THE WAY TO ST JAMES FOUNDER FR MICHAEL TATE
FR Michael Carter Tate AO (6 July 1945 – 5 June 2026) was an Australian legal academic and Labor Party politician who later became an ambassador and then a much-loved Catholic Priest in Tasmania.
Fr Michael was the parish priest of Bridgewater, Sandy Bay, the Huon Valley and South Hobart. His death this year touched so many, and we, the committee, are determined to ensure his legacy endures.
Fr Michael was the inspiration behind the Way to St James Cygnet Pilgrimage.
When Fr Michael was posted to the Cygnet parish, the southernmost parish in Australia, he realised that there were many similarities between the Camino de Santiago in Spain and his new parish, including:
The church is called St James (San Tiago – in Spanish) and is built in a Spanish style.
The beauty of the surrounding countryside of the Huon Valley is reminiscent of the natural landscapes pilgrims walk through along the Camino in Spain
The maritime aspect of the region including harvesting scallops.
He became determined to establish a local Camino.
Fr Michael understood the significance of pilgrimage and its potential to bring people together from all walks of life to walk in peace and solidarity. He had a real love for the Camino and his vision was to incorporate the key symbols from this ancient medieval pilgrimage into his Tasmanian dream. These symbols include the wearing of a scallop shell, the carrying of a pebble, collecting stamps in a pilgrim passport, the use of yellow arrows to guide the pilgrims on the right path and the swinging of the “botafumeiro” thurible with its incense to bless pilgrims at the final ritual in St James church. Fr Michael was so excited in January 2026 to add the final Camino symbol to the pilgrimage by installing a Camino marker in front of the church. Made in the same dimensions as those on the path in Spain and with a scallop tile from Santiago, this marker signals the distance from Cygnet to the Cathedral in Santiago. Fr Michael blessed the marker at the end of the pilgrimage.
A key focus for Fr Michael was the invitation to pilgrims to connect with nature, and to let the natural landscape contour their souls. His annual St Francis of Assisi talk to pilgrims highlighted this as he shared the inspiring “Canticle of Creatures” with them.
We cannot underestimate the impact of the Way to St James pilgrimage on those who participate each year. The large number of pilgrims who return each year is testament to the fact that this pilgrimage touches hearts and minds and connects with participants on a deeper level. Many interstate pilgrims now make the journey to Tasmania each January to enjoy both the beauty of the Huon Valley and the camaraderie of others.
The impact of this pilgrimage extends beyond Tasmania to across the world as a result of the Global Camino, which was created during the COVID pandemic. Now each year, over 1,500 pilgrims walk in 50 countries, many braving snow and icy temperatures in the northern hemisphere to walk in solidarity with the Tasmanian pilgrims. A number of Global pilgrims from New Zealand, Italy, and America have been inspired to travel all the way to Tasmania to walk with us.
His legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of our Tasmanian and Global pilgrims and all who had the privilege of meeting him and walking these pilgrim paths inspired by him.
May he rest in peace and continue to inspire all of us!
Buen Camino Fr Michael
Banner photo: Fr Michael Tate AO leading pilgrims at the end of the 2026 pilgrimage to St James’ Church, Cygnet (photo courtesy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart)