Thanks for the memories

This morning at 9:00 am local time, the Holy Father met with volunteers who had worked throughout this past week to facilitate the WYD activities. During his meeting his spoke words of thanks to all those who played a part in bringing the World Youth Day activities to fruition.

This meeting took place at the Domain, a property located not far from Saint Mary's Cathedral where the Holy Father has stayed for the past five days.

• Texts of the Holy Father's parting greetings will be published in the coming days on the Vatican website

Following his meeting with the ecclesial authorities and the volunteers, his motorcade made its way to the airport where he met with civil authorities to speak words of thanks to all those who played a part in supporting World Youth Day before boarding the Qantas Airlines flight which is now bearing him and the 27 other members of his party, in company with about 50 journalists on their way back to Rome. The flight will make a stop in Darwin for refueling and then continue directly to Italy.

In the coming days, weeks, months and years, the fruits of this WYD gathering will become known in the lives of pilgrims who listened to the words and teachings of the Holy Father and other bishops who provided catechetical leadership; who participated in the various liturgies which were windows unto the sacred throughout this week; who met new friends, and discovered the call of Christ to pay heed to the presence of the Holy Spirit which empowers us all to live as his disciples.

We give thanks for all the blessings received in the words of the WYD2008 theme song: Alleluia, receive the power of the Holy Spirit; receive the power to be a light unto the world!

And finally

For the past week, pilgrims from all parts of the globe have been in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day. Throughout this week, they have been learning about faith, celebrating with friends old and new, and catching glimpses of the Holy Father as he arrived on a boat in Sydney Harbour and travelled the streets of the CBD in the popemobile.

Having witnessed the Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoon, and walked the pilgrimage on Saturday, they spent the night sleeping in the Randwick Racecourse property. This morning, as the first rays of dawn chased the darkness away, a colourful array of sleeping bags began slowly to come to life, revealing the more than 200,000 pilgrims who were wrapped within them, protected from the chill of the night air. By 7:30 am, morning rituals and movements of the masses were in full swing. Priests moved through a myriad of baricades and pathways toward their assigned places for the concelebration of the papal Mass, and preparations for Morning Prayer were being finalized.

At 8:00 am, the recitation of Morning Prayer was led by a group of Australian seminarians, and it wasn't long after this that the helicoper bearing the Holy Father arrived in the skies above Randwick. In the meanwhile, Sydneysiders who had also arrived in the early morning hours swelled the group to approximately 300,000 for the much-awaited closing Mass.

After circling above the crowd, the Holy Father touched down just outside the racecourse and boarded the waiting popemobile which then bore him, accompanied by his private secretary and the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, through the waiting crowd. They made two complete rounds of the stadium before arriving in the sacristy and the Mass began (right on schedule) a few moments after 10:00 am. Within the context of this mass which focused on the theme of the Holy Spirit, twenty-four youngsters from all parts of the world were confirmed by the Successor of Saint Peter himself.

• Homily of the Holy Father at the closing Mass

Other highlights of this liturgy included a number of polynesians who presented the Book of Gospels and a variety of pilgrims from various countries who proclaimed the Prayers of the Faithful. This international liturgical gathering was concluded with the recitatation of the Angelus, before which the Holy Father presented a brief catechesis about invoking the prayer of the Mother of God.

In the closing moments of this celebration, the Holy Father announced that the next international gathering of World Youth Day pilgrims will take place in 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

• Greeting of the Holy Father after the recitation of the Angelus

Following the completion of the Mass, the procession of young people moved away from Randwick. Having completed the formal events of this WYD gathering, this procession now speaks of the youth who will retun in the next days to their respective homes, continuing the procession of their lives, and discovering anew the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit which call us each day to a deeper understanding of the power of Christ alive in our hearts.

Walking on water

This morning we made our way to North Sydney and then began the two hour pilgrimage that would see us arrive at Randwick Racecourse. The Saturday pilgrimage is an integral part of the experience of World Youth Day, and this year's walk was among the most picturesque ever.

Only on exceptional occasions is the Sydney Harbour Bridge closed to traffic, but this morning, the ebb of pilgrims began at 5:30 am. Even before the sun had risen, the parade of pilgrims had begun, and by 11:00 am when we joined them, there was a constant stream of humanity traversing the Sydney Harbour. Pilgrims traveling in groups would stop from time to time to take pictures of themselves standing above the harbour, overlooking the Opera House and Darling Harbour.

Once across the bridge, the procession continued into Darling Harbour and then through the streets of the Central Business District to the Randwick Racecourse. At Randwick, we then had to find our way into our designated gates and then to our designated pod. By 2:30 pm, the pilgrimage was complete and we found ourselves ready for a well-deserved rest. At one point, lying on the grass, we opened our eyes to discover that the area around us, which was all but deserted when we had first arrived, had been transformed into a sea of tents, their inhabitants part of a larger group of pilgrims from Italy.

It wasn't long before every square metre of grass was occupied. Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, we spoke with some of our neighbours, rested, and kept drinking liquid. The Australian sun can often be deceiving - even in the dead of winter, the sun can be scorching and dehydration becomes a very serious problem, combined with the risk of sunburns. The funny thing is that once the sun sets - approximately at 5:00 pm these days - the temperatures plummet, and the warmth of the sun is replaced by the frigidness of winds and cool night air.

This night was to be different because as the sun set, the undulation of voices and movements of people continued, and the presenters began the evening program which included various musical performances, highlighted by the arrival of the Holy Father himself who presided at the evening vigil.

