Irish-born Eaglehawk Parishioner, Eddie Davies, is a man with a mission, taking his faith from place to place on his Travelling Rosary Crusade.
By Eddie Davies
My first memory of entrusting my life in the hands of our Lord was at the age of ten; I almost drowned when I fell into a deep swimming hole. Not being able to swim, I went straight to the bottom like a brick. I remember floating, arms outstretched, a feeling of peace. It was then I saw my life pass before my eyes like a slow-motion movie, every detail of my short ten years on this earth. There was no panic, just peace. Then, my brother grabbed me and pulled me to the surface.
I almost died that day in 1955, but God had a plan for me and some fifty years later, in Australia, I saved the lives of three people – two from drowning, and one young lady, who distractedly stepped out in front of a speeding car, by quickly grabbing her by the collar and dragging her back to safety.
I was born in Ireland in 1944. My wife and I married in 1972, and in 1974, we emigrated to Australia with our newborn daughter – I was thirty years old.
In 1992, after raising two daughters and twenty years of marriage, my wife and I separated, and later we were divorced. I struggled with my new life as a divorcee. My struggle continued into a downward spiral, taking me further away from my Catholic faith.
In 2001, I became very sick with an incurable disease that tested what little faith I had left. The doctors told me there was no cure for the illness. At that moment, I should have turned back to my faith, returned to the Lord but, instead, I turned further away.
In 2002, I took a trip back to Ireland to see family in my hometown of Warrenpoint. I was happy to be home, despite being very sick. A family member suggested I make a Pilgrimage to Knock in County Mayo. Knock, of course, is famous throughout the Catholic world for the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph and St John the Evangelist on the Catholic Church Gable wall on 21 August 1879.
I decided to place the fate of my life once again in the Lord’s hands and travelled to Knock the following day, praying as I placed my hand on one of the original stones from the gable wall. The next day, I awoke feeling exhausted and drained of all energy. I rested and prayed. The following day, my health started to improve. With no symptoms for the last twenty years, I have been cured. A true Miracle, thank you, Blessed Mother Mary.
Since then, I have returned to Knock from Australia on four separate occasions, each time thanking the Blessed Mother Mary for my healing miracle.
In 2016, I moved to central Victoria. At age 72, my life changed completely. I started attending my local parish church, making many new friends and putting my engineering and carpentry experience to good use by fabricating new steel gates and organising Parishioners to erect and paint 100 feet of new fencing at the front of the church. God truly had a plan for me. I became involved in many Apostolate groups. I am Vice President of our Legion of Mary Presidium Eaglehawk, a Member of Knights of the Southern Cross, the Apostolate of Fatima, the Serra Club and President of the Central Victorian Irish Association. But God’s plan had not ended there.
I started reading the Bible and attending Mass daily. I volunteered as a hospital chaplain, visiting the sick and dying, bringing communion and prayer to those in need. I prayed daily for them and for the Holy Spirit to guide me in my evangelising mission. The Lord was listening. I received an overwhelming urge to evangelise. I discussed this calling with four different priests who all supported and advised me to listen with an open heart to the Holy Spirit.
I wasted no time in organising Rosary Crusades in parks and gardens, in churches and a Cathedral. The Holy Spirit was truly working through me, and I felt the need to travel to those in need. My small caravan had been unused for many years. My daughter, Mandy, using her craft skills, added the words Travelling Rosary Crusade across the side of the Caravan, with large printed stickers of the Divine Mercy and the Blessed Virgin Mary secured to the van. I was now ready to travel.
My first trip was in 2022 to southwest Victoria, stopping in every town I passed through to read the daily Gospel and say at least one decade of the Rosary. In the very Irish area of Koroit and Port Fairy, I was given a warm welcome. The Parish Priest allowed me to use the side chapel for the Rosary and a short talk. The Parishioners were warm and welcoming.
My next Evangelising trip was a 2,500 km journey inland in New South Wales, departing Bendigo on Friday 3 March, 2023. My first Rosary was held at Elmore, just out of Bendigo, for the parishioners of Rochester, who had been (and still are) affected by floods. Travelling the Newell Highway to Narrandera, then across to The Rock, a small town 30 km from Wagga Wagga, and then back onto the Newell Highway to Armadale NSW. Too many towns to write about, with many Rosaries said, Gospels read, and Churches visited.
God’s plan for me was not to approach people, but rather let my little church on wheels do the talking. The signwriting and both Jesus and Mary prominent on my caravan chapel were enough of a drawcard. Thousands of motorists who followed me, or overtook me, saw this little chapel. This is the new Evangelising, bringing Jesus to the people and planting the seed. Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a little mustard seed. When this little seed is planted, it grows into a huge plant many times the size of the seed.
During my travels in NSW, I was approached by a Presbyterian minister who was interested to know why I was saying the Rosary and praying to Our Lady, a common question from non-Catholics. I explained to Dennis by showing him the Rosary card and explaining that the Gospel mysteries are part of the Holy Rosary. This surprised him greatly, and he asked to have one of the cards. We then sat and prayed together and studied the Gospel for the next two hours.
Before moving on the next day, Dennis and I held my travelling crucifix between us and prayed together. Just three days later, I was questioned again, this time by a Jehovah's Witness travelling minister. He also requested a Rosary card but declined the Rosary beads. We also prayed together before going our separate ways.
Once again, I was planting a seed.
To follow Eddie’s Rosary Crusade on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/rosarycrusadeministry