The Record Newspaper 23 July 2008

THE R ECORD

In the face of a modern media-led culture dominated by a growing sense of emptiness, alienation and the increasing isolation of the human person, World Youth Day Oz 2008 was a wild success as 400,000 faithful including youth and pilgrims from around the world gathered at Randwick with Benedict XVI and the bishops to affirm Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life everlasting - the answer to humanity’s search for meaning in every way.

■ By Michael Cook

WORLD Youth Day 2008 in Sydney was a triumph for the Catholic Church and its 81-year-old head, Pope Benedict XVI. About 400,000 people attended a final Mass on Sunday July 20, briefly making the pilgrims’ destination bigger than the nation’s capital, Canberra.

By some baffled journalists it was described as a ‘Catholic Woodstock’ – the 1969 orgy of, drugs and sex and rock ‘n roll which became an iconic moment for baby-boomers.

But 40 years later, the world has moved in an unexpected direction. WYD, the biggest youth event in history, is an anti-Woodstock, a repudiation of the materialism and secularism of the baby-boomers.

After years of being booed offstage, the curtains have again opened and God is being greeted with tumultuous applause.

As a young woman commenting the event on TV said, with unabashed confidence, it usen’t to be “trendy” to be a Catholic in Sydney, but now “it’s become cool again”. No wonder the news that Madrid will host WYD 2011 was greeted with such jubilation.

The response of young people was stunning. About 125,000 pilgrims made their way from across the world, despite increased air fares and the immense distance which isolates Europe and the Americas from Australia.

After months of scrimping and saving many from overseas would have spent 20 to 30 hours in the air to reach Sydney.

And despite negative reports in the media and lukewarm support from many Catholic schools, they were joined by another 100,000 Australian pilgrims.

On the last day, when Benedict celebrated a Mass

at Randwick Race Course, thousands more joined them. The Vatican and Sydney’s Cardinal George Pell had planned this event as a catechesis, a teachable

moment, a festival of Catholic culture, teaching and prayer.

For pilgrims who came early, dioceses around the country organised talks on controversial topics like

Catholic views on sexuality, bioethics, faith and reason.

During the week immediately before there were addresses from Catholic bishops from around the globe.

In fact, one of the striking features of Sydney’s World Youth Day was how naturally Gen Y slotted into traditional aspects of Catholic devotion and doctrine which

the Woodstock generation spurned as fossilised relics of the pre-Vatican II era. Not so. During the days leading up to the climactic Mass, young

people were queuing up for the Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confession, and to spend time in prayer in

By Sylvia Defendi REMEMBER all the bad press in the lead-up to World Youth Day? Randwick was going to close its gates to pilgrims, the government had wasted too many taxpayer dollars, pilgrims were going to annoy and most importantly, road-closures were going to

be too much to handle. Every major media outlet had a bone to pick.

I went to Sydney filled with pre-WYD media slogans and in all the confusion, pilgrims and events to attend failed to realise that the city had backflipped overnight.

Suddenly I saw the Pope’s smiling face plastered across every NSW newspaper with

slogans declaring that Sydney welcomed the Pope to its shores and even ‘loved’ him. Channel 7 declared itself the station for a comprehensive report on WYD, with Channel 9 doing the same – to name a few.

Television news reporters spoke of a thriving Sydney alive with youthful exuberance. Australian media had

suddenly decided WYD was an event worth talking about and that it wasn’t as bad as they had previously declared.

But it wasn’t just a media façade – Sydney welcomed pilgrims with open arms.

At the Opening Mass interested onlookers lined the barricades to watch the event and did not budge throughout the entire two hours. As hordes of

pilgrims walked across busy intersections locals smiled and tooted their horns. By mid-week unregistered people were even turning up to participate in the multicultural public festivals held across the city. Suddenly Sydney residents had decided that pilgrims were not as annoying as they previously assumed. In fact

far from being annoyed by pilgrims, some Sydney residents couldn’t get enough.

Shop fronts sported an array of ‘WYD specials’ and an SBS news report spoke of pilgrims ‘buying-up big.’

Sydney had suddenly decided that it was a good decision to inject government funds into the international event.

Looking back I can’t say I

Benedict celebrates Mass with victims

By Anthony Barich

POPE Benedict’s July 19 apology to the victims of clerical sexual abuse was underscored by a personal meeting with four of them on his last day in Australia. The Pope also celebrated Mass with the victims, a statement from the Vatican’s Press Office, announced on “As an expression of his ongoing pastoral concern for those who have been abused by members of the clergy, His

Continued - Page 2

Mary ‘will be canonised’

■ By Anthony Barich

SISTERS of the order that Blessed Mary MacKillop founded have said that Pope Benedict XVI promised she will be canonised, but one more confirmed miracle is still needed.

Media reported on July 17 that the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart took new hope from a meeting with the Pope that day after he prayed at Mary MacKillop’s shrine in North Sydney.

Mary MacKillop, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995, must be documented as performing one more miracle before she is confirmed

Continued - Page 3

expected such a turn-around in public perception, but seasoned WYD pilgrims assure me it is not the first time a country has been pleasantly surprised.

Perhaps these ‘subtle’ changes are a small proportion of the many to come as secular Australia sees a side to the faith it had never before witnessed.

United: Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims at the closing Mass of World Youth Day last Sunday morning. Organisers were clearly happy with the way the whole week, in the planning for three years, had come off. An estimated 400,000 pilgrims were on hand for the Mass and closing ceremony, which topped off a week of public celebrations of Faith and catecheses.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES, WYD

For Perth Sister, WYD a festa of Religious life

■ By Anthony Barich

WITH the streets of Sydney flooded with Religious Sisters, Brothers and priests, World Youth Day turned into a community for religious communities, strengthening them and makes those from secularised Western countries feel more at home.

Ursuline Missionary of the Sacred Heart Sister Maria Mori, from Western Australia, has been a Religious Sister for four years and is the only Australian-born member of her Religious congregation in Australia.

She’s also one of only three to have taken their vows in Australia – all in Fremantle, Western Australia’s harbour city. But it’s the harbour city on Australia’s eastern seaboard – Sydney – where she felt more at home this past week.

Sister Maria, 38, is a high school teacher at Emmanuel Catholic College in Success, Perth. She has the distinctive southern Italian olive skin but ‘really cool’ and ‘like’ pepper her speech, and she’s prone to bursting out into spontaneous

She also wears her order’s habit – something that’s barely seen in Australia, unless they’re only recently relocated from

countries with larger proportions of poor people, like India or Brazil, where Catholicism thrives.

But in first-world Western countries, the Second Vatican Council’s decision to allow Religious congregations the choice to wear their habits or not has been embraced, leading also to their invisibility – except through the works that they do. But with over 225,000 young people – lay and Religiousdescending on Sydney from around the globe for World Youth Day, Religious congregations were as obvious as the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge. For Sister Maria, it’s like being in the heart of Catholicism again. Young vocations to Religious life are scarce in Australia, and she misses being around young Religious.

“It’s really awesome,” Sister Maria says. “I feel like I’m in Rome again.

“People come up to me in the streets of Sydney and say

‘you’re Australian and you’re a Religious?’

“They didn’t think they existed in Australia as they ‘don’t see them around’.

“Just being around other Religious and saying, ‘I’m a Religious’ is awesome.

“People have been really cool.

“Every day I randomly meet Religious from other countries and they’re so happy that I’m a consecrated Religious from Australia; and we always promise to pray for each other. It’s beautiful.”

That’s not to say orders who have chosen not to wear their traditional attire, are any less holy.

In fact, Sister Maria says that if you don’t love others and have Christ in your heart, then wearing a habit is just a charade.

“I’m very good friends with a young Josephite from Perth, Sister Julia, who’s a wonderful person. They have Christ in their hearts and you know that they’re Religious because they’re loving and kind, and

you just know they stand out as consecrated people. “A visible sign (wearing a uniform) is important, but if it’s not within your heart it’s just a load of… it’s just a cover.”

She says that childhood stories her grandmother told her of the witness of the saints who were both Religious and lay people made her think ‘oh man, I want to be holy’, though I got in trouble a lot as a kid. It’s a call to be close to God and to serve others.

“I really wanted to be a missionary.

“My dream is to be a missionary overseas, but it seems like God wants me to be a missionary in my own country, which is really, really important,” she said.

Sister Maria said she hope that World Youth Day would help more young Australians recognise the call to Religious life, or to married or single life. Either way, she sees benefits in locals evangelising locals, as they know the culture more intimately.

Private meeting, Mass, focus of attention for victims

Continued from Page 1

Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today celebrated Mass with a representative group of victims,” the statement said.

“ He listened to their stories and offered them consolation. Assuring them of his spiritual closeness, he promised to continue to pray for them, their families and all victims.

“Through this paternal gesture, the Holy Father wished to demonstrate again his deep concern for all those who have suffered sexual abuse.

The Mass and meeting were similar to those the Pope also held in New York during his visit to the US in April.

On July 19 those destined for priesthood or religoius life heard firsthand the Pope emphasise the importance of retaining trust as he apologised to victims of clerical sexual abuse in Australia during a Mass for the dedication of the altar of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.

During the Mass with Australian bishops, seminarians, novices and Religious at St Mary’s Cathedral, the pontiff departed from his prepared homily, saying: “Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that as their Pastor, I too share in their suffering.”

In what he called a moment of rededication and renewal for the whole Church in Australia, he said: “Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the

religious in this country.

“These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation, have caused great pain and have damaged the Church’s witness.

“I ask you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil.”

Lorena Portocarrero, 25, a consecrated laywoman who was in St Mary’s Cathedral to hear the apology, said it was clear from his delivery that the

Pope was genuinely sorry for

“He was really sorry, and said that he understood it was painful for others,” said Lorena, part of the Marian Community of Reconciliation in Sydney, who was close to the Pope, sitting in the fifth row. “He showed a lot of humility and he spoke from his heart. You could tell he was really sorry; when he was celebrating Mass he was really prayerful, he took his time each time he was talking.

“I was happy and sad as well. I’m happy because I’m

happy that the head of the Church was able to say sorry to the people for the abuse done by members of the Church, who hurt the people whom they are meant to serve.

John Paul Escarlan, a 24year-old second-year student at Holy Spirit Seminary in Parramatta, Sydney, said the Pope’s words were “a reminder not to betray the trust of the people I am meant to serve, because the Pope said it (the sexual abuse) was an evil thing”.

“I was personally touched by the message. Even though it was not the Pope himself who did the abuse, I was touched by the humility that the Pope has shown to us and he was a good model to be able to say sorry about the most important thing.

“The most important thing he will do is to say sorry to the victims whom the Church has hurt. It was a very good experience. Just to be there participating in the Mass that was celebrated by the Pope himself was a form of a blessing to me.” He also said that hearing the testimony of a Religious Sister there reminded him of the sacrifice of a consecrated person.

“Listening to the sharing of the nun there, what she was trying to tell about her life as a religious person, I was inspired about my own discernment, and said to myself, this is the life I’m going to take.”

The Pope also said that sexual abuse victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible should be brought to justice.

“It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people,” the Pope said.

“In these days marked by the celebration of World Youth Day, we are reminded of how precious a treasure has been entrusted to us in our young

HANDBOOK

people, and how great a part of the Church’s mission in this country has been dedicated to their education and care.

“As the Church in Australia continues, in the spirit of the Gospel, to address effectively this serious pastoral challenge, I join you in praying that this time of purification will bring about healing, reconciliation and ever greater fidelity to the moral demands of the Gospel.”

BARICH

- ANTHONY

Edited

Let ’s frank book is a families books are collec tions of prayers an a book with a a star t and bound in all the of the

this is a prayer book with a difference. For a start this edition, beautifully printed and bound in paperback form, carries in the centre all the prayers of the Mass (novus ordo) in Latin and English, rather like the missals of yesterday. Elsewhere its prayers, penned in many cases by some of the spiritual giants of yesteryear through until the 20th century, are divided into the following sections:

How to be a better Catholic, Basic prayers, Midday prayers, Evening prayers, Prayers after Mass, Prayers outside Mass, Prayers for Eucharistic adoration, Guide for a good Confession, Devotions to the Blessed Trinity, Devotions to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Devotions to the Holy Spirit, Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Devotions to St Joseph, Prayers at the time of death, Prayers for the dead, Blessings, Prayers of the Sacraments when in danger of death. This book has everything and, if used, will become an invaluable friend along the way of life’s pilgrimage. Slimly bound, lightweight and yet containing nearly 600 pages it can easily be fitted into a handbag or carried in one hand. Excellent value!

