I WAS privileged to be chosen to represent Townsville diocese and the young people of Australia in receiving the World Youth Day Cross and Icon on July 1 through a trans-Tasman handover, along with delegates from other dioceses, orders and communities throughout Australia.
Although I have been involved in the development of the Journey of the Cross and Icon itinerary for Townsville, and have seen many amazing plans being put into action by parishes and schools for when the Cross and Icon are in Townsville in September, I was not prepared for the spirit and the emotion that comes with the symbols.
It is not easy to capture in words what this emotion and spirit is like, although it is something that will remain with me forever.
I am originally from New Zealand and so when the New Zealand contingent brought the Cross and Icon down the stairwell and prepared to hand them by way of Traditional Maori Waiata (singing), I could sense their feelings of loss and grief at having to say goodbye.
The effect these symbols of faith have had on the New Zealand Church could be seen on the faces of the Kiwi delegates and was echoed through the testimony of one of their party who shared in both Maori and English the power of the Cross and Icon and the positive way people had responded during events throughout New Zealand.
Our indigenous brothers and sisters accepted the Cross and Icon through traditional dance and welcome.
It was at this point that the excitement through the group that I was in, the representatives from throughout Australia, really began to realise that the Cross and Icon was now in Australia and that the events to come would profoundly touch all those who witnessed the Cross and Icon as they journey through our nation.
As we accepted the Cross and Icon from the Kiwis, we knew that this truly was the beginning of something amazing, Spirit-blessed and faith-filled.
But this was not to be the end of our experience that day.
The Cross and Icon were then taken to the home and resting place of our first Saint, Mary MacKillop, Mary of the Cross.
It was my great privilege with a team of other young people, to lay the Cross on her tomb before handing over the Cross and Icon to her order for mass.
The connection between Mary MacKillop, her life and the Cross is an amazing illustration of how in this land of the Holy Spirit, everyday Australians are picking up their own cross and trying to live out good and faithful lives and helps remind us to continue to do so during suffering and hardship.
Following this moving ceremony the delegates from both countries walked in pilgrimage from the Mary MacKillop Centre to Darling Harbour with the Cross and Icon stopping at the centre of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to pray for the young people of Australia.
Unfortunately, during this pilgrimage, we missed Guy Sebastian and Paulini as they sung live for the first time, the official World Youth Day 2008 song, ‘receive the power’.
But by the time we got to the crowd of thousands that had gathered to see the Cross and Icon in Darling Harbour, they had heard the song and were ready to receive the power of the Cross and Icon as we carried them through the crowd to centre stage.
After some time of handover, prayer and reflection everyone was invited to venerate the Cross.
The amazing examples of prayer and faith that could be seen though this was awesome and highlighted for me that Christianity is not dead in Australia.
Young people do have faith and want to develop their spirituality.
The Cross and Icon will help all people within this land of the Holy Spirit to experience the love of Christ in a real and profound way.
Now that I’m back home, I wait with anticipation to share my experience of the Cross and Icon and I look forward to the seeing the impact that these two symbols will have on the Townsville Diocese as it makes its way around the country towards World Youth day in Sydney July 2008.
The Journey of the Cross and Icon around the Townsville Diocese will begin on September 7 when it is handed over from the Rockhampton Diocese in Morella.
It will conclude on the September 17 when it is handed over to the Cairns Diocese.
WYD fever is rising
Although World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney is still almost one year away, Brisbane archdiocese is about to be gripped by the exciting build-up to the event as it prepares to welcome the Journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon. SELINA HARRIS reports on what will be happening in the archdiocese from August 17-29.
WHAT do you get when you cross 13 days, 13 deaneries, 15 schools and 50 events across 1500km among 30,000 people of faith?
The answer is the Brisbane archdiocesan visit of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon from August 17 to 29.
Hundreds of organisers are working together to ensure that their local faith community is able to appreciate the sacredness of the occasion.
The handover from Toowoomba diocese will happen in South Country Deanery at Lake Apex, Gatton at 9am on August 17.
A pilgrimage walk to St Mary’s, Gatton for prayer and a time of veneration will follow.
At 1.15pm in Ipswich parish, a gathering of various schools including St Mary’s, St Augustine’s, St Edmund’s and St Peter Claver will witness students and others participate in their own prayer experience.
Ipswich pastoral associate Bernadette McAndrew said that, at 6pm, a youth festival will provide a range of lively activities.
Saturday, August 18, is a date to circle on the calendar for anyone wanting to preview just how extraordinary WYD08 will be.
Dubbed a “mini World Youth Day”, from 9am at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, South Bank, there will be an endless flurry of activity for all ages as part of the Archdiocesan Youth Day.
Live music, prayer opportunities, Mass with Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, plus an array of stalls will all make for an essential way to taste what’s ahead for pilgrims and others.
A range of eye-catching WYD08 T-shirts, bandannas, caps, necklaces and lapel pins will be on sale.
August 19 sees the JCI (Journey of the Cross and Icon) travel to Brisbane East Deanery to be welcomed by parishioners and guests at St Peter and Paul’s Church, Bulimba.
The day will begin with Mass at 8am with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Oudeman of Brisbane and will be followed by a time of veneration and a lively youth rally.
After celebrations conclude at Bulimba the Cross and Icon will be taken into the heart of Brisbane for the Y-Walk Pilgrimage.
The journey will continue through city streets and the Botanical Gardens, finishing up at St Stephen’s Cathedral for the Multicultural Mass at 2pm.