World Youth Day vigils are typically moments of deep prayer for some and certainly moments of conversion for others. They are usually built around a certain theme, and since the theme of this years encounter was You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8) the evening vigil included a series of testimonies from youth in various languages, and the presentation of twenty-four (24) candidates for Confirmation who would be confirmed by the Holy Father during the closing Mass on Sunday evening.

• Address of His Holiness at Randwick Racecourse (Sydney) during the evening vigil, Saturday, July 19, 2008

The Vigil, a spectacular moment of prayer which saw young people at prayer in the light of thousands of candles, and included profound moments of silence as they were invited to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, came to an end around 9:00 pm local time. From that moment, a series of musical performances continued until 10:00 before the pilgrims were invited to bed down for the night.

In former years, WYD festivities traditionally take place in the height of summer. July and August nights in the Northern Hemisphere are usually warm and pleasant, but July in Australia is the depth of winter, so the ambient temperature at night can fall to only 5 degrees celsius. Needless to say, there was much movement afoot and the young people continued to sing and dance - sometimes more as a way to keep warm - until they were utterly exhausted and crawled into their sleeping bags for the night, wearing all the clothes they had brought with them.

Even though on a practical note, some pilgrims were treated for hypothermia, for the most part, those gathered were well prepared for the 'naturally air conditioned' situation.

Celebrating with the local flock

The procession of WYD pilgrims across the Sydney Harbour bridge began at 5:30 this morning and will continue throughout the day. Having prayed the Stations of the Cross yesterday afternoon in venues throughout the CBD, the youth of the world become today visibile and living signs of the love of Christ as we continue our pilgrimage through the city of Sydney toward the place where we will celebrate the closing Mass tomorrow morning in presence of the Holy Father and the assembled Church.

In the meanwhile, the Holy Father is in Saint Mary's Cathedral this morning to celebrate a Mass with the priests of the Archdiocese of Sydney, the Religious and invided members of each parish of the Archdiocese.

During this liturgy, the Holy Father will consecrate the newly-installed permanent altar which will adorn the sanctuary of Saint Mary's from now on. A copy of the Holy Father's homily for this special celebration with the Church of Sydney will be available on the Vatican website once the celebration is complete.

Blessing landmarks

In 2002, the Stations of the Cross celebrated at WYD in Toronto changed forever the imagry of one of the major downtown streets of that city. University Avenue, which is famous as part of the business district of one of the world's busiest cities, was transformed into the route for the celebration of the Way of the Cross, and since that time, places such as Osgoode Hall, Sick Children's Hospital, Queens Park and the Royal Ontario Museum will always be associated in the minds of some with the major moments in the passion, suffering and death of Christ.

This ultimate gesture of self-giving was re-enacted this afternoon in the heart of the Central Business District of Sydney, half a world away. Like Toronto, some of the major sites of the downtown area of this city will from this day forward also carry different implications and memories for those who were present for the Via crucis which was enacted here this afternoon.

Shortly after 3:00 pm local time, the Holy Father himself began the Stations of the Cross with a prayer which he uttered on the front stairs of Saint Mary's Cathedral. In the fore-court of the Cathedral, the first station - Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with his disciples was enacted. From there, the procession moved to the adjacent park known as the Domain for the second station: The Agony in the Garden, and then to the steps of the NSW Art Gallery for the enactment of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.

Other sites in the CBD which hosted the stations of the cross include the Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, the waterfront property which has recently been transfromed from a series of warehouses to an open park.

Innovations added this year included transporting Jesus with the cross by boat through the harbour from the Sydney Opera House to Darling Harbour, passing beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In a real sense, the Bridge which spans the harbour will now be associated with the divine healing offered by Jesus as he walked and suffered along the Via crucis. Like him, it stretches its arms from one bank to the other, as a sign of love and welcome for all visitors, and as a sign of mercy and forgiveness that we are all called to live.

After the completion of WYD, Barangaroo will be transformed into a series of urban condominiums, but no matter what shape they take, this area will always be remembered by some as the place where the final hours of Jesus' life were enacted for all the world to see.

The dramatic enactments of World Youth Day invite the youth of the world to realize that Jesus' suffering was not a fable which belongs in books, but rather that it is a living reality that is lived each day of our lives. Having completed the catechetical sessions, and witnessed the Way of the Cross, the youth will partake tomorrow in a pilgrimage which will assemble them for a special vigil tomorrow night, and for the final Mass which will be celebrated by His Holiness at Randwick Racecourse.

Meeting with others

This morning, while the WYD pilgrims were participating in their third and final catechesis session this morning, the Holy Father held a series of meetings with representatives of other Christian churches and with representatives of other faiths who live here in Australia.

During his meetings today, the Holy Father urged members of all faiths to unite against 'indiscriminate violence' in the name of religion. These meetings with members of other churches and with those who follow other faith traditions have become a trademark of the outreach gestures that the Holy Father initiates.

The texts of the Holy Father's speeches during the Eccumenical meeting held in the crypt of Saint Mary's Cathedral this morning and of his speech with representatives of other religions, held in the Chapter House of the Cathedral detail his gestures of reconciliation tendered today.

Welcoming the Pope

This afternoon, one of the key moments in the celebration of World Youth Day finally came to pass. More than 150,000 youth gathered in Sydney have been looking forward to welcoming the Holy Father who is here to share some moments of prayer with us.