Available from The Record - RRP $26.95

Without qualification: Pope Benedict listens during the Mass of the Dedication of the Altar in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: CNS

Attentive: A man prays during Mass celebrated by French Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois after giving a

on July

Benedict calls Mary MacKillop an ‘outstanding’ Aussie

■ By Anthony Barich

POPE Benedict XVI acknowledged Blessed Mary MacKillop as one of the most outstanding figures in Australia’s history on July 17, just before he prayed at the Australian nun’s shrine in North Sydney.

The pontiff praying at the Australian Blessed’s shrine - just hours before being officially welcomed by over 150,000 young people already in Sydney for World Youth Day - underlined the universal devotion to Mary MacKillop, which is a prerequisite to canonisation.

behalf of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have become a source of inspiration for all Australians”.

“Generations have reason to be grateful to her and to the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and other religious congregations for the network of schools that they established here and for the witness of their consecrated life,” he said.

Spokeswoman, Sister Monica Cavanagh, said the Pope’s visit was significant in following his predecessor John Paul II’s steps in recognising the role of Blessed Mary MacKillop today.

Conversion rocked former playboy’s world

In Sydney Anthony Barich met up and coming movie director Eduardo Verastegui whose movie Bella won top prize at the Toronto Flm Festival.

EDUARDO Verastegui, 34, has done it all. He’s experienced the highs of being in a successful boy band, Kairos and a soap opera tv star in his homeland of Mexico, where he was born in a small village. He had it all – fame, fortune, money, women – yet at 28 he felt empty. Some deep, probing questions from someone close to him forced him to look deep inside himself to answer the ultimate question: Do you love God?

Today, Eduardo is a changed man. In only his second visit to Australia for his first World Youth Day, Eduardo spoke to The Record after watching his close friend Christopher West address over 3000 youth from around the globe on Pope Benedict XVI and Theology of the Body.

West spoke about the lies that society bombards young people with, lies about what they’re worth and what they need to do to attain true happiness.

He told The Record conversion story:

“I was like any typical Catholic, baptised early, thinking that I was doing enough by just being a good person. I don’t kill anybody, I don’t steal. I’m doing my best.

Wow: Two happy fans meet Verastegui at WYD during one of the catecheses. Meanwhile, the playboyturned-convert who is a prizewinning film director takes a moment to pray. PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH

so he doesn’t chase the rabbit anymore.

Mary MacKillop, born in Victoria in 1842, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart which established schools and charitable organisations across Australia and was devoted to the care of

orphans, neglected children, the homeless, sick and aged. The Pope said he knows that Mary MacKillop’s “perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on

She thanked the Holy Father for his sincere support, adding, “it is a great pleasure that we were able to open our sanctuary in North Sydney to receive him”.

Canonisation ‘will happen’

Continued from Page 1 as a saint. The Josephites’ congregational leader Sister Anne Derwin told Melbourne daily newspaper The Age that when Pope Benedict prayed at the Australian Blessed’s shrine, she told him: “Our Church and the people of Australia are looking forward to the day when she is canonised.”

She said that the Pope smiled and told her: “She will be canonised. We are waiting for the miracle”.

Sister Anne said he repeated the commitment when she presented the Pope with a bronze bust of a smiling Mary MacKillop by Perth sculptor Gerard Darwin.

She reported the Pope was “excited” about the gift and stroked the head of the figure.

“He said `She is smiling and now I will have her with me. One day she will be canonised, depending on that miracle’,” Sister Anne said. The Pope in turn presented the order with a statue of St Joseph. The Congregation’s spokeswoman, Sr Monica Cavanagh, later told Australian Associated Press: “We hope canonisation will come in the not too distant future.

“Certainly we’re probably closer to seeing something go through than probably we

were before.” The Pope’s staff also presented the sisters with a box of Rosary beads and prayer cards that the nuns opened together at the front of the chapel in North Sydney. Sr Josephine, whose mother grew up in the Bavarian village of Toning which is close to Pope Benedict’s home village, told The Age that she greeted the Pope in his native German.

“He said, ‘you’re speaking German’,” Sister Josephine told The Age “Just by coming here, his visit says a lot to the sisters, but also to all the Church and all of Australia.” - A BARICH

“My father wanted me to be a lawyer so I went to law school for two years but wasn’t passionate about it, so I pursued my dreams by joining a Mexican boy band – Kairos – and went on soap operas.

“If you want to be an actor in Mexico you don’t have so many options, you only do soap operas - or soap operas.

So after two years of that I moved to Miami, the ‘capital of Latin America’ – and released my first album in Spanish aged 27.

“I soon moved to Los Angeles and met the vice president of 20th Century Fox on a plane who wanted me to do an audition, but I didn’t know English beyond words like ‘chicken’…

“But it’s what Christopher West was talking about – the lies. I was chasing lies that society teaches, that if you’re not successful and make money you’re a failure. You’re compromising your values as you want to be successful.

“I was like the greyhound that chases a rabbit - once it catches it, the dog bleeds, it hurts and it suffers, and realises he was chasing a lie,

“After years of chasing lies I realised I was empty and unhappy; I realised that the reasons why I wanted to be an actor and singer were superficial – everything was success, fame, money, women, pleasure – all these lies.

“My English teacher in Los Angeles, Jasmine, was a devout Catholic. She asked me ‘how are you using your talents?

What kind of projects do you want to do; why do you want to be an actor? Who’s guiding your life? Do you realise your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?’

“It was six months of teaching me English and questions; and one day she said ‘do you really love God? Why are you offending Him? If you believe in the 10 Commandments then you believe that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and you love Him and you believe in the Church and the Bible then why are you offending God?’

“And that was it. She left, and I realised I was poisoning society with the projects I was doing as an actor. It hurt me that I was hurting other people, my family and myself. But what broke my heart was when I realised that I was offending God with the talent that He gave me.

“So I started crying like a little baby. I went on my knees and asked God to forgive me. He not only forgave me but He changed my heart and made me a new man. I made a promise to Him that I would never work again in any project that would offend my faith, my family or my Latino culture.

“I saw a priest, gave my confession, went to Mass every day and prayed the Rosary every day. At the time I was completely lost, I was using women as objects. I realised that I had three younger sisters and I have to be a role model to them, and somebody asked me if I ever wanted to be a father, and what kind of person would I like my daughter to marry?

“I described a saint – a man that would sacrifice for her, give his life for her, treat her with respect, be faithful to her, and once I finished these descriptions of who I’d want to marry my daughter, I was asked, ‘are you that man?’

“I said ‘no’, and it touched

me because it’s following the golden rule – don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you. I made a promise to God that I would never touch a girl again until I marry her.

“That’s why I started my own production company, and when I made that decision my agents called me and said ‘you’re never going to work again’. But I made a promise to God, and if that means it ends my career, so be it.

“We’re not called to be successful, we’re called to be faithful to God. If, by the grace of God, success comes, praise be to God, but we can never compromise our faith to attain what the world considers success.

“I realised then that I wasn’t born to be a movie star or a businessman, I was born to know, to love and to serve Jesus Christ. We are called to be saints, the rest doesn’t matter.

“So I was free for the first time in my life. It was no longer about my career, not about what I want but what God wants me to do.

“Sometimes our own personal dreams can be our own worst enemies.

“So I opened the production company with my friends, called Metanoia (the Greek word for ‘conversion’) Films because as an actor I can’t control the message. This way I can make films not only for entertainment but elevating human dignity, to have the potential to convert hearts and heal and respect their dignity and elevate their intellect towards what is beautiful, good and true.

“The first fruit of that commitment and my promise was Bella, which by the grace of God, won an award at the Toronto Film Festival. I’ve never worked with something so special, unique and beautiful that has changed the lives of many people.

“I receive emails and letters from people that shared with me how it changed their lives, but decided to keep their babies after watching Bella when they’d previously considered having an abortion. More than 20 babies have been saved – and that’s the ones we know about. Only God knows how many more.

“So it’s amazing, when you say ‘yes’ to God and trust Him, what He can do to you.

“As for World Youth Day, we’re always on a journey, we’re called to know and love God, and every day is new wisdom that comes from God.

“I’ve met Pope Benedict XVI a couple of times, and I’m a big fan. It’s been great so far and I’m looking forward to keep receiving the graces that we’re getting here in Sydney with this wonderful, historic event.

“I was just thinking the other day, that only the Catholic Church can do this, to draw hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to come and see the Vicar of Christ, the successor of Peter. I’m so overwhelmed, I don’t even have words to describe it.

“Everybody has made a sacrifice to be here with the Holy Father. “What a journey.”

Being with her: World Youth Day pilgrims pray at the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop inside the chapel dedicated to her in Sydney on July 14; thousands visited. PHOTO: ALESSIA GIULIANI, CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

Pleased: Pope Benedict XVI speaks with Sister Anne Derwin of the Sisters of Saint Joseph on his visit to the chapel at Mary MacKillop Place in Sydney on July 17. PHOTO: COURTESY WYD

After vigil, they prayed and adored Him, throughout the night

Pope tell pilgrims unity is key to changing world.

■ By Anthony Barich

A SEA of candles covered Randwick Racecourse on July 19 as over 235,000 World Youth Day pilgrims listened to Benedict XVI’s message on the importance of unity and reconciliation.

Pilgrims began arriving before noon at Randwick on Saturday in Sydney. After only a few hours, barely a blade of grass could be seen as pilgrims stood, knelt, sat and lay on their sleeping bags, blankets and pillows.

As the pilgrims waited for the Pope’s scheduled 7 pm arrival they contemplated his daily World Youth Day text message: “Dear friend, u must be holy & u must be missionary: never separate holiness from mission – BXVI.”

The Holy Father arrived at the venue a little ahead of the appointed hour, despite making a late addition to his schedule to visit St Joseph’s Home in

Randwick, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The Pope met with Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, the retired archbishop of Sydney, and 92-yearold Rosemarie Goldie, the Sydney-born former undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The prayer vigil began with the racecourse in darkness, gradually illuminated by torches borne by dancers on the podium, representing the opening to the Holy Spirit.

The World Youth Day cross and flag were positioned on the stage in anticipation of Benedict XVI’s arrival, who entered accompanied by 12 pilgrims while the assembly sang the hymn “Our Lady of the Southern Cross.”

An indigenous woman lit the candles carried by the 12 pilgrims, who in their turn lit those of the assembly and of the bishops. Seven young people then invoked the Holy Spirit through the intercession of the patrons of World Youth Day. Pilgrims too far from the stage viewed proceedings on the 35 video screens around the Southern Cross Precinct that includes Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park. The latter was not used for the vigil, but was filled for Sunday’s closing Mass. Benedict XVI spoke to the youth on how to become witnesses, and spoke of the importance of such a task as “you are already well aware that our Christian witness is offered to a world which in many ways is fragile.”

Unity, the Pope said, is the

key to changing the world.

“Unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another and only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek,” he said.

The Pontiff, who has previously warned about the “dictatorship of relativism,” warned the pilgrims that relativism could hinder their capacity for good, achieved through unity.

“By its nature, relativism fails to see the whole picture. It ignores the very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony,” he said.

“Unity is the essence of the Church; it is a gift we must recognise and cherish.”

Benedict XVI encouraged the young people to nurture unity and “resist any temptation to walk away, for it is precisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision of our faith - solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight – that we can offer our world.”

He asked, “Is it not because of your faith that friends in difficulty or seeking meaning in their lives have turned to you?”

Having concluded his remarks, 24 catechumens were presented to the Holy Father, who were to receive the sacrament of confirmation from the Pope at the closing Mass the following day on Sunday.

Once the Pope departed, the pilgrims recited an international Rosary.

Adoration tents were constantly full all night as the youth

continued to keep the vigil for the closing Mass with the Holy Father. Four tents were set up around Randwick, run by the Missionaries of Charity, the Emmanuel Community, the Schoenstatt movement, which has a Shrine at Armadale in WA, and the apostolic movement Youth 2000. Those not praying or receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation huddled in their blankets and foldout

tents before sleeping out in anticipation of the final youth day event. Despite temperatures dipping to 10 degrees, the pilgrims weren’t complaining. Rellie Irung, 20, from Papua New Guinea said she was so eager to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that the cold didn’t bother her.

“We don’t mind being cold, because we’re happy to receive the Holy Spirit,” Irung said.

“It’s very special for us to come together with so many from around the world to share our faith; but most importantly, we are here to meet the Pope and receive his message, so we can be witnesses when we go back home to our own country.”

23-year-old Sydneysiders Audrey Echevarria, Ellen McFarlane and Daniel Little said they spent their time listening to stories of struggle from young Catholics from

around the globe. “The fact that so many people have sacrificed so much and traveled so far has really amazed us,” McFarlane said.

