Opening
Mass with Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
The Opening Mass was the first major event of World Youth Day. It
was celebrated by Cardinal Pell with all the cardinals and bishops
of the world, including our own Fr. Philip and Fr. Michael. The mass
was celebrated in Barangaroo, a large concrete area newly developed
for the events.
Cardinal Pell
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor at the Mass
Cardinal Pell before the Mass at a Press Conference attended by
James
We arrived at 12:30pm, nice and early for Mass
which began at 4:30, we were then able to ‘set up camp’ in the area
were assigned and received lunch from the refreshments tent. The
weather was beautiful, with warm comfortable weather all afternoon. Mass began
with the arrival on the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Mary which
has travelled around the world in preparation for Sydney. This is
the same Icon and Cross which visited St. Joseph’s Cathedral in 2005
before the last World Youth Day in Cologne. With no big screens in
the area we had to rely on the audio commentary. The music and the
setting of the Mass was amazing and it was a fantastic experience
for the whole group.
Dominic, James, Louise, Paeder and Gabi settle in to
Barangaroo
The Welsh Dragon at Sunset in Sydney
The WYD Cross and Icon on display at St. Mary’s Cathedral
The Papal Arrival and Catechesis
Between Wednesday and Friday of this week the
group has been involved in daily Catechesis sessions with visiting
Bishops from around the world. We have been based in Kirribilli,
North Sydney – just the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The
church there has been the main base for Menevia, groups from
America, Australia and Uganda. The sessions are designed for sharing
and learning about the Catholic faith and give pilgrims the
opportunity to question Senior Catholic clergy on questions of
faith.
Each session’s theme was based on the theme of World Youth Day
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be my witnesses”
Acts 1:8
The visiting Bishops would then base their talk
on this theme, which has usually been the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The sessions ended with Mass celebrated by the visiting clergy.
Mass on Wednesday with Bishop Mark, Visiting Bishop,
Archbishop Dennis of Uganda
The group at Kirribilli following a session
Bishop Mark joined us for Wednesday and Thursday’s sessions and
con-celebrated Mass with the visiting Bishop in the afternoon along
with Fr. Philip, who proclaimed the Gospel on Friday, and Fr. Neil.
Thursday saw the arrival of Pope Benedict in Sydney. The Pope
arrived in Australia on Monday and has been resting at a retreat in
the Blue Mountains, not far from where we visited, since then. He
made his way into Sydney on Thursday morning where he held various
meetings with senior politicians. He was visiting Admiralty House,
the Sydney home of the Australian Prime Minister, in the morning
which was not far from the Catechesis centre, so before our session
we waited outside Admiralty House for his arrival for approx 2
hours. When he arrived we all had a very good view and greeted him
with flag waving and cheering.
Representatives of the group then returned for the Catechesis
session while the others decided to stay and see him leave after his
meetings. We moved sections to get a better view and waited for his
departure. He left after an hour of meetings and again drove past,
with a few convinced he had waved and smiled at them!!
The Pope received an official welcome in the afternoon on Sydney
Harbour which was very difficult to view but we tried!! Some viewing
from Circular Quay and others at Barangaroo. Then while having lunch
in a restaurant a group of us were lucky enough to see him pass
again during his tour of the city in his Popemobile.
Fr. Philip keeping busy with Kimberley when waiting for the
Pope
Pope Benedict on his ‘Boatcade’ in Circular Quay
Friday has seen the final Catechesis session and the live Stations
of the Cross across Sydney. The began with Pope Benedict saying the
first prayer at the first station from the crypt of St. Mary’s
Cathedral. Tens of thousands of people have lined the streets of
Sydney and her landmarks, including the Harbour, Opera House,
Circular Quay and Darling Harbour, to follow the processions.
The group have met numerous other pilgrims from around the world.
Gabi, Rachel and Sinead with some other visitors
Paedar, Louise, James and Gabi with some pilgrims with Welsh
connections
Friday night will see the group visit Sydney Opera House to see the
performance of Missa Solemnis. An amazing opportunity for the
group!!
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