The Papal Welcoming ceremony took place this afternoon on Sydney Harbour as Benedict XVI participated in a boat-er-cade including 13 ships which travelled through the harbour to the cheers of youth who lined the seaside in the Botanic Gardens, at the Sydney Opera House, along Circular Quay and at Barangaroo in Darling Harbour. Disembarking at Barangaroo, the pope a moment to greet the youth who were gathered there to welcome him to Sydney.

Once the official greetings had been spoken, he then boarded the Pope-mobile for the motorcade ride through the downtown business district of Sydney. The motorcade travelled through the streets of downtown Sydney to the cheers of pilgrims and Sydneysiders alike. After winding its way through the Botanic Gardens and the Domain, the popemobile made its way to Saint Mary's Cathedral where the pope will spend the evening.

The meeting with the WYD pilgrims was a perfect end to a busy day of activities for the Holy Father. He visited today with the Governor General of Australia where he exchanged greetings before signing the official guest book, and then paid a short visit to the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop located in North Sydney before making his way to the harbour to join the boat-er-cade.

In the end, the papal motorcade raced through the streets of downtown Sydney because of time restrictions and because of the high level of security that is being afforded the Head of State from the Vatican. Many spectators who had waited for up to four hours to catch a glimpse of the pope got just that - a passing glimpse.

Tomorrow, the pope will meet with representatives of other christian religions and with representatives of other religions before reciting a prayer at the beginning of the Stations of the Cross at 3:00 pm tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, he is scheduled to meet with a group of disadvantaged youth in the church of the Sacred Heart (Sydney). In the meanwhile, untold miracles continue to occur among the pilgrims who are gathered here. Only in time will some of these conversion expereinces come to light.

No instant coffee in heaven

Last week, my companion and I were visiting in New Zealand and met some of the young pilgrims from that country who were on their way to Sydney for the WYD. Today, we made our way to the church of Saint Declan in Penshurst (Sydney) in order to catch up with these young Kiwis. We wanted to see how they were doing, and to take advantage of yet another experience of the catechetical sessions that are being offered throughout Sydney for the participants who have gathered here from all points of the globe.

This morning, youngsters who gathered in Penshurst were treated to a presentation on the subject of the Holy Spirit and the Church. The presenter was the Most Reverend Séamus Freeman, SAC, Bishop of Ossory, Ireland. Using his gifts of humor and frank discussion, he spoke of the Church and our belonging to it as we belong to a family.

While admitting that the ideal is not always the reality, he explained that the Church is like a family which should always make room at the 'kitchen table' for every one of us. Like families who gather in our kitchens to share the story of our lives, our struggles and our triumphs, the Church should always invite dialogue, true dialogue which expects that every contributor will be listened to and every hearer will listen intently to the words, ideas and thoughts that are shared.

Asked by the youth who were gathered there what he thought of various religious groups which try to tell the world that they have the truth about the future, about today's world and about how we should relate to them, he used the alegory of seeking help from an experienced Catholic or Christian to seek answers to the myriad options that are sometimes presented to us.

In his words, living faith today can be hard work. Admittedly, it requires us to be committed to our faith, and to be courageous enough to stand up for what we believe in. This is not always an easy choice. Getting to heaven therefore requires us to work, to commit ourselves to living according to our faith. In other words, there is no instant coffee in heaven ... we need to start with the beans, grind them to the right consistency and then make the coffee which can and will be enjoyed.

The youth invasion

What happens when the normal routine of life is turned absolutely upside down? For some people, change is just part of life, but for others, it can be upsetting ... downright catastrophic.

What happens when the population of a city is swelled by more than 300,000 young people complete with their energy, their questions, their dreams and their sense of adventure? For most of the day-to-day Sydneysiders, the presence of the World Youth Day pilgrims may well remain a part of the evening news, but for at least some of those who live and work in this metropolis, this week will be nothing short of a life-changing experience.

From the outer suburbs where some of the youth have been lodged in billeted homes to more than 200 Catholic churches throughout this Archdiocese, signs of life are abundant during this week. Sure, the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney reminded the young people that come next week, those who have come from all points of the globe will be on their way home, and at least a semblance of calm will return to the surface of the water (if our lives may be briefly compared to shallow lakes). However, it is not so much the visible changes which may be most worth our attention this week, but rather the spirit's movements in the hearts of pilgrims young and old which may be beginning during these days, or being deepened by this encounter.

Youngsters travelling in groups throughout the city streets are quick to burst into song or to greet one another in any multitude of languages. A stroll through Sydney's famous Botanic Gardens this afternoon revealed many groups who were sitting on the grass or strolling through the many pathways. In some cases, they were deepening their understanding of faith, in others, they were singing together.

In Hyde Park, thousands of young people gathered today to sing, to visit the WYD on HYDE makeshift store where souvenirs can be found in great abundance, or to prepare for their visit to the Cathedral of Saint Mary which is located on the Eastern edge of Hyde Park. Within this edifice which has stood as a sanctuary of faith for Catholics of this country for more than two centuries, young people are invited to meet some of the saints of today and yesterday, and to touch the sacred which is oh so close to us, but which we often ignore or forget because they cannot 'plug in' to the voice of God which calls to us with a promise of love, peace and joy.

For his part, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI is completing his three-day retreat at Kenthurst on the North-western edge of Sydney. This evening, he is travelling into the city of Sydney along with the other 26 members of the papal party. For the next five nights, he will stay at Saint Mary's Cathedral from where he will hold a series of private meetings, and will participate in the long-awaited papal welcoming ceremony which will take place tomorrow afternoon.