“It’s important for young Australians that we have a sense of unity in our faith.”

“We’ve been taught it all our lives, but now we have a clearer idea of what the universal nature of the Catholic faith is, and now it has solidified our own faith,” said Little. “There

is a fair amount of hostility to Christianity in Australia, especially in Sydney, but knowing that not everyone dislikes Catholicism gives us courage to be able to speak about our faith in public,” Echevarria said.

“Being a Catholic takes a lot of courage,” she added, “it means you need to make a choice yourself about how you want to live your life, and this event helps us do that.”

CATHOLIC BOOK OF BIBLE STORIES

J

The Record RRP $28.95

The Record Bookshop RRP $28.95

West attracts 5000-plus on Theology of Body

■ By Sylvia Defendi

NOT everyone can draw a crowd of 5000 and leave another 200 outside begging security to be let in.

Yet for Christopher West who wooed youth at the forum on July 17 at Sydney’s Entertainment Centre this was just standard operating procedure.

West spoke to WYD pilgrims on Pope Benedict’s teachings on Erotic and Divine Love, following a much-anticipated forum on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body the previous day.

In his own words, West just scratched the surface of some of the major themes expressed in the Pontiff’s first Encyclical – God is Love – and left crowds spellbound.

West began his speech to pilgrims by defining Agape –

Pilgrims say experience of being with others gives courage to be Catholic.

■ By Dan McAloon

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS)

- The pilgrims travelled from 170 countries to what Pope Benedict XVI called the “Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.”

For many, Sydney may well have seemed like evangelising to “the ends of the earth.”

They came, nonetheless, filling the streets and charming the locals with their vitality and purpose. They even changed the tone of the local media, which had insisted the high cost of airfares and the distance would keep them away from World Youth Day in Sydney.

On July 19 they gathered - more than 220,000 of them - to pray with the pope, party and sleep under the stars.

As the vigil wore on, the pilgrims divided themselves into two distinct groups - the exuberant music-making kind

God’s love for the Church and Eros – sexual love between husband and wife.

“Our religion is all about the body,” West continued, “the word made flesh: ‘eat my flesh, drink my blood’ – Our God took on a human body to redeem our bodies,” he said. Contrary to contemporary world views West challenged youth to stop viewing human beings as merely a spirit trapped in a body.

“The counterfeit world wants you to think the person is something other than the body. But we don’t have a body – we are a body,” he said, adding that it is when the body is viewed as something other than part of the human being that it becomes easy to use, abuse and distort the body.

Returning to Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, West demonstrated to youth that it is in the erotic union of husband and wife that a married couple mirror Agape, or God’s love for the Church.

“This Pope is telling us that God’s love for us is not only Agape but also Eros. We are told to keep God out of the bedroom, but God’s Agape love comes to us in a bodily way, in a human way,” West

and the utterly exhausted. For many, the nine-mile pilgrimage with a full backpack and bedroll from MacKillop Chapel in north Sydney had taken its toll. As others reveled, whole sections quietly folded themselves into their sleeping bags and retired to sleep - the only thing missing on their lumpy outlines was a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Alessia Bacacco, 36, a journalist and TV producer from Pax TV, Lima, Peru, was at the vigil to record the atmosphere and snatch interviews with the 200 Peruvian pilgrims she had followed. Pax is a commercial-free 24-hour TV channel broadcasting Catholic teachings. It was founded in Lima in 2002 by a diocesan priest, Father Roberto Padros.

“Our programs really talk to the family, with different shows for mothers, fathers and youth,” said Bacacco. “In Sydney we’ve been recording material we’ll edit into short clips that we’ll use in programming.”

A veteran of the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne,

explained, adding that only the body is capable of revealing our spiritual self. West challenged youth to question everything and used the popular 90s film The Truman Show to illustrate the difficulties faced in contemporary society.

“Truman is a ‘true man’

searching for the truth in a counterfeit world like many of us. Yet when the creator of the ‘Truman Show,’ is asked why it is taking Truman so long to discover his world is completely fake, Christoff answers: ‘We accept the reality of the world which we are given, it’s a simple as that,” he said.

“If we question everything with a sincere heart we are on the path to the Eucharist, but first we need to face our fears,” West told the audience.

Much like Truman, West said that the search for truth was painful and that instead of giving into numbing agents such as sex and alcohol, the

youth of today had to learn that pain was instructive. “Have the courage to take the numbing agents out of your life and that pain will let you find the truth,” he said adding that one of the biggest numbing agents in contemporary culture was noise.

“When it is quiet we can hear God speak to us. We need the courage and openness to let God in and the silence to hear what he is telling us,” he said. While West’s speech to youth primarily focused on the vocation to married life, he also explained to youth the similarity between married life and the vows taken as a consecrated religious. Concluding his speech West told the story of a Carmelite nun who after speaking at a conference on the Eros and Agape of God’s love for humanity was confronted by an agnostic.

www.therecord.com.au

“He told her she was sick, and said ‘what you really want is sex but you disguise it with all this love of God.’ She refused and replied ‘what the world really wants is union with God but it keeps disguising it with all this sex.”

Germany, she said the sprawling nature of Sydney made for a different kind of pilgrim experience.

“Cologne was more centralised; Sydney has been about experiencing the Australian character in a larger space. I’ve noticed that it’s quieter here, as if the pilgrims can reflect a little deeper than at Cologne,” she said.

She praised the Sydney organisers for the smooth operations of the celebrations and for accommodating so many and moving them efficiently to the different venues.

An hour-and-a-half before Pope Benedict’s arrival for the closing Mass, brothers Rich and Paul Warchuck were sitting on their sleeping bags recovering from the coldness of their Randwick sleep-out.

“The coldness surprised me,” said Rich Warchuck, referring to the overnight low of ten degrees. “Coming straight from a Detroit summer where we were sweltering in the 90s, it’s taken a lot of adjustment.”

drumming stopped. You could hear a kind of collective sigh descend over the whole place after that.”

He said he did not sleep much until “about two am when the

The Warchucks were among 700 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Detroit. Rich, 30, had attended four other World Youth Day celebrations and, despite the cost, he insisted he pay for his broth-

er’s airfare to Sydney. “It was an opportunity for us to see Australia, but also I wanted Paul to get this enjoyment in celebrating our Catholic faith with so many from around the world,” he said. “It’s a wonderful expression of universal church for younger people.”

Paul, 22, said seeing the commitment of other Catholic

youths made him “feel better about the future.”

“All these young people really are the future of our church. We’re believing in God in this world and taking that one idea home as inspiration. It’s a feeling I hope I can keep with me forever,” he added. Detroit team leader Nikki Zakrezewski, 38, said the

CURRAMBINE CATHOLIC PRIMARY

organisation for Sydney’s World Youth Day was probably the best she had seen.

“The transportation and organisation, the helpful volunteers - it was all very friendly and ran to plan. We loved it,” she said.

At the candlelight vigil with Pope Benedict, Amber Herrara Veliz, 28, of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, said the 220 pilgrims from her country came “to find hope in this world.”

“It’s been an excellent experience together with all these people,” she said.

“The people of Sydney received us with generosity. They are friendly but shy; (with us) not speaking much English, it was mostly about them smiling and us waving. I loved it.”

The group stayed with families in Maitland and Newcastle during the Days in the Dioceses program.

“Very, very nice people,” said Julieth Zerega, 35, the Venezuelan team leader. She said she felt “renovated in my faith.”

Travelling from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Moraima Hernandez, 16, was one of a group of 800 that included pilgrims from San Juan and Arroyo.

She said her group worked

for two years to finance their trip. Fundraisers included concerts, game nights, and a weekly market food stall. But to get to Sydney, she still had to take out a loan to make the $5,000 airfare.

“I have no regrets. I want to grow up in my faith. There’s a part of me I want to change. I want to know me and find out who I am. I want to be more faithful.

“In my country, people lose their faith in the face of so many political problems,” she said. “I want to be one of the ones who will bring the people back to the church.”

Sydney was Moraima’s first World Youth Day, “but not last,” she said. She described the camaraderie of the Latin American countries she encountered at the vigil concert.

“We were five singing in a group last night” and joined pilgrims from Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Mexico. “Soon the circle was very big indeed.” She said she found the different dialects “a little confusing.” “But what comes from the heart is that all believe as one in Jesus Our Lordthat’s the amazing thing about World Youth Day,” she said.

spir tual prac tical awesome

In this book , seeks impor tant role pro -

Record Bookshop RRP 24.95

Be part of Australia’s future

An excellent Catholic university with accredited courses and an outstanding international brand

• Small class sizes

• High quality teaching and professional training

• Personal attention and pastoral care

• Strong international connections

• Focus on affordability and accessibility

• A caring and supportive community

• A beautiful learning environment

• FEE-HELPand HECS-HELP places available

Fremantle Campus

• Arts & Sciences

• Behavioural Science

• Business

• Counselling

• Education

• Environmental Science

• Exercise Science

• Law

• Medicine

• Nursing

• Philosophy & Theology

• Physiotherapy

” WYD has taught me that through the strength of the Holy Spirit I can be guided to show respect for others and make charitable decisions in my professional career as I embark on the journey to become a Notre Dame graduate.

Broome Campus

• Aboriginal Studies

• Education

• Nursing

Sydney Campus

• Arts & Sciences

• Business

• Education

• Law

• Medicine

• Nursing

• Philosophy & Theology

Sisters take Notre Dame

admired for their work on life, family and marriage. During WYD week thousands of pilgrims from all over the world were visiting Notre Dame.

big ‘Aussie BBQ’. Pilgrims were joined by WYD08 ambassadors Jared Crouch of the Sydney Swans and the Delezio family for the big cook up.

venue to welcome pilgrims from around the world to the WYD Love and Life Site.

Young get thrill of their lives to meet the man himself - and be inspired

The

life.

The University became a catechetical, spiritual and Youth Fest centre. The Sisters of Life organised workshops, a street party concert and an outdoor Festival of Life.

On the first morning hundreds of international visitors joined the Sisters and the

In the afternoon a huge concert was held, with the popular America Christian rock group, the Matt Maher Band.

Sister Mary Elizabeth from the Sisters of Life said all of the Sisters were extremely happy to be collaborating with the University.

“We are so happy that Notre

“Large numbers of youth are joining us on campus each day for numerous events.

“There was catechesis in the morning, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, talks by internationally acclaimed speakers on God’s plan for life and love, and a festival of life in the courtyard including concerts, talks, food and fun,”

Is exhibition more than WYD fad?

Creative: Artists came up with a seemingly endless variety of decorations for these statues of Christ, exhibited at St Mary’s Cathedral.

PHOTOS MONICA AND SYLVIA DEFEND

Over half a million pilgrims

Pope urges youth to be ambassadors to troubled peers.

BENEDICT XVI urged a group of youth in a rehabilitation centre to be ambassadors of hope and to help other troubled youth to choose the path of life.

The Pope met a group of disadvantaged youth in Sydney on July 18. The young people are members of the rehabilitation community of the University of Notre Dame.

The meeting took place directly following the reenactment of the Stations of the Cross, an event of the World Youth Day celebrations, under way in the city through Sunday.

The Holy Father was greeted by the chancellor of the university, who accompanied him to the Sacred Heart chapel. There the Pontiff met young people with histories of drug addiction and other problems, who are following the “Alive” rehabilitation program.

The name of the rehabilitation program was the central focus of Benedict XVI’s remarks. He recalled Moses’ words in the Old Testament: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, [...] for in this your life consists.”

“It was clear what they had to do,” the Pope explained, “they had to turn away from other gods and worship the true God who had revealed himself to Moses - and they had to obey his commandments. You might think that in today’s world, people are unlikely to start worshipping other gods.

“But sometimes people worship ‘other gods’ without realising it. False ‘gods’ [...] are nearly always associated with the worship of three things: material possessions, possessive love, or power.”

“Material possessions, in themselves, are good,” continued the Holy Father. “We

and many more Sydney locals were able to witness the twometre-tall works exhibited around the city for the duration of WYD. Exhibition sites included Hyde Park, The Domain, Darling Harbour, West Circular Quay, Bondi Beach, Barangaroo (Millers Point) and Randwick Racecourse.

Curator and director of the Jesus Walks exhibition, 23year-old Helena McCarthy conceieved the idea with a mission to provide a unique opportunity to emphasise the

would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. [...] Yet if we are greedy, if we refuse to share what we have with the hungry and the poor, then we make our possessions into a false god. “How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can! But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death.” “Authentic love is obviously something good,” he said. “When we love, we become most fully ourselves, most fully human. But [...] people often think they are being loving when actually they are being possessive or manipulative. “People sometimes treat others as objects to satisfy their own needs. [...] How easy it is to be deceived by the many voices in our society that advocate a permissive approach to sexuality, without regard for modesty, selfrespect or the moral values that bring quality to human

connections between young people as pilgrims, young people as artists and young people in need. Each statue will be auctioned after the closure of the exhibition with all proceeds benefiting Youth Off The Streets – which since 1991 has provided a continuum of care for underprivileged young Australians.

