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.
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!!