Copies of the speeches to be shared during the Holy Father's visit at Government House where he will meet the Australian Governor General and other civil authorities, and the greeting he will share with World Youth Day pilgrims and indeed all other official texts of the pope's presentations during his official visit down under will be available after they have been delivered on the Vatican's website.

Catechesis: the heart of World Youth Day

Wednesday morning in Sydney saw the next phase of the World Youth Day activities take flight. In more than 200 sites throughout this city, the pilgrims, who by now number upward of 150,000 were separated into linguistic groups to take part in Catechesis sessions which are led by the world's bishops and cardinals who are present.

Following the theme of the 23rd World Youth Day: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8), the young people will be invited to explore the role of the Holy Spirit in their faith lives today.

At the church of Saint Joan of Arc in Habberfield, a predominantly Italian neighbourhood of Sydney, pilgrims gathered today to listen to an animated catechesis led by an Italian diocese which is famous in Church circles, for it counts among its sons Saint John of Capistrano. Like all newcomers to the life of faith, these pilgrims were invited to consider some basic truths about life:

• just as babies must learn language and customs first by observation and then by trial and error, we too must first learn the ways of faith by hearing about them and then by struggling with them so that we can appropriate them for ourselves;


• we learn faith from the examples of saints as well as from those who bring us to the source of faith - Jesus Christ;


• throughout salvation history, the process of growing in faith has continued from the time of creation when we first experienced the love of the Father; to the incarnation; when God sent his son as the ultimate sign of his love; to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, gift of God for the life of the Church;


• the Holy Spirit has been in existence since the beginning of time - it breathed over the waters at the time of creation; it was present to breathe life into the reconstructed bones of Ezekiel's prophecy; it was present at the moment of the Immaculate Conception; it was present throughout the life of Jesus; it was present at the time of Pentecost when the Church was born; and it is present today to guide us as we live and love today;


• some parts of our world are in trouble today because we have forgotten how to listen to the voice of God that calls to us from the day of our baptism. This is the time for us to waken from the slumber of daily life, to waken to the voice of God, to listen attentively as He calls us to deepen our knowledge of his love, and to listen also for his voice that calls us all to live life to the fullest.

Catechetical sessions take place every morning until Friday of this week. This afternoon and this evening, a series of youth festival events are being offered throughout the city of Sydney, including a vocation pavillion which invites the worlds youth to ask questions about the possibility that Christ might be calling them to follow in his footsteps.

One of the long-lasting fruits of the World Youth Days is the number of young men and women who have answered the call of God to follow him as priests and as religious. In addition, many have chosen the married state because they have been encouraged to ask deep questions about life and to listen attentively to God's voice which calls them to make a difference in the world by being faithful to the gospel call which was given to us all on the day of our baptism. This is a call which leads some to proclaim God's mercy in the celebration of sacraments, others to celebrate God's loving gift of creation in married life and the birth of children, and others to celebrate God's love as witnesses of prayer and joy to all they meet.

World Youth Day festivities continue down under until Sunday.

G'day mates

For the past year, an electronic clock outside Saint Mary's Cathedral here in Sydney has been counting down the days until the World Youth Day festivities would begin. Finally this morning, the clock struck G'day as Sydneysiders (as the locals refer to themselves around here) saw 200,000 young people converge on the downtown area, including the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, the famous Rocks neighbourhood and the East Darling Harbour development which has been dubbed as Barangaroo.

The city of Sydney has been tranformed over these past few days. The business district, which like most other cosmopolitan cities is known for highrises, rushing pedestrians and seemingly unending traffic now has an added element of foreign youth to contend with. Sydney is no stranger to visitors; only eight years ago, they hosted the summer Olympics, but the WYD festival will make the Olympic organizational efforts pale by comparison.

Priests and pilgrims alike who arrived from all points of the globe, by aircraft, by bus, by boat or by any other means had to complete the registration and accreditation process this morning, then make their way to Barangaroo, located just west of the famous Rocks neighbourhood, on the southern shores of Sydney harbour. There, the outdoor site of the opening Mass had been constructed on a piece of land that apparently will be completely overhauled in the coming months to make room for some refurbished condominiums, perfect for the yuppie crowd.

At 1:00 pm, pilgrims began arriving at Barangaroo, and by 2:30, theare was teaming with life. Flags of almost every nation on earth were flying in the wind while sounds of laughter, song and youthful energy combined to create the traditional gathering which stretches across international borders, language barriers and deep into the hearts of the most fearful to invite all participants to follow Christ.

From 3:30 pm until just after 4:00 pm, a series of young Australians who had attended various WYD experiences since the inception of this pastoral outreach were invited to share some of the ways that this youth festival has changed their lives. Video presentations of images from the various WYD encounters also helped to recall all the miracles which have taken place, and the many thousands of lives which have been affected so profoundly by the WYD experience.

At roughly 4:15 pm, a group of aboriginals from various parts of Australia were invited to prepare the gathered pilgrims for the celebration of this opening liturgy. Singing a traditional song of welcome and with a variety of dances, they added a very unique flavor to this celebration down under.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Kevin Rudd, presented greetings and welcomed all the pilgrims, explaining that they are signs of spring within the Australian winter. He wished them all a week of fruitful encounter and a warm Sydneysider welcome.

Various interesting elements were added including a combined presentation of the book of gospels by an aglo-saxon Australian and by one of the Aussie aboriginals who processed together, holding the book until they reached the deacon who accepted it at the foot of the sanctuary and proceeded to the pulpit for the proclamation of the gospel.