An honours graduate in Art History from Sydney University, Helena said the works break down barriers and make the Christian faith

relationships!” Benedict XVI continued: “The power God has given us to shape the world around us is obviously something good. Used properly and responsibly, it enables us to transform people’s lives. [...] Yet how tempting it can be to grasp at power for its own sake, to seek to dominate others or to exploit the natural environment for selfish purposes! “The cult of material possessions, the cult of possessive love and the cult of power often lead people to attempt to ‘play God’: To try to seize total control, with no regard for the wisdom or the commandments that God has made known to us. This is the path that leads towards death.

“By contrast, worship of the one true God means recognising in him the source of all goodness, [...] that is the way to choose life.”

The Pope then referred to the personal life stories of many members of the community, who made “choices that led you down a path

accessible to all. “It’s all really about people being proud of their belief in Jesus Christ and sharing that belief with those who wouldn’t normally see a statue or sign of faith in their everyday lives,” she said.

For celebrated indigenous artist Amunda Gorey, the chance to showcase her faith and the deep roots Catholicism has in indigenous culture could not be passed by.

25-year-old Amunda spent two months painstakingly painting her statue of the Sacred Heart, which highlights

which, however attractive it appeared at the time, only led you deeper into misery and abandonment.” And he acknowledged their “courage in choosing to turn back onto the path of life.”

“Dear friends,” the Pontiff said, “I see you as ambassadors of hope to others in similar situations. You can convince them of the need to choose the path of life and shun the path of death, because you speak from experience.

“All through the Gospels, it was those who had taken wrong turnings who were particularly loved by Jesus, because once they recognised their mistake, they were all the more open to his healing message.”

“It was those who were willing to rebuild their lives who were most ready to listen to Jesus and become his disciples,” the Holy Father said. “You can follow in their footsteps, you too can grow particularly close to Jesus because you have chosen to turn back toward him.”

all the wonders that have been created by God. While many have expressed their delight in the detail of Amunda’s work, she said there where times when she felt like she would never finish the intricate work of art.

“I was brought up Catholic and when I got tired of painting the statue my aunties would support me and say that Our Lord would help me complete the project,” Amunda said.

- Sylvia Defendi

Witness to life: Pilgrims gather with the Sisters of Life, a new religious women’s community founded in New York by Cardinal John J O’Connor.

Throughout the week of WYD, UNDA’s Darlinghurst campus became a centre of catechesis - and fun - for pilgrims. PHOTO: UNDA

What a blast: Pope Benendict XVI meets youth at the University

400,000 turn out to be with Pontiff and worship Jesus

BENEDICT’S CHALLENGE

“A

re you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the “power” which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?” -

Benedict XVI’s World Youth Day 2008 is a triumph. God is back in the game

Continued from page 1 Thousands walked 9 kilometres to Randwick across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge–closed to traffic for only the third time in its history – often singing hymns or praying the Rosary if they were not kicking a football or skylarking.

Some carried huge banners saying, “We love our German Shepherd”.

A Saturday evening vigil was followed by a vast slumber party on the site where Mass was to be celebrated the next day. Confessions continued throughout the night and even at three in the morning, a tent with the Blessed Sacrament exposed was full of young people praying.

And even the most churlish journalists had to admit that the pilgrims were cheerful, high-spirited and ordinary, not the scowling killjoy zealots some had expected.

A group calling itself the No to Pope Coalition – a collection of drag queens, homosexuals, atheists and (believe it or not) lesbian Raelians – showered passing pilgrims with condoms as they streamed over

the Harbour Bridge. But the stunt provoked only laughter and pained perplexity. “They’ve all got their own opinions,” remarked an 18year-old New Zealand girl. “We’ve got our own beliefs and we’re not going to change it because of them.”

Pope Benedict clearly enjoyed the celebration. Nowadays he responds more spontaneously to the enthusiasm and affection of crowds. But although he received a pop star’s welcome, he had come as Pope “to the end of the world” determined to reenergise the Church in Australia and to urge young people to commit themselves to God.

The intriguing thing about Benedict is that a man of his age, shy, modest and uncharismatic, convinces by virtue of his perceptiveness and rigour and clarity. His addresses at World Youth Day were pitched at a high level. They were intellectual, without rhetorical flourishes, and went straight to the heart of the conflict between religion and secular culture. Four

messages stood out. Speaking to all Australians, the Pope lamented that “In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading: an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair” (homily at final Mass).

He constantly attributed this to the scourge of relativism, the belief that there is no truth.

“Freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth,” he said.

“This is fuelled by the notion, widely held today, that there are no absolute truths to guide our lives. Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made ‘experience’ all-important. Yet, experiences, detached from any consideration of what is good or true, can lead, not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, to a lowering of standards, to a loss of self-respect, and even to despair” (Address at the Festival of Welcome by the Youth at Barangaroo in Sydney).

To all believers, the Pope

brought encouragement to continue to fight to keep religion in the public square. In one of his most interesting addresses, to representatives of the non-Christian religions, he countered the assertion that religion and violence are inextricably mixed. A yearning for the transcendent leads people to realise that fulfilment does not consist in selfishness.

“Rather, it leads us to meet the needs of others and to search for concrete ways to contribute to the common good. Religions have a special role in this regard, for they teach people that authentic service requires sacrifice and self-discipline, which in turn must be cultivated through self-denial, temperance and a moderate use of the world’s goods. In this way, men and women are led to regard the environment as a marvel to be pondered and respected rather than a commodity for mere consumption. It is incumbent upon religious people to demonstrate that it is possible to find joy in living simply and modestly, generously sharing

one’s surplus with those suffering from want.”

To Catholics, the Pope emphasised unity. His address to the evening vigil was a stunning overview of the theology of unity. Although it may have gone over the head of many of the sleepy pilgrims waving candles in the darkness, he gave a masterful sketch of Augustine’s struggle to grasp the meaning of the Trinity, the central doctrine of Christianity. And he used this to make a pointed appeal for unity within the Church itself.

“Unfortunately the temptation to ‘go it alone’ persists. Some today portray their local community as somehow separate from the so-called institutional Church, by speaking of the former as flexible and open to the Spirit and the latter as rigid and devoid of the Spirit.

“Unity is of the essence of the Church; it is a gift we must recognise and cherish. Tonight, let us pray for the resolve to nurture unity: contribute to it! resist any temptation to walk away! For it is pre-

cisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision, of our faith – solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight – that we can offer our world.”

And to young people, over and over again, he emphasised their responsibility to pass on their faith to others.

“What will you leave to the next generation?” he asked in his homily in the closing Mass.

“Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure?

Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the “power” which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?” He called upon them to be prophets of a new society: “a new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely

free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty.

A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships.”

The task of rebuilding the Catholic Church, in Australia as elsewhere, is an enormous challenge.

Almost overshadowing the exuberant welcome given to the Pope in the local media were protests by victims of clergy sex abuse.

It is claimed that more than 100 Catholic clergy have been jailed for this in recent years. There were insistent calls for an apology – and the Pope apologised (Mass with the Bishops, Seminarians and Young Religious of Australia, Sydney): “These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church’s witness... Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to jus-

tice”. Before leaving Australia he also met with four victims and celebrated Mass with them.

Despite the shadows, Benedict’s rapturous reception in Sydney shows that Christianity is far from dead, or even dormant.

Flags from dozens of countries were waving in the stiff breeze which blew up as World Youth Day drew to a close. Amongst them was the red star of the People’s Republic of China.

Even there, in an officially Communist regime, the Pope has enthusiasts.

Over the past five years a bitter secularism has sought to push religion into a closet. Books by proselytising atheists have captured the imagination of the media.

Now, after a week of joyful, unashamed religious sentiment Down Under, everyone knows that there is a viable alternative. God is back in the game. Michael Cook writes from Melbourne and is the editor of Mercatornet (Mercatornet.com), an online magazine focussing on human dignity.

Pope offers youth and world a New Age of the Spirit

Pope prays closing Mass will be new Pentecost; urges youth to open hearts to Spirit’s power.

Pope Benedict XVI prayed that the final Mass of World Youth Day would be like the experience of the Upper Room, and that the young people present would go forth from it to proclaim the Risen Christ.

With this prayer, the Pope concluded his homily last Sunday morning, at the Mass that drew to a close the 23rd World Youth Day.

The Holy Father spoke to the vast crowd, estimated to number around 400,000, about the power of the Holy Spirit. His homily followed the naming of the 24 candidates for confirmation, two from each Australian state and the other 12 from around the world.

The Pontiff got a sense of the size of the crowd when he flew over Randwick Racecourse in a helicopter earlier in the day - some 225,000 of the congregation slept under the stars on Saturday night after a vigil with the Holy Father. Before the Mass, Benedict XVI greeted a part of the crowd from the popemobile.

Under the bright Sydney sun, Benedict XVI told the youth: “May the fire of God’s love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ!”

The Holy Father explained to the youth what the power of the Holy Spirit is: “It is the power of God’s life! It is the power of the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation and who, in the fullness of time, raised Jesus from the dead. It is the power which points us, and our world, towards the coming of the Kingdom of God.”

Benedict XVI cited the Gospel of Luke read at the Mass, where Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be

poured out upon all humanity. “Here in Australia, ... all of us have had an unforgettable experience of the Spirit’s presence and power in the beauty of nature,” the Pope said. “Here too, in this great assembly of young Christians from all over the world, we have had a vivid experience of the Spirit’s presence and power in the life of the Church.

“We have seen the Church for what she truly is: the Body of Christ, a living community of love, embracing people of every race, nation and tongue, of every time and place, in the unity born of our faith in the Risen Lord. The power of the Spirit never ceases to fill the Church with life!”

“Yet this power,” the Holy Father continued, “the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age.

“Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God’s grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father.”

With solemnity, the Pontiff then said to the youth, “Let me now ask you a question.”

He asked: “What will you leave to the next generation?

Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure?

Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the ‘power’ which the Holy

Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?”

“Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith’s rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God’s gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed,” the Bishop of Rome affirmed.

“A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships.”

“Dear young friends,” he urged, “the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.”

The world and the Church need this renewal, Benedict XVI affirmed.

“The Church especially needs the gifts of young people, all young people,” he said.

“She needs to grow in the power of the Spirit who even now gives joy to your youth and inspires you to serve the Lord with gladness. Open your hearts to that power! I address this plea in a special way to those of you whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Do not be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!”

The Pope concluded asking for Mary’s prayer: “Through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, may this 23rd World Youth Day be experienced as a new Upper Room, from which all of us, burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit, go forth to proclaim the Risen Christ and to draw every heart to him! Amen.”

Pure joy: Pilgrims from Spain cheer after hearing the Pope announce Madrid as the host city of World Youth Day 2011. Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement at the close of World Youth Day on July 20.

PHOTO: CNS, PAUL HARING

Among friends: Final Mass at Southern Cross.

Seminarians from Fiji carry the Book of the Gospels at the final Mass for World Youth Day. Their contribution was one of the many indigenous contributions throughout the week.

PHOTO:COURTESY WYD

And end, a beginning: A procession heads to the altar, right, youth pray at the closing Mass, far right, the Pope confirms a lucky young woman and, below, he greets pilgrims before Mass.

PHOTO:COURTESY WYD

A key part of WYD is the catecheses - talks on what Catholics believe.

■ By Sylvia Defendi

WHILE Sydney had a few days to get used to the growing number of pilgrims trawling the streets each day, nothing could have prepared them for their total and sudden disappearance.

Over 300,000 pilgrims gathered in over 235 locations around the city area for prayer, song, teaching and discussion on the role of the Holy Spirit from July 16-18.

Various lay and religious members of the Church, who came from all over the world, presented the catecheses to pilgrims in over 29 languages.

At Sydney’s Entertainment Centre over 2000 pilgrims packed an auditorium where the Missionaries of God’s Love led a praise and worship session and pilgrims listened to the words of Marjorie Liddy, whose indigenous painting of the Holy Spirit graced much of the World Youth Day material.

And while many enjoyed the perfect execution of a 2000-stong Mexican wave, which spread across the auditorium, pilgrims were particularly impressed by the words of Archbishop of Jos in Nigeria, Ignatius Kaigama.

The Nigerian Archbishop spoke about the Holy Spirit and its role in the Church and was given a standing ovation from pilgrims delighted with his message of hope and celebration.

“Just looking at you all from all parts of the world makes my heart leap with joy,” the charismatic Archbishop began.

He mentioned that 400 bishops, 4000 priests and 3000 religious had travelled to Sydney to celebrate the faith with all the pilgrims.

“Some people say we do not

need God to be happy, we want to tell the world that God is necessary and the spirit must flow in all parts of the world,” he told pilgrims, adding that with the Holy Spirit in them they could do a lot

to better the Church and the world. “When you have the Holy Spirit in you, you learn to see beyond yourself. With the Holy Spirit I can say all of you are my brothers and sisters,” explained the Archbishop.

But the work of the Holy Spirit spanned further than the grace to break down social barriers, the Archbishop told youth. “Learn from each other while here. God has made

us different but He does not want us to become indifferent. Respect each other,” he said. “You have a moral duty to be worried about others. Reach out to the poor, sick and deprived brothers and sisters.”

Inspiring many young pilgrims the Archbishop continued his speech by challenging youth to be leaders in the Church and in wider society.

“Some of you seated here will be presidents and prime min-

isters of your own countries and when you do, remember that there are others that need you to reach out to them. In the spirit of WYD, pilgrims where told that they all had gifts that they should

use to promote the Church and further its good works throughout the globe.

“We want you to be active, not passive consumers of religious goods,” Archbishop Kaigama told pilgrims.

the streams of pilgrims as one of them as the week

progressed. She said: “I’ll probably go to Church more because I’ve seen the energy of the living faith now.” While joining the walk over the Harbour Bridge this morning, Zenit also caught up with Sydney’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport, John Watkins, who expressed his satisfaction at the results of years of planning.

“With known numbers of 125,000 international visitors, plus up to 80,000 national travellers, plus the great unknown of up to 300,000 Sydney-siders, it’s like putting on five or six New Years Eves per day but the buses and trains have done a great job,” said Watkins. “But what we’ve seen is not only functionality from all transport systems, but have received so much from the activities and well-mannered pilgrims themselves … it’s been very positive for our city – we’ve really embraced this event. It’s changed the nature of the way this city is.” Premier of the WYD08 City, Morris Iemma, was also walking with the pilgrims across the famous route. He said that “WYD has been a real awakening because I don’t think

people really understood what it was about.

“It’s woken people up to the role faith can play and the impact it can have in building understanding and peace and has been an example to us and the world of the role that Faith can play in goodness.”

Iemma says that Sydney doesn’t want to stop the spread of their Sydney WYD spirit here though.

“We can continue facilitating dialoguing opportunities with those youth now via the pilgrim database obtained,” he said.

“These youth say they’re astounded by the beauty of Sydney – but the same people have already left a great impression on us in return and we’d like to keep those lines of communication open beyond just this week.”

The leader added that he also had to hand over a lot of the success of the event to the Pope himself.

“Pope Benedict says he’s been bolstered by the reception he’s had and he’s been impressed with the welcome and the organisation, but I believe the reception is a tribute to his success and messages.”

■

Way of the Cross rivets city’s gaze

All eyes were on the spectacular portrayal of Jesus’ last moments.

■ By

Catherine Smibert, Anthony Barich, Bridget Spinks

CROWDS were reduced to tears as a reverent and devotional Stations of the Cross was re-enacted through the streets of Sydney on July 18 as part of the World Youth Day celebrations.

The Stations of the Cross is a major highlight of each international WYD, and the re-enactment Down Under was no exception.

Organisers estimated a global viewing audience upwards of 500 million tuned in to see the live broadcast, while over 250,000 lined Sydney’s streets to watch the performance.

Although the traditional 14 stations begin with Jesus being condemned to death and conclude with his body being laid in the tomb, the 13 stations of Sydney’s reenactment began with the Last Supper and ended with Christ being taken down from the cross.

Pope Benedict XVI led the people in prayer for the first station, which included Christ’s institution of the Eucharist, on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney’s central business district.

Anthony Gordon, 34, who played the part of the Apostle Bartholomew, admitted to ZENIT he struggled to contain his emotion when the Pope came out with Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, and Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

“When the Pontiff came out, you could feel the warmth and excitement from the crowd.

“You had this compulsion to smile and to dissipate in the rapturous feelings,” the actor said.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of many onlookers for this performance of epic proportions, made more so by the backdrop of an intense Australian sunset.

29-year-old Mario Gabrael, who played one of the Roman guards, admitted, “It was difficult to concentrate on our parts at times because of the emotion associated with it.”

After watching the first station, Benedict XVI descended into the crypt to watch the remainder of the event on television.

Some 100 actors reenacted the stations at Sydney’s key landmarks, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Opera House, the Domain, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo.

Given the distances and roadblocks between stations, the youth could not physically

follow the event from station to station. Large-screen televisions were installed at all venues so the crowds could follow the entire procession. Some of the venues, such as the Sydney Opera House and Barangaroo featured multiple stations.

From St Mary’s Cathedral the procession travelled to the Domain for the second station, which portrayed the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The troupe passed Sydney Hospital, where “Jesus” made an extra stop to acknowledge the ill patients watching from above.

The seventh station at Darling Harbour was performed on a floating pontoon.

Aboriginal man Craig Duncan, wearing a kangaroo skin and traditional body paint, portrayed Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry his cross.

Catherine Naticchia played Susanna in the eighth station - “Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem” - one of the six traditional stations included in the youth day event. Naticchia reflected that her role “to bear witness to the deep compassion” of the women of Jerusalem “was really important.”

“As women we can truly empathise,” she added, “and present that emotion while many of the men at the time weren’t sure how to respond.”

The last five stations took place at Barangaroo’s north stage. The crowds watched as Jesus was nailed to the cross, forgave the good thief, and then entrusted his mother Mary to St John, the disciple he loved, with the words of scripture, “Woman, this is your son.”

He then told John, “This is your mother.” The three-hour event culminated with the crucifixion and the body of Jesus being taken down from the cross, silhouetted against a darkening waterfront at Barangaroo.

The entire performance was directed by Father Franco Cavarra, who has directed operas internationally and around Australia, including at the Sydney Opera House.

He is also a founding member of the longstanding Melbourne International Arts Festival.

The choir of St Mary’s Cathedral provided the background music for the first station, singing Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus,” while the World Youth Day 2008 Ukrainian choir sang during the sixth station - “Jesus Carries His Cross” - at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. The texts supporting the World Youth Day 2008 Stations of the Cross were taken from the Jerusalem Bible, as modified in the Australian Catholic Lectionary.

For actors given key roles in Stations, best preparation was by immersion

dragged “Jesus” through the streets of Sydney, forcing him to carry a massive cross all the way. Alfio admitted the next day that as he was strung upside down by his feet from steel columns for the Scourging at the Pillar, he was genuinely scared. The actors weren’t aggressive, but it was real enough for the actor to at least get an inkling of the suffering Jesus endured 2000 years ago.

they really wanted to hurt me and I became scared, for real.”

Though he ended up with a few scratches and bruises on his legs and arms, he took it all in his stride, and offered it up for those suffering in the world.

played out at key locations around Sydney, pilgrims couldn’t watch all of it, yet the actors who played the Roman guards

“Physically, the dragging and the scourging bit, I felt pretty vulnerable being strung upside down,” said Alfio, who works in the advertising industry for a crust. “The actors created that sense of vulnerability. It became real. It seemed like

In this way, the whole performance was a prayer. Did it hurt? “A little,” he said, “but it’s not even a speck on what Jesus went through, so…(God), if you think it’s right, give me more pain.”

Both Alfio and Sydney beauty therapist Marina Dixon, who played Mary, prepared for the role with prayer and sacrifice, knowing that the performance would be a “sacred” act – the ultimate act-

ing. Alfio said he prepared by quieting himself, which helped keep him focused. “I tried to think of the world and where it’s at today, get a deep understanding of the suffering and poverty going on and use that as the drive and feel the pain of what’s happening,” Alfio said. “Physically I tried to keep fit, running a lot, as there are internal benefits; it keeps you mentally alert.”

He also prepared by listening to Gospel and religious music, which assisted reflection and meditation. Both actors stayed away from popular portrayals of Christ and Mary, such as those by Jim Caviezel and Maia

Morgenstern’s in The Passion of the Christ. Marina also meditated on the Gospel in her preparation.

“I lost myself in it. I tried not to watch any movies as I didn’t want to mimic them, I wanted it to be pure and honest,” she said.

“I wanted my performance to show how much I love God. We are showing the embodiment of our faith.”

As the Passion is a love story between Jesus and His mother, Alfio drew on those things that affected him personally, reflecting on his own mother.

“I had to dig deep – everyone suffers in life, so I thought about what suffering I had gone through and used that as

a drive and I tried to offer it all up to the Lord.”

The experience brought them both closer to God, as the whole performance was, for them, a prayer. “I’ve found another dimension to my faith,” Alfio said, “and hopefully through this role, we can become messengers and share something in the ‘post-production’, of our emotions and faith.”

Marina said the experience has taught her to “rest in God, and to surrender – that’s a big thing; and to just trust that the Spirit of the Lord will have His way, no matter how weak we are”. “I’ve found a real intimacy; I’ve definitely come closer

to God. My emotions have been so intense, my voice has changed, the intensity of the last few months has affected my physically.”

Marina said the casting agents first considered the depth of their faith then their acting skills, and the result has been the overwhelming feeling of knowing they have personally touched people, as many who witnessed their performance were in tears.

“It doesn’t get better than this,” Alfio said, “to serve God and to touch so many people’s hearts. That’s why I’m on such a high: watching so many people be affected.”

Marina spoke of her awareness at WYD08 of a deep hun-

ger of young people to know and love God more, “and that’s so beautiful to see”.

“Seek intimacy with God through prayer; see the bigger picture, the body of Christ as a whole. And live the faith, don’t let it just be a Sunday event. Live it daily in everything you are to glorify God.” She sensed at WYD “a real joy – everyone’s just been connecting and happy. There could be divisions (between Catholics), but there hasn’t been”.

Marina says she will never be the same after World Youth Day, and especially after being a part of the Stations of the Cross so intimately. “Even today I feel a bit melancholy.”

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver urged youth to live unity of life.

By

■

Anthony Barich

LIVING a double life as a Catholic who goes to Mass but does not witness one’s faith publicly is doomed to fail, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado told over 1000 young people in an Irish Pub in Parramatta on July 16.

The Archbishop said that going to Mass on Sundays but then being unwilling to share one’s faith in public with friends and family or others is contrary to living as a true disciple of Christ, and likened it to “living in a vegetative state”.

“Jesus wants all of us, and not just on Sundays,” he said. “We need to take Christ at His word. We need to love Him like our lives depend on it. Right now. And without excuses.”

The Archbishop was addressing Theology on Tap at PJ Gallagher’s Irish Pub in inner Sydney as part of World Youth Day, and was greeted with enthusiastic war cries like “Viva Il Papa” and “Benedetto” from the youth who filled the pub that is a half-hour train ride from the central business district.

He said loving and believing in Christ and trusting His Church is every Christian’s mission in life.

“”We can’t live a half-way Christianity,” he said. “Every double life will inevitably selfdestruct. Being a Christian is who you are - period. And being a Christian means your life has a mission. It means

SPECIAL W Y D ‘08 SOUVENIR EDITION

striving every day to become more like Jesus in your thoughts and actions.”

Archbishop Chaput first inspired 20-year-old University of Notre Dame Australia law and theology student Patrick Langrell to start Theology on Tap in August last year when he heard the prelate address a similar forum in a pub on Denver’s diocesan website. Speaking on the theme “Mission Possible: this double-life will self-destruct”, the prelate said that knowing what the Church teaches and what Christ wants everyone to know for the salvation of all will equip young people with the means to share its teachings.

The Archbishop said that Jesus’s message to the man who told him he wants to be a disciple but first wanted to bury his father, “leave the dead to bury the dead; follow me and proclaim the kingdom of God” is a stark and disturbing reminder.

“There can be no more urgent priority in our lives than following Christ and proclaiming His kingdom,” Archbishop Chaput said.

He called on youth to discover how God wants them to follow Christ by talking to God “humbly in prayer” and by getting to know Christ better through daily reading and praying over the Gospels.

He also told the youth

www.therecord.com.au

Abbot prescribes the antidote

■ By Sylvia Defendi

OVER 150 pilgrims filed in to hear a British Benedictine who came to world attention through a British reality TV series filmed in a monastery offer his monastic secrets to a fulfilling life on July 16.

Abbott Christopher Jamison OSB told youth they needed to build sanctuary in their lives and rediscover the art of contemplation.

