World Youth Day
Background info | Journey of the Cross & Icon | Bendigo timetable | Info for overseas pilgrims
World Youth Day 2008 comes to SYDNEY.
Young people (about 500,000!) from acros the world will come to Australia in July 15-20 to celebrate WYD2008.
What is WYD?
World Youth Day is an international convention of young people held every three years in a different host city. In 2008 Sydney expects to host half a million young pilgrims, with approximately 125,000 international participants, for a week-long festival of prayer and celebration culminating in an outdoor mass at Randwick Racecourse celebrated by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Read more...
Latest
World Youth Day 2008 has passed, a stunning success by any measure. Here are some thoughts by some of our pilgrims:
We left Bendigo at 6am, and 11 hours later arrived at our accommodation – St Agatha’s Primary School in Pennant Hills.
Mornings involved Catechism sessions, which included singing and listening to international Bishops share their experiences and stories. The afternoons were for youth events, which were hosted at amazing venues all over Sydney...theatres, art shows, justice forums and concerts. Our very own Rob Galea was one of the stars and we were so proud to be there to support him!
One major highlight was the opportunity to see Pope Benedict XVI. We welcomed him on the Thursday at Barangaroo where we were only metres away from the Pope Mobile – it was incredible!
On Friday afternoon we went to the Stations of the Cross which were acted out at various places all over central Sydney. The young actors who interpreted Jesus’ final days where fantastic and it was a very moving experience.
Saturday morning we packed our sleeping gear and headed off on a 10.5km pilgrimage over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse where that evening, along with 250,000 other Pilgrims we experienced a candlelight vigil – it was an amazing sight. We then slept under the stars, waking to prepare for the Final World Youth Day Mass on the Sunday with 400,000 others! This day was the culmination of the Youth Day activities and along with the Mass, Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement that Madrid, Spain will host the next World Youth Day in 2011.
The events throughout the week were unforgettable, but perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of WYD was being given the chance to meet so many young people from all over the world in such a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. At no time did we walk past a group of pilgrims without saying hello, often stopping for a chat and photo. More specifically though, WYD was a faith journey for all who are searching for a deeper relationship with God through Christ.
Seeing others who shared the same faith allowed an ‘openness’ to express and strengthen our own: “I have discovered that the church is young and alive today…”. Josephine O’Dwyer, (12X). This led to an incredible infusion of joy in the hearts of pilgrims from Catholic College Bendigo. It has encouraged and motivated them to reach out to other people and to be open with their Christian faith.
“Being in one place with hundreds of thousands of people all there celebrating the same faith was amazing,” says Camilla McCloud (12G). “From this experience, I feel as though I have this new found power to be able to strengthen my relationship with God and celebrate my faith.”
Bridget Brennan (10R) agrees: “I think that after WYD, I feel more open with my faith and my relationship with God. After being with 400,000 young people with the same beliefs, I feel more able to express my faith and share the love with others.” This was of course, always accompanied by the strong and supporting words of our Bishop, Bishop Joe Grech, that “GOD DOES NOT MAKE RUBBISH!!!...”
Both Jessica and I agree that it would take a very long time to describe the faith journey that so many experienced, including us! This is only but a meagre attempt at explaining the amazing week which we experienced. Special thanks to all organizers for making our journey a very successful one! Once we’ve had some decent sleep, we hope to find other ways of sharing other inspirational WYD stories.
WYD Cross & Icon
The WYD Cross, a 4m high wooden cross, and Icon of Our Lady are here in Australia right now! Read more...
