MEMBERS of key Brisbane archdiocesan committees enjoyed an “opportunity of a lifetime” when invited to travel on “Sydney 2000”, the vessel transporting Pope Benedict XVI to Barangaroo on July 17 for his official welcome to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.
Brisbane World Youth Day Secretariat project officer Michael Hart, Greg Sunter and Shanelle Bennett, of the archdiocese’s Education and Advisory Committee and Shayne Bennett, of the archdiocese’s Communities and Movements Committee travelled aboard the luxury boat for most of the day as it journeyed past key sites.
Mr Bennett said, however, “it wasn’t such a big deal being three or four metres away” from the Pontiff, once he realised “the imagery” portrayed.
“While it was an incredible honour to be on the same boat as the Pope, the imagery of the whole thing was the imagery of the Body of Christ,” he said.
“When I was looking out from the top deck I couldn’t help but think this is the Body of Christ and the role of Benedict is to hold this reality together to the point of unity.”
Mrs Bennett said she “didn’t expect to be as moved” as she was by the experience.
“Coming into the harbour and seeing thousands and thousands of Catholics … people in buildings and in their offices … I had this experience that the Church isn’t dead.
Queensland indigenous Catholics were represented by Joan Hendriks and Peter Smith in a guard of honour for the Pope.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Oudeman of Brisbane was easily recognisable among crowds at Darling Harbour after Pope Benedict’s arrival in Sydney, and was visibly enthused by the spectacle.
Bishop Oudeman said the opportunity to view the Pontiff’s arrival from “Sydney 2000” among other Australian bishops was a highlight.
He said “the young people make it (World Youth Day) such a wonderful event”.
“They make me feel young and they give me hope,” he said.