Currently the Abbott of Worth Abbey in England, Jamison highlighted the difficulties youth face when seeking true happiness in the midst of contemporary western culture.

to open themselves to the graces Christ gives in the Sacraments.

“It’s not about choosing what you want to do with your life,” he said. “It’s about discovering how God wants to use your life to spread the good news of His love and His kingdom.”

The Archbishop called on the youth to preach the Gospel with their lives “no matter where you are or whatever you find yourself doing – going to school, working, making a home”.

Quoting St John of the Cross, the Archbishop said: “Where there is no love, put love and you will draw love”, in order to bring about a kingdom of love.

He told the young people not to get angry at human weakness and sin in the Church; but to love the Church as their mother and teacher.

“Help build her up, to purify her life and work,” he said.

Theology on Tap has previously been addressed by Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, three Dominican Sisters from Nashville, Tennessee assisting with WYD08 preparations and UNDA Sydney vice-chancellor Hayden Ramsay. Held once a month at PJ Gallagher’s Irish Pub, Theology on Tap regularly draws over 600 young people.

However, he also outlined some simple beliefs rooted in the monastic tradition that assist in discovering what he described as true Christian happiness.

“The world teaches us that as long as we don’t harm others, we cannot do wrong,” he explained, adding that this view was a direct result of a culture that called for introspection.

However the key difference between self-awareness and introspection, is that self-awareness calls for one to seek out an understanding of their place in the world rather than knowledge of oneself as severed from the rest of the world, he said.

“Without self-awareness people do wrong, and yet selfish introspection is what every self-help book is telling us will lead to true fulfillment,” Jamison said.

The Abbott went on to explain that only once we have achieved self-awareness can we begin to discover personal and communal happiness.

Perhaps surprising to some, many youth were keen to learn of monastic traditions and the contemplative life. Abbot Jamison offered a few simple steps to reach Christian happiness.

“All the world’s religions believe in training the thoughts before they reach

emotions, and the Christian faith is no different in this regard – we have to train ourselves towards happiness,” Jamison said. Using the anal-

ogy of hygiene, the Abbott said western culture provided for a very ‘unhygienic’ spiritual life. “We know we should pray

and contemplate as much as we brush our teeth, visit the doctor and exercise but we don’t have time,” he said.

To cure spiritual ills, the Abbot prescribed what he termed ‘sanctuary,’ but was quick to admonish the view of sanctuary as merely a the ritual of relaxing in front of a favourite TV show after a hard day.

“I know many who will religiously visit their entertainment ‘shrine’ in the living room every night as a family, but very few who have dedicated a part of the house or a room to spiritual growth – a place where the family can sit in silence and discover their place in the world and their journey towards true Christian happiness,” he said.

Speaking on the success of the WYD Christian Meditation Centre, which had drawn many pilgrims, he said there was a real need for the Christian contemplative tradition.

“Many Christians don’t event know the contemplative tradition exists within the Catholic Church and so go chasing oriental faiths rich in contemplation and meditation,” he said.

■ By Anthony Barich

A BRITISH Benedictine monk took World Youth Day into a women’s prison in Sydney, leading inmates in an ancient form of meditation.

Father Laurence Freeman OSB, based at a monastery in central London and director for the World Community for Christian Meditation, led a group of inmates at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre on July 17 who have practised Christian meditation for six years.

The World Youth Day Cross had already visited the prison, and the follow-up meditation on July 17 based on WYD themes proved a hit there, while Christian meditation has aso been successfully implemented in the diocese of Townsville, Queensland.

In both cases, Father Freeman says, it produced positive results.

“The chaplain who teaches them meditation says the prison guards and authorities all remark that these women who are meditating are sharing real improvement in their behaviour and general state of wellbeing,” he said.

“Children in the Townsville schools from year one up really like it, and want it. Teachers say the children are better behaved and kinder to each other, and don’t fight with each other so much.

“It often takes a bit of prodding, as many prisoners have been traumatised or abused, but after a few meditation sessions it produces what St Paul calls the fruits of the spirit – love, peace, patience, selfcontrol…they all become interior experiences, rather than some-

thing they can only see externally.”

He said the prison chaplain – who he described as a “remarkably compassionate and spiritual woman” – had created a sacred place in the prison chapel where inmates feel safe and respected and are given the opportunity to talk and pray.

“They’re receiving real care and attention and spiritual guidance, and it’s in that context that meditation becomes meaningful to them,” he said.

Fr Freeman said it was important that as WYD08 engulfed the rest of Sydney outside the prison walls, the inmates could experience the same workings of the Spirit as those outside.

“We wanted to ensure they were in touch with WYD. As we sat there in meditation with them, we felt we were at the heart of the Church, which isn’t always neces-

sarily where the Pope and cardinals are… it’s also where the poor, suffering, forgotten people are.

“The basic Christian understanding of meditation is that the Holy Spirit is alive in the centre of our being, our heart, and to be empowered by it is not just something that happens on the outside but awakens on the inside.

Hopefully both WYD pilgrims and the inmates can experience that.”

Father Freeman reported another case in a crowded California prison with 18,000 inmates, where there’s not a blade of grass, a “very inhumane environment,” yet there is a meditation group that reminds him of Benedictine monks in the way they live.

“They turn their life into a spiritual journey and searching for God despite much pain and rejection in their life,” he said. The Christian Meditation community hosted a ‘quiet oasis” in the city for WYD pilgrims to experience contemplation and learn more about the ancient tradition of Christian Meditation at

Paddington Uniting Church on Oxford Street.

Following Pope Benedict XVI’s lead in encouraging time for quiet reflection during the hype and noise of WYD08, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney said the Christian Meditation centre may be just what pilgrims need.

“There will be many graces touching your life during these days (of WYD08),” the Cardinal told pilgrims.

“I pray that the graces of contemplative prayer will also touch your hearts and enrich you for the rest of your lives.

“Time spent in quiet at the Christian Meditation centre (in Oxford Street, Paddington) may be the moment for that grace to find you.”

The format at the prison involved listening to a tape, a short meeting then meditation for half an hour focusing on a word or phrase from Scripture, followed by sharing and discussion and more Scripture reading.

Father Freeman told The Record Christian meditation is currently making a comeback, and the concept is being reclaimed from the common perception that it is a Buddhist practice.

Christian meditation started with the “Desert Fathers”, including St Antony the Abbot, and is common in the Orthodox churches but had faded in the Catholic Church. It’s known as The Jesus Prayer or Prayer of the Church.

Christian meditation’s renaissance began in 1975 when Father Freeman’s mentor, Irish Father John Main OSB, started a meditation goup at in his monastery in London.

Sanctuary: Abbott Christopher Jamison signs his book ‘Finding Sanctuary’, also pictured below, for Perth pilgrim Cheryl Lyra at St Scholastica’s College in Sydney on July 16. PHOTO SYLVIA

Benedict urges youth to claim dignity back

When Benedict XVI arrived by boat in Sydney Harbour his message was simple: Christ offers everything.

■ By Anthony Barich and Catherine Smibert of ZENIT

Two days of waiting for Benedict XVI to officially arrive at World Youth Day seemed like an eternity for young pilgrims across Sydney.

This only led to a build-up of excitement, which brimmed over as the Holy Father disembarked at Barangaroo for the welcoming ceremony with the youth day pilgrims on Thursday afternoon.

The first glimpse of the flotilla of 13 vessels dubbed the papal “boat-a-cade” in the distance set off the chants - “Bene-det-to” and “Viva il Papa” - from approximately 500,000 youth and locals lining the shores and streets of Sydney.

Benedict XVI boarded at Rose Bay, East Sydney, where he was welcomed by Aboriginal representatives, and travelled on the “Sydney 2000” Captain Cook cruise liner around the bays of the city to then arrive at Barangaroo.

Rapturous cheers emanated from all sections of the 22hectare disused shipping port in East Darling Harbour.

Benedict XVI could not keep the smile from his face, even throughout his lengthy welcoming speech in which he reminded the crowd, and all those watching his arrival live on huge screens around the city, that whatever their weaknesses, they can build a kingdom of love when empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“In many ways the Apostles were ordinary,” the Pope said. “None could claim to be the perfect disciple. They failed to recognise Christ, felt ashamed of their own ambition and had even denied him.

“Yet, when empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were transfixed by the truth of Christ’s Gospel and inspired to proclaim it fearlessly.”

He likened the pioneering religious and priests who came to Australia’s shores - and to other parts of the Pacificfrom Ireland, France, Britain, Belgium and elsewhere in Europe to the Apostles who, in obedience to Christ’s command, set forth bearing witness to “the greatest story ever.”

The Pontiff called the youth to look to the patrons of World Youth Day 2008 for inspiration, including Australian Blessed Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and Blessed

Peter To Rot, a martyr from what is now known as Papua New Guinea. Benedict XVI warned against relativism, and said that there is “something sinister” which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth, fuelled by the notion that there are no absolute truths to guide their life.

He said that experiences detached from any consideration of what is good or true can lead not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, a lowering of standards, a loss of self-respect and “even to despair.”

The Pope said the answer to and ultimate freedom from life’s problems lies in Christ, and his Church.

“Christ offers more,” the Holy Father exclaimed. “Indeed, he offers everything. Only he who is the Truth can be the Way and hence also the Life. Thus the ‘Way’ which the Apostles brought to the ends of the earth is life in Christ. “This is the life of the Church; and the entrance to this life, to the Christian way, is baptism.”

Benedict XVI also addressed the problem he identified shortly after he announced Australia would host WYDthe increasingly secular nature of Australian society.

Though secularism often presents itself as neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone, the Pope warned that it also imposes a worldview.

“If God is irrelevant in public life, then society will be shaped with little or no reference to the Creator,” he said.

The Pontiff said that concern for nonviolence, sustainable development, justice, peace and care for the environment, while of “vital importance,” cannot be dissociated from a “profound reflection upon the innate dignity of every human life from conception to natural death”.

He said this is a dignity that is conferred by God himself and thus inviolable.

He urged the thousands of young people to bring the message to the world that freedom is found in truth, and that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.

Michael Dooley, a 28-yearold Catholic from Queensland said that as a result of that day’s moment with the Pope, he felt a new call to mission.

“It says in the Bible that when a priest speaks they should speak as if they are words from God,” says Dooley, “and I’m certain that each one of us present for his speech today was touched deeply as it came from the vicar of Christ himself.”

In txts, BXVI urged pilgrims to proclaim Christ & his luv

Cindy Wooden

■ By

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) - Some well-connected participants at World Youth Day were told, “God & his people expect much from u.” The message, using common cellular phone texting abbreviations popular among teenagers, was signed “BXVI” for Pope Benedict XVI.

It was the first of six messages that were sent to subscribers of Australia’s Telstra mobile phone network. But BXVI did not actually thumb the text messages into his cell phone. Telstra and World Youth Day organisers worked with Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, papal spokesman, to formulate the text messages and make them available at noon each day during the July 15-20 event.

The complete texts of the first three messages were as follows:

- July 15: “Young friend, God & his people expect much from u, because u have within u the Father’s supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI.”

- July 16: “The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles & gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI.”

- July 17: “The Holy Spirit is the principal agent of salvation history: let him write your life history 2! - BXVI.”

- CNS

ANCHOR

God’s promises of hope to parents

International visitors experience spirituality of first Australians

WYD pilgrims sample Aussie life during Days in Diocese outside Sydney.

Dan McAloon

■ By

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) - St Francis of Assisi was so gentle that birds would perch on his outstretched hand. But for Franciscan Father Joseph Maria Zukauskas, the sneaky magpie at Featherdale Wildlife Park preferred to keep its distance.

Father Zukauskas was one of 30 members of the national fraternity of Lithuanian Franciscan Youth who made the pilgrimage to Australia early for the Days in the

Diocese program from July 10-14. The pre-World Youth Day program brought young people together with Catholics in Australia and New Zealand. The pilgrims from Poland, Lithuania and England were welcomed by Sydney’s neighbouring Diocese of Parramatta on July 11 by the Aboriginal Darug nation and participated in activities such as visiting the wildlife park. To ensure they had an authentic taste of the Australian bush during their visit, the pilgrims stayed with parishioners who live in the eucalyptus-forested Blue Mountains, about 100 kilometers from Sydney’s urban centre.

Virginija Mickute, national president of the Lithuanian Franciscan Youth, which was formed in 2006,

said, “Today’s evangelisation to youth is challenging and countercultural,” arriving at a turbulent time in Lithuanian society.

“Since Lithuania joined the European Union we’ve seen the same tendencies as the rest of Europe - an erosion of moral values and a preoccupation with material pursuits,” said Mickute. She said the Church, which blossomed after the collapse of communism, “is now confronting the generational spiritual hole at the heart of many families.”

