THE World Youth Day Cross visited Holy Cross Church, Kippa-Ring for the Northern Rivers Deanery Journey of the Cross and Icon (JCI) event on August 26.
This was a much-anticipated event for those of us involved in organising the night which was a great success and a very special event for the 1000 people who joined in the celebration.
The night began with a barbecue and outdoor entertainment by a group of fire-throwers and acrobats, plus information booths with various groups from around the archdiocese.
The Cross and Icon were carried by groups of people of all ages and backgrounds in a procession around the church.
Once inside the church, the priests of the deanery carried the Cross in for the start of Mass.
This was a powerful image, of our parish leaders walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and I was reminded of the journey that Christ took on the way to his crucifixion.
Another significant part of the Mass for me was the presentation of symbols of our deanery that were placed on the sanctuary.
These included water from our catchments, sand from our beaches, red rocks from the shore, soil from our farmlands, a tree from our forests as well as a fishing net.
These symbols represent the diversity of our deanery, which covers Caboolture, Stanley River, Redcliffe, Petrie, Pine Rivers and Burpengary parishes, and brought a local touch.
The Mass also included some great music from young musicians and vocalists from the deanery, and a multimedia presentation about the JCI during reflection.
After Mass, many parishioners had an opportunity to venerate the Cross before a lively youth event featuring great music.
Kate Anderton, who is from our deanery, and Jeff, one of the JCI travelling team members, gave talks about their own personal pilgrimage at WYD in Germany and what lies ahead for those of us who will travel to WYD in Sydney next year.
The young (and some not-so-young) people present had the chance to make a commitment to WYD08 and beyond by writing their names on pieces of fabric that were tied to a rope that was then wrapped around the Cross.
There was another time of veneration which allowed many young people to touch the Cross and take away one of the little Crosses as a memento.
The final part of the night was a taize prayer session, led by Fr Francis Ngyuen, which was a very peaceful and reflective way to end a night of so many different powerful experiences.
Overall, I think the thing that sticks out most in my mind is the power of the Cross to bring together so many people of different ages and from different backgrounds.
Whether you’re old, young or in between, the Cross transcends all boundaries and gives us all a common focus and source of strength for our own journey through life.
To be able to share in a small way in carrying the Cross in Christ’s footsteps was also an amazing experience, one that will stay with me for life.
(Nicole Cosgrove,
Redcliffe City parishioner )
