Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Youth

WYD delivers a faith renewal

byStaff writers
17 August 2008
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Brisbane university student SARAH WOODHEAD, 19, kept a diary during her time as a pilgrim at World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney last month. This is an edited version of the final part of her reflections

SATURDAY, JULY 19:

It’s around midnight and I’ve just settled down in bed at Randwick

Racecourse after what has been another long and tiring day!

We began this morning by meeting as a small group for Mass with Fr Adrian Sharp.

I found the Mass intimate, and a great way to start the day before setting out on our pilgrimage walk to Randwick.

After about three hours of walking we made it to Randwick and set up camp.

For me the highlight of the day was the Evening Vigil and Adoration with Pope Benedict XVI.

Candles were distributed throughout Randwick and all the pilgrims joined together in singing and kneeling in adoration before the Lord.

What really came through for me was that, despite everyone’s differences in language and culture, we share a common faith in God.

Related Stories

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

It was magical to be amongst the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims singing “Receive the Power”, and holding candles, creating a sea of glittering light!

SUNDAY, JULY 20 (OFFICIAL WYD!!)

Today was a fantastic day – WYD!! We woke up to a beautiful sunrise and

began the day with morning prayer.

Then the Pope flew over the whole of Randwick, blessing all the pilgrims. Soon after, he landed and drove around the crowds in his Popemobile. My pilgrimage group was lucky to be seated right in front of one of the main barricades when the Pope came past.

The whole racecourse was filled with pilgrims buzzing with excitement

to catch a glimpse of the Pope.

Soon after, Pope Benedict XVI arrived to our section amid cheers, whistles and applause from thousands of pilgrims.

The atmosphere was exhilarating, it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.

Then something happened that none of us expected … the Pope

stopped just opposite us and kissed a baby. If the crowds weren’t excited

enough before they definitely were now!

That was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that my group and I were so lucky to have shared.

Soon after, came the highly anticipated event – the Final Mass. It was

beautiful!

The music, the reverence and the splendour of a Papal Mass was just breathtaking. Oh, and I have never seen so many priests, bishops and

cardinals together in one place (let alone at one Mass) in my entire life.

It was so amazing … It gave me a great sense of pride to be a Catholic and to be part of WYD with so many other young people who share the same faith.

At WYD you seem to have an instant bond with everyone you meet. I didn’t

feel afraid to hug or talk to random people from anywhere around the world because everyone was so friendly, happy and genuinely lovely.

SUMMING UP:

Overall WYD has been an absolutely life-changing experience for me. I’ve

made many new friends and formed closer bonds with old ones.

As a young person with faith, I don’t feel so alone having met so many other youth who are religious. I feel more confident in expressing my faith to others and more open to talking about God and my beliefs with friends.

I also feel comfortable enough to sing and dance and shout out my praise of God to everyone.

On a personal level, I’ve grown stronger in my faith and feel refreshed.

I’m including God more in my everyday life and am asking what He

wants from me, and how I can be more like Him.

And finally, I’m thanking God for allowing me to attend WYD. I wouldn’t change that week for anything!!

ShareTweet
Previous Post

THE SAVAGES – Family issues dominate soul-searching experience

Next Post

An insight into monasticism

Staff writers

Related Posts

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Next Post

An insight into monasticism

Finding unity in Christ

Archbishop joins London march

Popular News

  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Liam receives bravery medal after shark attack rescue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Parishes unite for Logan deanery family festival this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

by Joe Higgins
20 May 2022
0

BRISBANE grandmother Gwendoline Grant has clocked up 15,000 hours cuddling and caring for sick and premature babies...

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping