Thirty young adults from across Perth came together on Saturday 17 September to scale the 500-metre height of ‘Mt Cooke’ with Perth’s Catholic Youth Ministry team. Photo: Supplied/CYM
It’s a beautiful September morning in Armadale.
Thirty young adults from across Perth are standing in a carpark near ‘Ye Olde Narrogin Inne’.
The attendees are dressed in a range of colourful clothes, stretching, talking, and laughing.
They’ve come together on a bright Saturday morning, 17 September, to scale up the 500-metre height of ‘Mt Cooke’ with Perth’s Catholic Youth Ministry team.
CYM Chaplain Father Joseph Laundy led the expedition, complete with walky-talkies.
Sister Luka from the Schoenstatt Shrine also attended (tackling the hike impressively in a habit!).
After some last-minute checks, the hikers began their journey up the trail.
Their first stop was at the base of the mountain, to sign the trail’s guestbook - and take many selfies - then it was onto higher ground.
Participants of the CYM Mt Cooke hike came together Saturday 17 September for outdoor Mass, to spend time with friends and in admiration of God’s creation. Photo: Supplied/CYM
Things got tougher as the trail began to rise upward. Jackets and umbrella were packed away, but the propeller hat stayed on.
Soon the group reached the midway point of the trail.
The view is spectacular from halfway up the mountain. Dark hills slope off on the horizon, each folding into a different shade of green.
Plants and trees surround the narrow trail, blooming with colourful wildflowers. The group scaled over moss covered boulders, then over a small wooden bridge with water rushing below.
With the midday sun overhead, the group crest onto ‘Mass Rock’.
Sitting just under the mountain’s summit, the flat stone plateau is a wide space that is perfect for a group celebration of the Mass.
Fr Joe took out a white alb packed exclusively for the occasion and set up an altar on a small boulder nearby.
Their first stop of the CYM Mt Cooke Hike was at the base of the mountain, to sign the trail’s guestbook - and take many selfies – before heading to higher ground. Photo: Supplied/CYM.
After enjoying the view from 500 metres up, the hikers came together to celebrate Mass on the mountain. The ceremony was reverent and joyful, filled with praise and awe of God in His creation.
After the final blessing of the Mass, it was time for lunch.
The hikers settled cheerfully onto rocks dotted around the plateau, talking, eating and sharing snacks brought from home.
The last hour was spent exploring the top of the mountain.
Hikers scattered across the rocks laughing and climbing over boulders. A few last-minute photos and a final gaze over the valleys, then it was back down the trail.
Getting down is easier than coming up, and soon enough the hikers were back at the bottom of the mountain.
It was a good day with friends old and new. Parting is bittersweet, but luckily Grace baked a cake! Everyone shared a piece and toasts to the day spent in God’s creation.
After the final blessing of the Mass, attendees settled cheerfully onto rocks dotted around the plateau, talking, eating and sharing snacks brought from home. Photo: Supplied/CYM
CHITTERING VALLEY CAMINO // REVISITED
SAT 29 OCT // 07:00 AM - 02:00 PM // BULLSBROOK – CHITTERING
Come and join the CYM team for another epic journey – 15km walk from the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation to the Church of the Divine Mercy. We’ll be walking through the Chittering valley experiencing the beauty of nature and the vibrancy of faith. See www.cym.com.au for details.