“Where parents grew up under the Soviet system there’s a lack of spiritual formation for the children. That’s why we focus on working with young people. We’re talking to the young personality and helping them to see that they have moral

choices in life,” she said. Mickute said the Lithuanians had undertaken many fundraising activities to get to Sydney, but it was the donation from Lithuanian Catholics in the US that made the difference.

Meanwhile, at Our Lady of the Way School, the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry welcomed pilgrims with dancing and music.

Aboriginal dancer Jai Pittman, a Durak, led his son and brother in dances of greeting and mimicry of the emu and kangaroo.

Pittman, his face and body adorned in ceremonial white ochre, told the visitors: “Sometimes people see only the differences between peoples, but I always see the similarities first. When people ask me what race I am from I always say, ‘I am from the largest race on earth

- the human race.’ We are all part of creation.” Pittman invited members of the audience to join him onstage for their first lesson in traditional dancing, including imitating the kangaroo and the antics of the giant flightless bird, the emu. Didgeridoo player Duan Pittman said the didgeridoo, made from a termite-hollowed branch, is known by different names among indigenous peoples, depending on where they live.

“I like to call it ‘yibaki,’ the name given to it by the Yolngu people of the Northern Territory,” he said. “Each instrument is unique as no two give the same tone when played.” Using the circular breathing method, he played rhythmic pieces echoing the sounds of the

Australian bush and an original composition, “The Hitchhiker.”

The evening ended in prayer, with Aboriginal elder Janice Brown, a Gumbaingirr woman, leading the pilgrims in the prayer prepared by Aboriginal people for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Alice Springs in 1986. In Brisbane, a small group of youths from Texas joined Phoenix teens staying at St Joseph Nudgee, Arizona College, a boys’ school for students in grades 5-12.

The students spent six nights on air mattresses and sleeping bags on a classroom floor.

The tourists returned home with fond memories of Brisbane and its polite people. Contributing to this story was Ambria Hammel in Brisbane.

By James B Stenson

others and fathers: here’s your help to maintain your confidence and peace of mind even during your toughest times as a parent. With a warm understanding of the trials of parenthood, veteran educator James Stenson here emphasises your sacred mission as a parent and your primary responsibility: to bring your children face-to-face with Jesus Christ. Drawing from the Scriptures and the rich wisdom of the Church, Stenson (author of the popular manuals for parents Lifeline and Upbringing) here helps you hold on throughout the roller-coaster ups and downs, reverses, triumphs, and ongoing challenges of parenthood so that they don’t overwhelm your stamina, patience and peace of mind. He reveals the secrets of joyful perseverance and confidence in God’s promises. Brief and to the point so that it can be read whenever you can find a spare moment or two, this book is a treasury of advice and encouragement for many parents.

RRP $19.95

Underway: A ship carries Pope Benedict XVI through Sydney Harbour, making its way past the city’s famous opera house on July 17. The Pope was on his way to a ceremony welcoming him to World Youth Day.

PHOTO: CNS, PATRICK RIVIERE, REUTERS

Enjoying the moment: Pope Benedict XVI admires the view. The Pope arrived on a cruise ship to greet World Youth Day pilgrims in a spirited ceremony at the city’s waterfront.

PHOTO:ALESSIA GIULIANI, CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

Expectant: Aboriginal dancers wait for Pope Benedict XVI to address pilgrims on July 17, 2008.

PHOTO: CNS/MICK TSIKAS, REUTERS

Our place: Aboriginal dancers welcome Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony at Rose Bay on July 17. The Pope arrived on July 13, but spent a few days resting before he joined World Youth Day in Sydney.

PHOTO: CNS,REUTERS Yes! A pilgrim cheers while waiting for Pope Benedict XVI to arrive to address pilgrims on July 17.

PHOTO/MICK TSIKAS, REUTERS

Chinese pilgrims came in secret for miracle of WYD

In a sea of World Youth Day pilgrims, dozens came from mainland China.

■ By Dan McAloon

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) - In brilliant winter sunshine the old docklands at Barrangaroo became a moving sea of national flags unfurling above the heads of the 150,000 pilgrims who had come from different corners of the earth to celebrate one faith and liturgy.

Among the flags was one from China: About 60 pilgrims from mainland China managed to attend World Youth Day in Sydney. Among them were priests not registered with the Chinese government who, for the first time in their lives, wore the black and white collar that identifies them as a Catholic priest.

The Chinese pilgrims said they were ecstatic to be in Sydney.

“We can feel the Holy Spirit working upon us,” said one young woman.

“All our young people feel the hand of God moving on them, healing them and making them stronger.”

The pilgrims agreed to talk to CNS on July 15, as World Youth Day opened, only if their real names were not used.

Father Li Jinxing said that for the first 20 years of his life, he had never met a priest.

“Priests were heroic figures, heard about but never seen,” said Father Li, who said the Catholic faith was practised secretly in his home under threat of government persecution.

“Parents and grandparents kept the faith strong.”

He said in China today “things are improving a little” but much still depends on the tolerance of local and provincial authorities as to whether the Church has a legitimate profile.

He spoke of China’s two Catholic communities - those that register with the government and those that refuse to register and continue to operate in a semiclandestine manner.

“The government allows too few seminaries to train the numbers of priests in the official church, so the underground church is by far the bigger one,” the priest claimed.

As a 20-year-old in Hebei province Father Li attended a hurriedly convened secret Mass.

Like all such gatherings, the liturgy was celebrated at lightning speed for fear of discovery. It was at the Mass that Father Li met his first priest and there, as he received Communion, that he realised his vocation.

Accompanying the Chinese pilgrims was a 22-year-old Texan who has been studying Chinese while working as a lay missionary; he did not want to be identified for fear of endangering his ability to work in China.

His connections to the Arizonabased US Catholic group Youth Arise North America ensured that the pilgrims’ fares and registrations for World Youth Day were paid through a donation of US $20,000.

“It is a small miracle in their lives,” he said of the journey.

The Texan said that in his ministry he meets “people who are desperate to meet the one true God.”

“Their grandparents were told that communism was the saviour of the world. Their parents were told it (saviour) was capitalism. They have been let down on both accounts,” he said.

“When they learn that God is a father who loves and treasures them individually, they weep with the realisation,” he said.

“It is a very emotional church; they feel the faith deeply in their hearts.”

He said the Chinese pilgrims’ experience in Sydney would be incalculable.

“These are young people who are leaders in their communities. My work is not about converting people, it is about raising up leaders in the indigenous church,” he said.

Among incentives to interest prospective recruits, free manicures were used by one enterprising women’s religious order, writes Sylvia Defendi.

WORLD Youth Day’s Vocations Expo gave religious orders in Australia and from around the world the opportunity to share their mission and charism with the youth of the world.

Open to pilgrims and Sydney locals alike, the Vocations Expo drew over 2,000 people per hour to the Exhibition Centre.

Highlighting the four vocations – the single life, marriage, religious life and priesthood – the Expo was an opportunity for people to learn more about their own call and ministry through conversations with people from each of these four vocations.

Among the 100 exhibitors several charitable and educational organisations that support the discernment of a person’s vocation also featured.

For Queensland’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd director, Anne Delsorte, participation in the Vocations Expo allowed her to be part of an ‘incredible mosaic of ministry.’

“I’ve talked to people from 36 countries. This Expo has given us exposure and helped priests and religious to see our work,” she commented.

Meanwhile, for young Scalabrinian Vittoria Falco, the Expo opened the door for youth to inquire about missionary work.

“Many are scared of missionary work and of what is expected by a missionary, so this is a good opportunity to clear-up many misconceptions,” she said.

The ingenious Scalabrinians were one of several orders or communities who attracted the

attention of youth, by taking a photo with them and requesting a pilgrim’s email address in order to forward on the photo along with some more information.

“We want to maintain contact with interested people, because their ideas and suggestions are as valuable to us as ours are for them,” Ms Falco said. Following suit, many stalls offered ‘free internet,’ ‘free coffee,’ and other incentives to visit stalls, but none drew the ladies like the ‘free manicures’ being offered by the Sisters of Nazareth.

“We have had a lot of inquiries from young people from everywhere. They are amazed to discover orders they never knew existed and to see nuns dressed as nuns,” Sr Sesilia Ioane CSN said. With a charism for caring for the aged, Sr Ioane said it was important for young people to see the young sisters having fun and using the many skills they bring to the community.

“Some of my fellow sisters give manicures to the elderly, and youth have been so enthused to see our work is varied and lots of fun too,” she said.

For Perth Chain of Mary coordinator, Rose Fiorucci, free give-aways is part of the mission.

“We have given away over 10,000 booklets and bookmarks for children. I’ve seen priests and pilgrims from all over the world,” she said. The Chain of Mary, which was started in Perth has had a growing following across the world as it offers people the opportunity to join with others in praying a decade of the Rosary.

“Sometimes you don’t have the opportunity to get through a whole Rosary and when people understand the program they say it’s a great idea. Even an Anglican minister took a whole bundle home yesterday,” she said. Mrs Fiorucci will also have her work cut out for her when she

returns to Perth, with religious from Africa, America and NewZealand requesting bulk mail outs for schools and churches.

For the many Franciscan orders represented, the Vocations Expo was also an opportunity to share in their common brotherhood.

Asked what he expected from the Expo, Fr Mario Debattista from the order of Franciscan Friars Minor said he didn’t expect the expo to draw a swarm of religious vocations.

“Having said that, it is certainly a safe contact point for those who may have been shy to seek information. There was one Fijian man who showed a lot of interest – you never know,” he said.

Another Perth representative, Fr Karol Kulczycki from St Anthony’s parish in Greenmount, had his Salvatorian hat on at the Expo.

“People have gradually become more open as the days pass. Now the youth stop and chat. It gives me hope to see all these youth

interested in their faith and in discovering their vocation, no matter whether that lies with the Salvatorians or otherwise,” he said.

Western Australia was well represented at the Expo, which even featured a stall specifically calling youth to serve their vocation throughout the state.

The WA stall was the result of the four dioceses coming together with WA’s Presentation Sisters, the Sisters of St John of God and those of St Joseph of the Apparition.

Presentation Sister Terri Enislie said the response to their call was going well, with a few women and men interested in serving in WA.

“This Expo has been a really positive experience we may not have encountered if not here at WYD. This morning being the last day of the Expo, youth were queuing-up outside the Exhibition Centre half-an-hour before the doors opened,” she said.

Bands bring whole new dimension to sharing faith

Music is a universal language.

By

■

Catherine Smibert

SYDNEY (Zenit.org) –

Over 150,000 pilgrims were treated to a feast of music and praise with a line-up of popular artists after the Opening Mass on July 15.

The acts included firstrate artists such as Tap Dogs, Fire Dancers, The Australian Girls Choir, and nationally acclaimed singers of the official WYD theme song, Guy Sebastian, Gary Pinto and Paulini Curuenavuli.

It ended with a spectacular display of fireworks which shimmered off the harbour, adding extra shine to the already smiling faces.

Organisers of WYD insisted that contemporary music with a Catholic flavour was playing a key role in conveying the messages WYD sought to present.

Tongan-Australian singer, Paulini, who performed with her band, identified why this is the case.

“Music is something that everyone loves and it brings them together,” she told ZENIT.

Composers of the official theme song of WYD agreed. Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto told ZENIT before the piece what an honour it was

to witness the potency of the Gospel when presented in song. Sebastian, past winner of Australian Idol, hoped that the song “will further help to cement the message of this amazing event into people’s hearts” and that “through singing ‘Alleluia, receive the power,’ the youth will know

that it is not through our own talents that we do this, but by the power of God. ... Nothing is impossible to his Holy Spirit.”

Pinto extended an encouraging hand to all young Catholic musicians and artists consistent with the call of John Paul II in his Letter to Artists (1999),

saying that as musicians “we are in the vocational service of beauty. What greater beauty to be presenting to people than that of God? It’s so humbling and spiritually rewarding to be able to give the gifts he gave us back to him.”

And other groups have stepped up to the call

in turn - not just the big names. Another group the Emmanuel Worship band is a group of musicians from Brisbane, Queensland, who performed their pieces in a special Queensland gathering during WYD and are providing music ministry for a youth meeting - whether it be highly liturgical or punk

rock. The troupe has been involved in spreading the World Youth Day message around Australia, via the animation of a series of events with the cross and icon journey.

Patrick Keady, keyboardist and composer in the Emmanuel Worship group, told me: “In music ministry, what we are trying to do is communicate an age-old message, which has seemed dead, but it’s not; it is fresh, alive and vibrant.