In his homily, George Cardinal Pell reminded the gathered pilgrims that although many of them might have come to Australia feeling as though their faith was nothing but dry bones (Ez 37:1-14), Christ the good shepherd never leaves his flock untended. In fact he comes after the lost, seeking us out and bringing us back to himself (Psalm 22). With the power of the Holy Spirit's gifts to help us (Gal 5:16-17, 22-25), we can all find hope in the promise of the Lord who sows the seed of his word in our hearts (Lk 8:4-18) and who has the power to deepen our faith at times despite our own efforts. He then encouraged the young people to take advatage of this week to open their hearts to the love of God who awaits us all and who wants to bring us closer to himself.

At the conclusion of the Opening Mass, pilgrims were invited to remain at Barangaroo for the Opening concert which featured various local talent. The concert concluded at 10:00 pm local time with an amazing display of pyrotechnics over the Sydney harbour.

Beginning tomorrow morning, pilgrims will be invited to gather in various locations throughout the city for catechesis sessions (9:00 am to 12:00 noon) and then to participate in a variety of Youth Festival events which will continue each evening until 10:00 pm. The Vocation pavillion located in Hyde Park and the various locations for the celebration of Reconciliation with the WYD pilgrims will also be important places for some of most profound God moments this week.

Youth at prayer

The theme of the 23rd World Youth Day, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8) is already coming true.

The activities for WYD have already begun. On Monday afternoon while we were walking around the downtown area of Sydney, there were already signs that Taize prayer sessions had begun in some of the local parishes.

Throughout the evening hours, pilgrims arriving from various parts of Australia and overseas were being welcomed in various locations, including parishes in the Sydney area and the Olympic Village where the largest delegation - some 450 pilgrims in one group - will be spending their nights.

There was also a prayer vigil in Saint Mary's Cathedral where 700 young people gathered to pray in the presesence of the mortal remains of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti, one of the World Youth Day patrons. Father Thomas Rosica, CSB who facilitated this prayer vigil said that it was a very moving experience of prayer.

Later today, all the pilgrims who are here will gather on the shores of the Sydney harbour for the celebration of the official opening liturgy. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of hope.

Live coverage of the main events of WYD are being broadcast on the WYD website at http://www.wyd2008.org/.

Getting ready for WYD

Today was the first full day of Pope Benedict's stay in Australia. While he took today to rest and to welcome the Archbishop of Sydney for a luncheon meeting, the pilgrims continue to arrive in Sydney by plane, by bus, by car, on foot ... by any means of transportation that is possible.

The World Youth Day cross, which has been travelling through 400 communities across Australia in anticipation of the WYD celebration, finally arrived today by boat and in procession through the downtown area of Sydney. It was accompanied by the WYD icon which also was confided to the care of the world's youth by the late Pope John Paul II. This year, these two travelling items were also accompanied for the first time by an aboriginal talking stick.

Today was the last full day for registration of new pilgrims and for the priests who are here to complete their registration and accreditation before the beginning of official activities tomorrow. Today, my companion and I began our day at 1 Grafton Street, Chippendale - the address we had been instructed to visit in order to complete the registration for WYD, and to pick up the accreditation which will allow us to concelebrate the opening Mass tomorrow and the closing Mass on Sunday morning.

Within minutes of our arrival at 1 Grafton Street, where there were not only priests, but a long line of volunteers and other group leaders waiting to complete their registration, we were instructed by some of the volunteers that all priests had been asked to go to the famous Sydney Opera House in order to complete their accreditation. Normally, priests accompany groups of pilgrims but are not the group leaders, so the volunteers immediately instructed us to go to the Opera House, without picking up our pilgrim packs first.

Once we had finally located the room in the Opera House where the accreditation was being completed for priests, we then had to wait for more than two hours before arriving at the head of the line and getting our prized nametags which will be displayed all through the week in order to gain us access to the areas reserved for clergy this week. Only after we had procured our accreditation could we return once again to 1 Grafton Street to pick up our pilgrim packages. Thankfully, by the time we had returned, although the lines of people had not diminished, we did not have to wait too long before we got our pilgrim packs.

In all, we spent the better part of six hours travelling from one part of the city to another, and waiting - as patiently as possible - for the process of accreditation and registration to be complete. We were actually among the lucky ones; given the number of priests who have arrived and who are still arriving from all parts of the world, the waiting game has only just begun.

Tomorrow's opening Mass begins at 4:30 pm local time on the shores of the Sydney Harbour in the newly-named Barangaroo park not far from Sydney's Darling Harbour.

When all is said and done, the process of registration is constantly being improved from one experience of WYD to another. This is not an easy process, and those who are resposible for making it happen have quite a difficult task to accomplish. Given the fact that there are more than 200,000 pilgrims expected, it seems that everything can appear to be under control at least when it comes to planning the process, but when the human element is added, there are more than a few opportunities for confusion to occur, and the entire experience of WYD becomes one of patience, elasticity and realizing that this is truly a pilgrimage, the moving of people from one significant meeting of our hearts with the heart of Jesus, to another.

Within the next few days, this most recent meeting of hearts will unfold. I'm convinced that there will be miracles this week, and there will be moments to truly stand in awe of God who accomplishes the impossible with the feeble gifts of human beings who seek to follow Him.

Verso l'alto

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Australia today, and although he is scheduled to take a few days' rest before officially saying 'G'day' to the pilgrims who are gathering here in Sydney for the World Youth Day celebrations, there is already mounting excitement evident in the streets of this down under city.