Journey of the Cross & Icon in Bendigo
You can watch the YouTube movie now
Thursday 13th March
Event |
What will happen? |
When & Where? |
Official welcome of the Cross and Icon to Bendigo. |
The Bishop, Religious & Indigenous Leaders and Civil dignitaries will welcome the Cross and Icon to the Bendigo Region. A Liturgy, speeches and musical performance. |
Lake Weeroona precinct, |
Primary Schools walk to St Peter’s P.S. |
Grade six students from the Catholic Primary Schools of the Bendigo Region will carry the Cross and Icon in relay to St Peter’s. |
10.45am-12pm. |
Primary Schools Encounter at St Peter’s. |
Grade six students from the Catholic Primary Schools of the Bendigo Region will gather for a Reconciliation Liturgy at St Peter’s. |
12pm Liturgy at St Peter’s for Primary School students. |
University Encounter: Stations of the Cross at LaTrobe University |
Students and staff from LaTrobe University have prepared Stations of the Cross with a Justice focus. |
2.30 – 3.45pm, Fountain Courtyard. |
Parishes of Bendigo Region Pilgrimage |
Each Parish has been assigned a section of the Pilgrimage (from the University to St Kilians) to “Carry the Cross”. Everyone is invited to take a turn at “carrying the Cross”, in a public declaration of our faith. |
4pm: leave the University |
Bendigo Region Family Mass & encounter with the Cross and Icon |
Mass, celebrated by Bishop Joe for the whole Bendigo Catholic community. |
6.15pm in the grounds of St Kilians Church. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on. |
Loaves & Fishes Meal! |
Bring a meal & a dessert to share. Drinks for sale to raise money to support WYD pilgrims. |
7.15pm Grounds of St Kilians Church. Entertainment & time to catch up and/or meet new friends… |
Adoration of the Cross/Icon |
Quiet prayer with the Cross |
9pm-10.30pm, St Kilians. |
Friday 14th March
Event |
What will happen? |
When & Where? |
Morning Mass & Adoration of the Cross/Icon. |
Mass & then quiet prayer time. |
St Kilians, 7.30am- 9am. |
Catholic College Bendigo Encounter |
A public pilgrimage through the streets of the city, pausing for prayer for the needs of our world at places of significance to the Bendigo community. |
Leaves St Kilians at 9.15am. Destinations: Chinese Precinct, Roslyn Park, Town Hall, War Memorial, Coolock, conclude at the Cathedral at 12.30pm. |
Sandhurst Schools Encounter |
Mass at the Cathedral for representatives of all Sandhurst Catholic Schools. |
1.30pm |
Communal Prayer and Adoration of the Cross/Icon. |
Parishes will each lead 30 minutes of prayer with the Cross and Icon (Taize, Rosary etc). |
3pm – 6.30pm, Cathedral |
Mass: Including handover of the Cross and Icon to Paramatta |
Mass, celebrated by Bishop Joe. |
7pm, Cathedral |
Private Adoration of the Cross/Icon |
Private Adoration of the Cross/Icon |
8.30pm – midnight. |
Download the Sandhurst info (opens in a new tab/window)
SYM website details
For more info hit the web site
www.wyd2008.org
The Sandhurst connection
www.sym.org.au
Listen
Hear Guy Sebastian's anthem for WYD2008, Receive the Power, on YouTube
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLK1PJvExI
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yHlncJ970T8 (international vesion)
(NB YouTube is blocked within the school. Ask the staff to arrange access with IT, or follow the link outside. wyd2008 has posted other videos there too.)
News
Registrations keep coming in for World Youth Day
Since group registrations opened on 2 March 2007, groups representing almost 204,000 people have indicated their intention to attend WYD08 from 15-20 July next year. The latest data shows more than 63,000 Australians are currently expected to register for the Catholic Church-sponsored event while the remainder are from overseas, Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey said.
"This indicates we are likely to exceed our target of 125,000 international pilgrims," Mr Casey said. "This is a wonderful response with 200 days still to go." Mr Casey said individuals within those groups need to register separately, but a very high proportion was expected to do so over the remaining months.
"This will be the largest event held in Australia in terms of participants and will deliver a significant boost to the NSW and Australian economies. With the support of the Federal and State Governments, we are progressing well in our plans for accommodation, catering and event planning."
The leading source countries, with current expected pilgrim numbers, are:
Australia: 63,398
United States: 37,630
Italy: 18,908
Germany: 9,657
New Zealand: 8,002
On Wednesday 12 September 2007 a group of 80 students from Catholic College Bendigo took the three hour bus trip to Wangaratta to attend the Sandhurst Diocese Rally for WYD 2008, which is to be held in Sydney.
We were welcomed to Galen Catholic College, along with many other Catholic Secondary schools from across the Sandhurst Diocese. The morning kicked off with a couple of games, led by the Youth Ministry Team from St. Edmund’s College, Canberra. We heard from past pilgrims who attended WYD 2005 in Germany and got to listen to a Christian rock band called Ascending Rain. We also got to watch an engaging drama performance called ‘Doors’, performed by St. Edmund’s Youth Ministry Team.
We then heard from Bishop Joe Grech regarding our calling for WYD 2008, and then had time for prayer and refl ection. The day was a great chance to meet other teens that will also be travelling to Sydney for WYD2008.
Other News
We now have over 100 students from Years 9,10 & 11 who have expressed interest in attending WYD08 with the CCB group. If your son/daughter is in these year levels and you did not receive a note about this exciting opportunity, please contact the La Valla or Coolock General Office.
There will be an information night for all parents in Term 4 (date to be confi rmed). Just to clarify a few things: the cost will be around $550, which includes all transport, food and accommodation for the week-long event in Sydney. There will be some financial assistance available. Students must have turned 16, by 31 December, 2008 (ie. next year) to attend.