After the 5 mile walk (yes..i said it. FIVE MILES...talk about a pilgrimage) we finally got settled into our "camp out sites" where we were going to be sleeping that night. Everyone wanted to go to sleep but we were so excited we were pumped with adrenaline to just be able to endure the whole experience. We mingled with people, got our sleeping bags situated, bundled up and got ready for the freezing cold, listened to live bands and were dancing around having a great time and then enjoyed the Evening Vigil with Pope Benedict XVI. After the vigil, people were still up and wanted to be active. I was a part of being up...not because i was active...because I was forced too. Although I was excited at one point, I needed sleep as well as the rest of my group. We kept being woken up by drumming and apparently some people never went to sleep & since we were in and out of sleep we decided to make a McDonald's run. Yes. Even though we were in a foreign country, we still made it a point to eat at McDonalds. I mean come on it's not like the food they gave us was top notch haha but it was all good. The next morning we woke up to the Pope driving through the Southern Cross Precint and following was the Final Mass. There were a group of Aboriginals who sang and danced and brought the gospel forth. During the mass, I believe there were about 25 people, if I'm not mistaken being confirmed into the Catholic faith. Then there was communion. O wow. There was sooo many people there I still cannot believe that everyone received communion. I doubt it but there were at least ove 600 priest giving out communion and it wasn't easy receiving it as well but it felt good to search and look to receive the Body of Christ. At the end of mass the Pope announced that the next World Youth Day would be taken place is Madrid, Spain. That is very exciting and I can not wait to have the same experience if not, better than the one I had in Sydney. This was amazing. After mass, we journeyed our way back to the hotels and took very thorough and deep cleansing baths/showers. Can you blame us? we did sleep outside.
So from Wednesday to Friday we had Catechesis. I thought it was very fun and an entertaining way to help us connect with God. I especially liked how young adults came to share their experiences of how they became closer to God. On Friday July 18, 2008, Bishop Sheraton came to speak about the Holy Spirit.
My notes say:
The Holy Spirit drives us into the very life of God. Crafted into God, the very source of our life and if we cut off that member our gift dies. Nothing can take us from the spirit except us. The gifts/talents we have is for the good of the church and given during Baptism. Baptism brings us into the churh, gives faith, love, hope to help us grow with God. It makes us the holy people. From God, holiness cannot be seperated with the act of mission. Bring gifts to others. The Holy Spirit gives access to the risen Christ amd is an agent for mission. There is no greater mission than family.
THE POPE ARRIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a bit disappointing because we waited for him to come and when he finally did it was like grease lighting! But luckily we got to see him slower at the Sunday Mass
This first vigil was on the second day in Syndey. We're finally here!! I remember saying. This was July 15, 2008. This was the first day to meet all of the new people around the globe and also to exchange pins and maybe information if you really felt comfortable with that person. This day was outrageous and the walk there was exciting too. I just remember feeling so much spiritual energy and excitement coming from everybody. It was deep. To tell the truth I don't remember which Cardinal spoke but I certainly do remember his message and what his homily was about. It was about knowing the Spirit and having a deep connection with not only God but also with yourself and others. He made a good point in saying that a very practiced Catholic may be consistent in how he or she acts but iis most likely to be closed-minded to certain situations unlike someone who is more spiritual rather than religious who is more open-minded to different people and have different perceptions on other people's ideas. He wasn't saying to stray away from your practices if you are very committed he was saying just be open-minded and be aware of people's different beliefs and customs. I thought that his message was really profound and i myself am amazed that I remember that much of the vigil because EVERYONE was freezing their tails off! It was ridiculously cold. but we managed to pull through.
So we hadn't quite made it there to Sydney yet but we were THAT much closer. of course it didn't feel like it because of that 14 hour flight of sleep and boredome. I mean there's only so many card games and movies you can do on a plane haha
Below is a little introduction to New Zealand with my friend/roomate Arianna
While waiting for our plane to board, I took it upon myself to interview some people to once again see how they were feeling before the trip.
Sandra:
What are you most excited about? - Getting away from 113 degree weather in Palmdale and I'm excited about the setting we will be in that will afford us the oppurtunity to exercise our spirituality.
What will you get out of this? - Once again renew my knowledge of who I am and who's I am with Yahweh.
Why are you doing this pilgrimage? -I'm doing this pilgrimage to renew my faith and to worship with people from the four corners of the Earth. Another reason I am going is to share other people's culture to learn their belifs and to exchange faith filled ideas.
Fanklin:
What are you most excited about?
-Going to see the animals, the wild life. Excited to be around spiritual people that fellowship together.
What will you get out of this?
- Lots of pictures see different cultures and different backgrounds and how Australians interact with other people and how they act towards the black cultureand their historic sceneries.
Why are you doing this pilgrimage?
- To get a deeper relationship with God and different Catholic views.
Rene:
What are you most excited about?
-Exploring a new country for the first time.
What will you get out of this?
- To learn how a new countru operates, how different or similar our countries operate.
Why are you doing this pilgrimage?
- My mom as well as I though that this trip would be a good experience for the both of us.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 at Our Lady of Angels Cathedral Los Angeles, CA
His Holy Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The homiliy presented by Cardinal Roger Mahony was stating that World Youth Day is meant for the youth that come from countries where it is not allowed for them to proclaim the Christ. It's easier to witness in the collective embrace and take courage to be a witness for Christ. Catholic means universal, one Holy. Catholic and Apostolic Church.
This mass was for all going to Sydney Australia and the them was God's Protection.
June 29th was the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul which is honored in Rome. Cardinal discussed that we need to examine daily who do we say Jesus Christ is as part of working on out relationship with him.He also said that Jesus chose the two most unlikely people imaginable to be the pillars of the Church & that Jesus loves us and continues to love us and will work with us to strengthen our relationship with him.
At this mass I interviewed people before the mass started to get a sense of how people were feeling.
First I interviewed Katie McGinley from the Parish of St. Elizabeth: What are you most excited about? - Excited to see Australia itself as well as the Pope. What are you looking forward to when you go on the trip? - To be able to practice my faith and also do it in a different area and reaffirming my faith not only here but continuing it when I get back. Are you excited about anything else? - Being able to interact with other people.
Then I interviewed both Bessie & Sally from St. Agatha's:
What do you think the kids' response is going to be when the get to Australia? - Bessie: I think they're going to be shy at first but when the last day comes they will be very spiritual - Sally: I think they won't want it to end and will want it to go on. What are you most excited about? - Sally: Watching the young people encounter each other. - Bessie: The atmosphere of young adults What do you think the kids will get out of the whole experience? - Sally: The real Spirit of evangelization - Bessie: companionship, friendliness, and meeting new friends from all around the globe.