This morning, we attended the celebration of Mass at the church of Saint Columba and the Holy Souls in Leichhardt, and heard about the plans being made there to welcome some of the pilgrims who will be arriving tomorrow. Some of the parishioners from this church will also be boarding buses early in the morning next Sunday to make their way to the Randwick Racecourse for the closing Mass which will be celebrated by the Holy Father.

This afternoon, we travelled into the city to visit some of the sites which are being transformed for the WYD festivities. Sydney's famous Opera House, along with the Botanic Gardens and the section just west of the Rocks known as Barangaroo will be closed off to public traffic beginning tomorrow evening until Friday night so that the WYD Youth Festival can take place there.

One of the stops along our visit this afternoon was the Cathedral of Saint Mary here in Sydney, where preparations are in high gear for the WYD celebrations. A new painting of Our Lady of the Southern Cross now graces the walls of the Cathedral. It is a very life-like rendition of the Madonna and Child commissioned especially for the WYD2008 celebration. In addition, parts of the Cathedral have been transformed to display special exhibits of Blessed Mary MacKillop, Australia's own servant to the poor whose tomb can be found in North Sydney; and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti, whose body was transported to Sydney and is now on display for the next week within the Cathedral.

On Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 pm, Cardinal George Pell will preside at the official opening Mass which is scheduled to take place at Barangaroo. In anticipation of this celebration, pilgrims who have begun arriving in Sydney since last week are gathering in Hyde Park and around Saint Mary's Cathedral, effectively filling the city with the beginnings of contageous joy, music and laughter. I'm sure that the natives in this city aren't sure what's about to hit them.

In anticipation of his arrival in Australia, the Holy Father issued a special message yesterday which he has addressed to the people of this country, thanking them for all the work they have done to prepare for WYD. He has dubbed Australia the 'great southern land of the Holy Spirit' and has invited young people from all points of the globe to join him for this celebration.

Stay tuned for more information about this awesome pilgrimage ...

Crossing the ditch

I would never have believed it just a few days ago, but these Canadian guests have actually brought a great deal of joy to my life. Sparring with them makes me feel just like they're part of the family. Well, after a few days, their visit with us came to an end today. I made sure to knock at their door early this morning - they had to be awake by 2:15 am local time so that they could leave by 3:00 am. Their flight from Auckland left this morning at 7:00 am and it's at least a 2 hour drive from here to the airport. I went back to sleep after I'd made sure they were awake (figured they'd get things sorted out, and besides, at my age, I need to get my sleep).

We received word later today to tell us that they had indeed made the flight this morning and have now crossed the ditch and met up with their Aussie hosts. I can just imagine the fun they will be having with that lot. They say that there is a party being organized tonight with some of their host's friends, and tomorrow they are invited to go to dinner with the extended family.

By Monday morning they will be right into final preparations for the World Youth Day festivities. They have received instructions about picking up their identification and registration packets and I'm sure the week will unfold, filled with all manner of other surprises. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Lunch at nan and pop's house

Yesterday, my sister and I met the two Canadian visitors. They were in a coffee shop in town with nan and we were there with our mum. Nan told us that they are priests, but we didn't believe her at first. These men were sitting with us and actually seemed interested in the life of kids here in New Zealand.

They told me yesterday that they remember meeting me when I was still a whee tot. I don't remember ever meeting them, but they tell stories of mum preparing vegetables for me. She'd boil them and mash them and then put them in ice cube trays so they could be frozen and kept in portions for me. My sister and I still come to nan and pop's farm once in a while, and nan always has vegetable soup and other delicious things for us. I don't really like the soup, but I do like to prepare my own sanwiches and I especially enjoy nan's carrot cake and biscuits (the Canadians tell me that they call biscuits cookies - how strange!).

As we arrived at the farm today, two older cousins and one of my aunties were preparing to leave. They had been here for a visit earlier this morning, and had enjoyed lunch with the Canadians, nan and pop. The two cousins will be leaving on Sunday for Sydney to take part in the World Youth Day festivities. The Canadians were chatting with them and promised to visit with them at some point next week while they are all in Australia. I've heard that Sydney is a big city, much bigger than Putaruru where we live. I wonder if they'll be able to find one another.

One of the cousins who is going to Sydney also lives in Canada. His parents, his sister and he moved to Canada seven years ago, and they left a few boxes with nan and pop until they get back. I hear that the Canadians were re-arranging the boxes today, uncovering lots of dust and the odd spiderweb (and even a rat who had eaten through a blanket). I peeped into the garage to check on the progress of their work. They've rearranged the boxes and other furniture so that nan and pop can still park their cars in the garage. It looks all neat and tidy. I'm sure that nan is very happy about this, but I'm not sure that pop really realizes what's happened there.

My sister and I are both happy to have met these Canadians. They say that they too want to come back and visit soon. I hope they do come back before long. In the meanwhile, they have promised to send letters once they get back to Canada. I'll have to look in an atlas to find out where Canada is. It would be great to visit there sometime. I've heard that it can be really cold there. Maybe if I get the chance to go, I'll have to pack all the clothes I own so I can keep warm.

Nan says that the Canadians need to go to bed early tonight, but they might still have a chance to visit (for a short while) with my two uncles. They have to leave very early in the morning so they can get to the airport in Auckland. Their flight for Sydney leaves at 7:00 am. Since we're on holidays from school this week and next, they will probably be already in the air over the Tasmin sea before my sister and I wake up tomorrow.