Marist College, Ashgrove is the venue for a prayer service on August 19 from 6pm, organised by the Central Brisbane Deanery.
Dean Fr Ken Howell said parishes that offer an evening Eucharist are encouraged to send Mass-goers to Marist as a “mini pilgrimage”.
“Once they arrive we are going to provide soup and crusty bread and at 6.30pm we will begin a candle lit procession which will stop at three different parts of the complex,” Fr Howell said.
Once the procession reaches its destination, a one-hour gathering will take place and the Cross and Icon will remain in the college chapel for those who wish to continue their time of prayer.
Main Beach on the Gold Coast is the next stop for JCI on August 20 with a sunrise service to be held at 5.30am.
Co-ordinator Stephen Lea said organisers are “waiting with baited breath” to see people of faith gather on the beach with enough coffee and muffins donated by local businesses to cater for 500.
“Let’s hope we have thousands of people … it will send out an exciting message to the Gold Coast,” he said.
After the sunrise service, schools in and around Burleigh Heads including Marymount, Aquinas, St Michael’s and Assisi will participate in a gathering from 8.30am.
This visit will be followed by a trip to the Canungra Military Base from 1-3pm where a ceremonial escort will deliver the Cross to Bishop Max Davis of the Australian Defence Forces.
The South Coast Deanery will then host a prayer service, barbecue and concert from 5pm at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters.
Trinity College, Beenleigh, will host the Cross and Icon on August 21 when, at 9.15am, students from surrounding schools such as St Francis, Chisholm and Emmaus colleges will join them in prayer.
Schools such as Clairvaux MacKillop, Our Lady’s, Seton and St Thomas More colleges will also gather together with the Cross and Icon from 1.15pm in Upper Mt Gravatt.
The JCI will then visit patients and staff at Brisbane’s Mater Children’s Hospital from 4pm followed by a gathering in Logan Deanery consisting of a festival and reflection at Chisholm College, Cornubia from 5pm to 9pm.
A busy JCI day on August 22 starts with a Youth Ministry Breakfast at Riverglenn Conference Centre, Indooroopilly, from 7am.
After the breakfast a schools’ gathering is planned for 9am at Marist College, Ashgrove involving Mt Maria, Mt St Michael’s and Stuartholme colleges.
From 11.15am St Joseph’s, Gregory Terrace, near the heart of Brisbane city, will host a gathering including All Hallows’ and St James’ students.
Then it’s over to nearby St Laurence’s from 1.30pm with staff and students from Brigidine and Marist, Rosalie colleges in attendance.
Brisbane South Deanery will then host an evening rally in St Agnes’ Church, Mt Gravatt.
More prayerful school gatherings are planned for August 23 including a 9am service at Southern Cross Catholic College, Scarborough.
Newly appointed Northern Rivers Dean Fr Peter McCartin said there is much enthusiasm about the visit.
“We hope this will flow down to the whole community as an instrument of renewal for the deanery,” he said.
St Joseph’s, Nudgee College is the next venue for an hour-long gathering from 11.15am that will involve their own students as well as those from St Rita’s and St Patrick’s colleges.
Afterwards Mt Alvernia College, Kedron will host another prayer opportunity from 1.15pm including youth and staff from nearby Padua College.
A State Government reception at Parliament House is scheduled from 3.15-5pm followed by a visit to Brisbane West Deanery from 5.30pm at St Joseph’s Church, Corinda.
The Carmelite Sisters at Ormiston will host the first gathering on August 24 from 9am.
That will be followed by a prayer experience at Carmel College, Thornlands, involving participants from Iona and San Sisto colleges.
Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne, will be joined by Loreto and Villanova colleges at 1.30pm.
An all-night vigil in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane city will commence at 7.30pm where visitors will be able to pray before the Cross and Icon all night until 4.30am the following day.
On August 25 anyone is welcome to join pilgrims on a walk beginning at the Mt-Coot-tha botanical gardens to the Summit for a prayer service.
A ferry bound for Stradbroke Island at 10.30am will then ship the Cross and Icon to islanders to commemorate the place of the first Mass in the diocese.
The Redland/Bayside Deanery will be awaiting its return as part of a youth festival and prayer experience at St Anthony’s, Alexandra Hills, from 1pm.
An event in City Hall will follow in the evening.
Brisbane North East Deanery will host an event, including Mass, at the Australian Catholic University, Banyo, on August 26 from 9.30am.
Following this the JCI will continue to Brisbane North West Deanery with an afternoon of celebrations at All Saints, Albany Creek.
Holy Cross, Kippa-Ring will then host an evening Mass and time of reflection.
With only three days of the JCI visit to go, a schools’ gathering will be held at St John’s College, Nambour, from 9.15am on August 27 also including students from St Teresa’s.
Then it’s over to Siena College, Sippy Downs, for a gathering with Unity College and St Columban’s.
On August 28 the Cross and Icon will be welcomed in the North Country Deanery and specifically Nanango (9am), Kingaroy (11am), Murgon (1.30pm) and Gympie (5.30pm) where Mass will be celebrated.
The final day of the JCI in Brisbane archdiocese, August 29, will include time spent in Maryborough (at the Brolga Theatre in the morning) and Hervey Bay with a school and parish event at Xavier College from 12.30pm.
The final leg of the journey, with a handover to Rockhampton diocese, will take place in Childers from 5.30pm.
