There’s a particular kind of Catholic story that unfolds in hands that build, restore, cook, fundraise and simply turn up when something needs doing. Not everyone is called to preach or lead from the front; some are called to serve in practical ways, behind the scenes, keeping things going so parishes can flourish.

You might first meet that spirit at Barney’s Picnic, the long-running gathering of the Knights of the Southern Cross. A tradition born in the 1960s on the banks of the Murray River, it still carries the same rhythm today: Mass first, shared food after, and fraternity that stretches across decades. Roast lamb, long conversations and, as the story goes, “a little fermented grape juice” enjoyed in good humour and even better company. It’s part celebration, part reunion and part reminder that faith is meant to be lived together.

But Barney’s is only the front door. Inside, there’s a much bigger story.

Across the Diocese of Sandhurst, the Knights are at work in practical, hands-on ways: gifting rosary beads to adults entering the Church through RCIA and children receiving their sacraments in schools; restoring sacred shrines such as those at the Cathedral and St Therese’s; directing traffic at the Season of Creation Mass; or ushering at diocesan events.

The Knights turn sausages at Bunnings to raise funds, which they then forward on to other causes, such as the creation of the diocesan 150th anniversary Processional Cross, the restoration of a chalice used in prison ministry so that those in custody might celebrate Mass with the same dignity as anyone outside. They also contributed to St John of God’s surgical Robot fundraising campaign.

They fundraise, they repair, they organise – often quietly, and often without attention. And that’s the point. Because at its heart, the ‘Knights’ are about service. They are men who choose to put their faith into action in simple, tangible ways, who understand that fixing something broken, or making something possible for others, is its own kind of ministry.

It’s also about companionship on the journey. Men walking alongside other men, sharing experience, encouragement and the occasional story, probably at Barney’s over a sausage and a laugh.
So, if you’ve ever wondered where you might belong, or how to put your faith into practice in a real and grounded way, or would like to spend more time in the company of good men, maybe you should give one of the Knights a call. The door is open.

To get in touch email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

pdf Download the Bendigo Branch Flyer(2.94 MB) .

Image top-right:  Fr Mick Morley enjoys company of the Knights after celebrating Mass at the Barney's Picnic.

Return to Sandpiper e-News 121 (8 May 2026)