that he “silently served God and demonstrated what men are truly called to be”.
“In the most challenging times throughout the night, these talks are like pep talks, they provide a deeper knowledge about St Joseph and give you the strength, that we could draw on to keep going, he said.
These talks will sustain the men again this year at seven churches along the route, from St Joseph’s in Como to St Aloysius in Cronulla.
Elio described the satisfaction that comes with completion: “By the time you get to the morning and the sun is starting to rise and you’re approaching the final church, you’re just really satisfied with having gone through with it all, having stuck out and just joked and spent a good time with your friends while you’re doing it.”
Both Elio and Cam are excited about this year, particularly the thought of finishing along the promenade of Cronulla beach, as the sun rises on a new day. For the 1,000 men expected to participate, it won’t just be about the physical steps they’ve just taken, but the steps they’re about to take toward becoming the men God calls them to be.