Creating a fuss in the thriving metropolis

Our hosts still live on the farm, although they have really retired from the fuss and bother of early morning milkings and shifting herds from one paddock to another these days. Retirement is treating them well though, and these two pilgrims are having great fun visiting. While yesterday we were content to walk the roads and marvel at the vistas of rolling hills and lush pastures complete with the fresh country air, today our hosts treated us to a different pace of life.

After travelling across the Arapuni dam, we wound our way into the great metropolis of Putaruru to explore the shops and to meet up with some more family members. Little did we know that our arrival in town would be not unlike a stone falling into a tranquil pool, the ripples moving in ever-widening circles and causing more than just a bit of fuss.

First we stopped in at a local wool shop and spent the better part of an hour delightfully watching the charming woman who welcomed us as she flitted from one skein of wool to another. The varieties of colour and textures kept us all mesmorized for quite some time but we finally settled on a few different brands, colours and types of wool, including the highly prized Marino, then it was on to choosing the right patterns for the sweaters which will be made in the coming days, weeks, months ...

Having literally exhausted ourselves shopping this morning, we had to stop in to one of the local coffee shops to have a spot of tea, one of the specialty coffees or a chocolate milkshake along with Nola's daugher Theresa and her two delightful children. When the proprietors heard that these two pilgrims were from Canada, they promply went on a shopping spree of their own: to find a guest book so we could imortalize our stay, brief as it was in this little oasis.

This is our second visit to New Zealand. The first was ten years ago, and to our absolute delight, we discovered that we had still kept some paper money from our first visit here. There is only a small problem - the paper money in New Zealand has all been changed now and the currency we had is no longer being accepted in many establishments. An easy solution to this dillema is to go to one of the local banks and ask them to exchange our out-dated money - so we thought. We asked the lady at the bank wicket if it was possible to exchange the currency, and although she was sure that there would be no problem, she wanted to check it out with some of her associates. This took another half hour of consultations and phone calls, but in the end there was no problem. Apparently, had we waited another five years or so, we may have had major problems, since the coins have already been out of circulation for some time, and the paper money is also being phased out. Weren't we lucky that we came back to visit when we did.

As if all this was not enough, we next stopped in at a jeweler's shop so Nola could have some small medals added to some rosaries that she wants to offer to her grandsons. Once the lady in the shop heard that my companion and I are priests, she was quick to tell us that she too has a rosary which she brought back from Lourdes. For the next several minutes, she ran around the store in quite a tizzy searching in all knooks and crannies for the illusive beads. In the end, she couldn't locate them, but vowed that she would continue the search at home.

Back home on the farm, it's time to relax with afternoon tea. For some of us, this means that we're not actually having a cuppa but rather a cool beer or a glass of wine. This has become quite a ritual of its own, and will be followed tonight with a delicious lamb dinner thanks to the culinary talents of our hosts. In all, this will be a tranquil end to what has turned out to be quite an adventurous day.

Adventures of an Aryshire

Some new visitors arrived yesterday, only hours after a group of Japanese youngsters left the farm, supposedly to return home. These newest arrivals look rather interesting. They toured around our fields and paddocks with dad yesterday afternoon, and got their first glimpse of the fields that we call home.

Dad and mom say that these newcomers were actually here to visit about 10 years ago, but since that time, much has changed around here. For one thing, dad and mom have moved from the big house which they sold to one of their sons and are now located in another part of the farm. We like this new location though because the grass is very sweet, and the humans who care for us have even planted a vegetable they call sweeds and choumolia to suplement our diet when the grass isn't growing as quickly as it has. The early part of this year was very difficult for us because there was very little rain so the pastures didn't regenerate very quickly. As a result, all of us who are about the calve in the next month or so are having a rather difficult time of it.

People usually say that we look as though we're taking life easy, but in fact we spend the vast majority of our day eating grass or chewing our cuds. Come to think of it, these two Canadian pilgrims have spent the vast majority of today just sitting around relaxing. Do humans chew their cuds too when their just watching the world go by?

I hope they've had enough rest today, because I've heard that tomorrow they will be off and running again. It's been quite some time since mom has knitted, and she's excited about the possibility of making some new sweaters (or jersies as we call them over here). I think she wants to take the priests shopping tomorrow to find the wool, and then she'll be off to the races.

As for dad, he's enjoying having these two around as well. He's usually very quiet, but he's spent all his life with us bovines so he's the best one to tell the priests about what life is like for us here on the farm. At one point there used to be as many as 425 of us to share these pastures, but these days there's only about half that number. Still, there's great wisdom to be learned from the simple things in life, and humans could probably benefit too if they'd just slow down every now and then, and take notice of the way we do things.

New visitors on the farm

Early this morning, before the sun had come up on the South Island of New Zealand, we were already at the airport waiting for our transfer flight to Hamilton (NZ). In fact, the flight aboard an ATR-72 was quite comfortable and before we knew it we were standing in the Hamilton airport, having arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

Our host for the next few days was actually sitting in the airport, waiting for the flight, but hadn't realized that we had arrived ahead of schedule. Needless to say we were just on the verge of calling her husband (who would truly have enjoyed the joke) when she found us and wisked us out to the waiting car.

It's been about ten years since we last visited with Nola and Bill. At the time of our last visit, they were in the midst of building a new home, and selling the dairy farm to their son. In the coming days, we will have time to visit with these friends, to meet some more of their family and to become aquainted with life at a very different pace.

Some of our hosts' grandchildren are also heading over to Sydney next week for WYD. This will be their first experience of the international youth festival. Hopefully in the next few days we'll have a chance to chat with them, to witness their growing excitement and who knows, perhaps even the opportunity to meet up with them while they are in the big city.

Tune in tomorrow for the newest developments in our journey. I may even find some more guest columnists to contribute their wisdom.

Exploring the garden city

Since our arrival on the South Island last week, we have had a wonderful experience of meeting new friends and being absolutely spoiled by the hospitality which I'm told is characteristic in this country. The humans aren't the only ones who have outdone themselves. In fact, I've asked Abby, our hosts' black poodle to provide the report for today. Here goes:

Two Canadian priests arrived last week. Much to my chagrin, I've had to share some space with these strangers, but they've done well at listening as I've made sure to tell them whose boss around here. This morning, my mom and dad both left shortly before 9:00 am local time, and left me with THEM (the guests) ! Despite my constant calling for them, they never did show up, and eventually even the guests left.

I had to spend the best part of an hour alone, and with all the coming and going around here, the Canadian guests didn't return until almost 5:00 pm. They told stories of exploring Christchurch today, including places of this city I've not even seen, despite the fact that I've lived here all my life. I hope that my masters will one day show me some of the sights I've heard of today: Christchurch Cathedral, the Anglican Cathedral that dominates Cathedral Square, riding the tram around the downtown area, complete with narration about the various sights, and what about all those other adventures that a dog like me could enjoy so well?

Someday I too will get the chance to go punting on the Avon or to visit the museum in downtown Christchurch. The guests say that there are wonderful displays about the Mauri people and their history in this part of the South Island, as well as some of the prehistoric animals and birds that once were found in such abundance around here, but are now extinct.

Christchurch is well known for their botanical displays. Even in the dead of winter, like we are now, there are beautiful flowers to be seen in the beds around the city, and in the many yards that are so well manicured. There's even an Art Gallery in downtown Christchurch that displays some wonderful artwork from some of New Zealand's most well-known artists. The Canadians say that they enjoyed this part too.

I'm told that these guests are leaving tomorrow and flying off to the North Island. My masters have been happy to meet them, and I too must admit that I've enjoyed being spoiled by them, but I'll be glad when they're gone to have my place back to myself ... no, truly they can call anytime. Even though my mummy might not remember them, I will always remember their contageous laughter and friendly greetings.

From the other alps

Sorry folk, it's been a while since I was able to post any information, but this doesn't mean that I've been sitting still.

The flights across the world went well. By the time we had finished blazing up the skies, we were in Christchurch (south island, New Zealand). We had travelled for a total of almost 26 hours but actually missed Wednesday altogether. Havingmet our first hosts here in Christchurch, we discovered immediately the great hospitality for which the Garden City of this south isle is so well known.

It wasn't long before Friday morning had arrived. We boarded the Trans Alpine Train and within four hours, we had crossed through the magnificent Southern Alps and found our way to Greymouth - on the Tasmin Sea. Sights not to be missed on the West coast of New Zealand's south island include the famous pancake rocks and of course the Fox Glacier.

On Saturday, we spent the day visiting the famous Fox, one of two glaciers most well known on the South Island. The weather cooperated ... bright sunshine was ours to enjoy even though all around us there was so much snow falling that many of the mountain passes were closed.

Today we met with some pilgrims from the Christchurch diocese who will be attending World Youth Day in Sydney. There are currently a number of delegates from various countries, including Canada, visiting in various places throughout New Zealand and Australia prior to making their way to Sydney next week.

As of this writing, my companion and I have returned to Christchurch, and after a day of touring tomorrow, we will head back to the North Island. More info about this unique 'days in the diocese' experience of touring New Zealand will be published in the near future, including some of the (200) photos that have now been taken.

The pilgrimage begins

As early as the 4th century A.D., there is evidence that people have travelled on pilgrimages. One of the first names of those who made these voyages of faith was Egeria. Under the protection of her prayers, the organizing committee for World Youth Day 2008 has been hard at work preparing to welcome pilgrims from all points of the world who will be arriving in Sydney next week for this now-well-established youth festival.

Very early this morning, before the sun had begun to scatter the first rays of light, a companion and I began our most recent pilgrimage. Following the example of Egeria, we have now set out for some well-deserved rest, a chance to meet some new people, and an opportunity to renew old friendships.

Throughout the next three weeks, we are on pilgrimage to the land down under. As of this writing, we have left our homes in Northern Ontario (Canada) and are in Toronto enjoying some hospitality thanks to family who are here.

We've already had an adventure of sorts. Before leaving Sudbury, the airline staff kindly checked our bags all the way to Auckland. That means that when we arrived in Toronto, we had to claim our bags and then clear US customs, but we wanted to stop in Toronto to visit here for a few hours first. Thanks to the kindness of some of the agents who were helping travellers to find their way, we are indeed home for a few hours, but first we needed to clear Canadian customs (since we were sequestered in an area of the airport considered as US territory).

We're now awaiting the next flight which will take us to San Franciso, California (USA), but before we board that flight, we'll need to clear US customs here in Toronto. I wonder what other adventures that will entail!

From San Franciso, we will cross the Pacific and land in Auckland early in the morning on Thursday of this week and then transfer to Christchurch, the capital of New Zealand.

The next few days will pass with a blur so you will excuse me if I do not have the chance to recount much about what will take place. I promise that as soon as I can, I'll continue to tell the tales of the good work God is doing in our lives and in the lives of others.