“Music is a universal language that everyone gets. When you speak this language, it helps the transition from an old generation to a new generation who need to rise up and take their place in history. And it does it in a way that they understand.”

As Christian bands producing a similar sound to that of popular culture, they seek to take advantage of particular styles of music to help others experience Jesus.

“The beginning point definitely has to be a personal relationship with Jesus,” said 23-year-old Bernard Drumm, guitarist from another performance group - Mass Revival. These two Christian bands, as Catholics, also try to allow people to see another face of Catholicism.

“A lot of young Catholics have been brought up with many misconceptions about the Church and its teachings,”

said Drumm, a seminarian. “They think that it’s something from yesterday that doesn’t relate to today.”

“As Catholics,” he continued, “we seem to spend a lot of time defending our beliefs and trying to explain ourselves into oblivion ... rather than just allowing the joy we find in it to inspire the core of the hearts of others so they may begin their own search for that Truth which is the source of our joy.”

The drummer for the Mass Revival band, Michael Campbell, said that “the sense of sharing that music provides is representative of what’s here at World Youth Day when you have so many people from different cultures and languages coming together, singing and dancing in the Lord.”

Lead singer of Mass Revival, Daniel Foster, added: “World Youth Day shows you are part of a huge Church and that this is an event showing that we are one Church holding an event for our young people in Australia, and even nonCatholics will see that this is really something.

“So as each of us musicians and artists use our gifts in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, in God’s name and for his sake, we pray that he use us to assist in refreshing and reviving our Church here in this great southland and across the world.”

On display: This is an overview of the Vocations Expo at World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia on July 18. The hall in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre was filled with nearly 100 booths offering information about dozens of religious orders, priestly service in Australian or US dioceses, lay movements, evangelisation projects and natural family planning.

PHOTO: CNS, PAUL HARING

Possibilities: Dominican sisters from Wagga Wagga pose for a photo with an eager pilgrim at Sydney’s Vocations Expo on July 18.

PHOTO: SYLVIA DEFENDI

Maybe you? At the Franciscan Family stall, Fr Giles Setter, left, of the Order of Franciscan Friars Minor and Fr Mario Debattista OFM, right, stand by some of their Franciscan sisters at the WYD Vocations Expo.

PHOTOS SYLVIA DEFENDI

Spanish say planning begins now for 2011

Spanish Church excited by prospect of Second WYD celebration.

■ By Anna-Patrice Bitong

MADRID, Spain (CNS)- Less than a day after Pope Benedict XVI announced that Madrid will host the next World Youth Day in 2011, Catholics in Spain started to prepare.

Father Francisco Manrique, a youth minister at St. Michael of Fuencarral Parish in Madrid, said the announcement is a necessary “spiritual injection” for Spanish youth.

“The expectation is enormous. Our preparation, interest, excitement starts today,” Father Manrique told Catholic News Service on July 21 after hearing the news.

“This has great significance for Spain. The whole world

will be watching as Spain is challenged to stretch ties between the government

and the Church,” he said, referring to tense church-state relations. Father Manrique said he plans to lead youth committees preparing for the gathering.

“As I said, the preparation starts today,” he said, adding that Madrid’s celebration will be even bigger than the July 15-20 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.

Approximately 400,000 international pilgrims gathered for the 2008 international youth festival.

“I expect double, triple the number of young people that were in Sydney” to be here in three years, he said.

In remarks to Spanish media immediately following the July 20 announcement, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, president of the Spanish bishops’ conference, said the decision is “of exceptional value to the Church in Spain” and will benefit Spanish society and culture.

“We are ready to prepare (World Youth Day) in the way it deserves,” said Cardinal Rouco, who was in Sydney

for the July celebrations. He added that he will draw from his first experience organising the event when it was held in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela in 1989.

Cardinal Rouco was archbishop of the city at the time and will be the first archbishop to organise two youth-day celebrations.

He told the Spanish radio station COPE that organising the upcoming event will be a challenge but also “another chapter, new, fresh, jubilant, joyful.” The cardinal added that logistical planning was not as important as spiritual preparation for the gathering.

When asked by the station how to invite youths who have distanced themselves from the Church, Cardinal Rouco said: “There’s a world worth knowing, (a world) of truth, love, of Christ, God, that is fantastic.

Pope leaves Australia after thanking WYD volunteers

■ By

Dan McAloon

SYDNEY, Australia

(CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI’s first pastoral visit to Australia concluded on July 21 with a farewell ceremony at Sydney’s international airport, where he told an audience of invited guests, including church and civic officials, how much he had enjoyed his July 12-21 stay.

He thanked Australians for their hospitality and made special mention to the “families in Australia and New Zealand who hosted pilgrims. You made room for the pilgrims in your homes - I particularly thank you.”

The Pope described the departing World Youth Day pilgrims as “united in faith

and love and empowered in the Spirit to be witnesses in Christ to the ends of the earth.

“For the sacrifices of young pilgrims to get here, the Church is grateful.” Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd thanked Pope Benedict for making the long air trip to the country.

“During Would Youth Day we saw a sea of flags from practically every corner of the earth. A hardbitten Sydney has taken the pilgrims” to its heart, he said. Rudd also announced the appointment of the first Australian permanent ambassador to the Vatican, Tim Fischer, a former deputy prime minister.

Earlier that morning, the Pope met with 8,000 World Youth Day volunteers at The Domain, a popular Sydney venue for outdoor concerts and large gatherings and rallies, and thanked them for their service.

Sunday

abundance of new life into our Church, open our hearts and those of the young people of the world to really hear His Word for us now, today. Enq: 9276 8500.

Sunday July 27 PARISH SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION

10am at St Kieran’s Parish, Osborne Park, concelebrated Mass led by Bishop Donald Sproxton. Followed by lunch in the Parish Centre. BYO. Former priests and parishioners of St Kieran’s are kindly invited to attend. Enquiries Fr Gatt: 9444 1334.

Tuesday July 29 DAY OF REFLECTION-MMP CENACLE

10.30am to 2pm at Holy Spirit Church, City Beach. Rosary followed by Mass and talks. Celebrant Bishop Salesius Mugambi, Diocese of Meru, Kenya. Bring lunch to share. Tea and coffee provided. Enq: 9341 8082.

Thursday July 31 GROUP FIFTY PRAYER GROUP: WINTER RECESS July 10 to 24 inclusive, no meetings. Recommences 7.30pm 31 July with praise and Mass. Redemptorist Monastery, North Perth. Enq: V Roberts.

Friday August 1 CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL

7.30pm Praise and Worship at St John and Paul’s Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton, then talk on Vocations in life, married, single or religious by Fr Thai Vu. Followed by Thanksgiving Mass, and refreshments. All welcome bring family and friends. Enq: Maureen 9381 4498, or Rose 040 330 0720.

Friday August 1 HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

7pm Mass at The Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough, celebrated by Fr Saminedi. Holy Hour of Adoration, 7.30pm with Fr Kettle. All welcome. Refreshments provided. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Friday August 1 WITNESS FOR LIFE 9.30am Mass at St Brigid’s, Midland; join Archbishop Hickey and the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Followed by Rosary procession to the nearby abortion clinic. Please come to pray for the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helene 9402 0349.

Friday August 1 to Sunday August 3

FIRE WEEKEND

7pm at Eagles Nest, a weekend to reflect on the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and to discover God’s purpose for our lives and this nation. Enq: Mario 0411 641 245. mario@disciplesofjesus.org

Saturday August 2

PRO-LIFE VIGIL 8.30am Mass at St Augustine’s, Gladstone Road, Rivervale and Rosary procession to the nearby abortion clinic, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Enq Helene 9402 0349

Saturday August 2

DAY WITH MARY 9am to 5pm, at Holy Spirit Church, Keaney and Bent Street, City Beach, Video on Fatima, Day of prayer and instruction based upon Fatima message. Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Adoration, Sermons on the Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Sunday August 3 DIVINE MERCY 1.30pm St Joachim’s Church Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Rosary, and Reconciliation. Sermon on John Vianney, by Fr Harris. Followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Refreshments, followed by Video/DVD, on The Power of the Rosary Part 2, by Fr Corapi. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Monday August 4 SEMESTER 2 PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME STUDY Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation, Osborne Park, Assessment or audit. Sixteen Week courses in Scripture, church history, youth ministry, pastoral care, Christian leadership, evangelisation skills. See http://www. acts2come.wa.edu.au, or Jane 0401 692 690.

Thursday August 7 and Friday August 8

BLESSED MARY MACKILLOP VIGIL MASS AND FEAST DAY 6pm Vigil Mass at Sisters of St Joseph Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Australia’s Own Saint followed by a light supper. 10am Friday, Mass. All welcome. Enq: Sr Marie Riddler 0414 683 926.

Friday August 8 – Sunday August 10

SEPARATED, DIVORCED WIDOWEDBEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND

The next weekend program will be held at Epiphany Retreat Centre, Rossmoyne. To assist and support people in learning to close the door gently on a relationship that has ended in order to get on with living. Enq: Bev 9332 7971 or Margaret 9294 4892.

Sunday August 10 CHARISMATIC MASS 3pm at 67 Howe Street, Osborne Park, Disciples of Jesus invite you to a Charismatic Mass celebrated by Fr Ken Barker MGL Enq: Reg 0429 777 007. reg@disciplesofjesus.org

Sunday August 10

WORLD APOSTOLATE OF FATIMA 3pm at Queen of Martyrs Church, 7th Avenue, Maylands Fatima devotions. All welcome. Enq: Diana 9339 2614.

Tuesday August 12 COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS WESTERN AUSTRALIA: MYSTICAL AWAKENINGS; CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY IN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY

7.30pm Anglican Parish Applecross, 54 Simpson Street, Ardros (parking at rear). Rabbi Moshe Bernstein, Educational Director, Council of Orthodox Rabbis and Educators, and Dr Nancy Ault, Lecturer in Practical Theology, Murdoch University, will discuss some of the developments and practices that have surfaced in contemporary Judaism and Christianity. Cost $5 members, non-members $10. Enq: ralphh@iinet. net.au

Thursday August 14 CATHOLIC MENTAL HEALTH GROUP KELMSCOTT MEETING 12 noon at Our Lady of Good Shepherd Church, Hall, Strietch Street, Kelmscott. Lunch provided. Enq: Barbara 9328 8113.

Thursday August 14 to Thursday October 2 BE BAPTIZED BY FIRE – FLAME MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL 7.45pm every Thursday at Cathedral Praise Meeting, 450 Hay Street, Perth, A Free Seminar on the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and His Anointing. Oil. Water. Light. Cloud. Seal. Hand. Finger. Dove. Fire, and a mighty rushing Ruah! Enq: 9382 36689.

Wednesday August 20 MASS OF HEALING

7pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 207 Lesmurdie Road, Lersmurdie. This Mass is

organised by the Catholic Mental Health Groups. Enq: Ann 92291 6670, Marge 9291 6397 or Barbara 9328 8113.

Saturday August 23 ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP 9.45am at Infant Jesus Church, 47 Wellington Road, Morley. Exposition, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Adoration and Benediction, Fr Meilak. Confession in English or Italian. 11am Mass, St Padre Pio Liturgy, Celebrant Archbishop Barry Hickey. Attending Priests invited to Concelebrate. Shared lunch. Tea and coffee provided. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Saturday August 23 LAUNCH OF THE TELEPACE AUSTRALIA INC

After 11am Mass at Infant Jesus Church, Wellington Road, Morley by His Grace Archbishop Hickey President of Telepace. Official announcement will be made during lunch. Bring plate. Enq: Rose 0437 700 247 or Des 6278 1540.

Thursday 28th August UNDERSTANDING AND COPING WITH GRIEF

7pm at Infant Jesus Catholic Church Hall, Wellington Street, Morley. Workshop facilitated by Gerry Smith, Director of Grief Education. Grieving is an area we all experience throughout our lives for a variety of reasons. Attendance is free. All welcome. Enq: Barbara 9328 8113.

Friday September 12 – September 14

SPRINGTIME WEEKEND WITH ST FRANCIS AND ST CLARE

All those interested in learning more of Franciscan spirituality are welcome to attend the Annual Retreat organised by the Secular Franciscan Order. The Retreat will be held at the Redemptorist Retreat House, and given by Sr Shelley Barlow RNDM. Bookings, Mary 9377 7925 by 31 August 2008.

Mid October DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE

Pilgrimage to Lourdes for nine days. Father Meilak will be the Spiritual Director. This invitation is open to anyone who would like to join us. Consider this wonderful place of healing for all humanity in body, mind and spirit. Lourdes celebrates 150 years this year. Enq: John 9457 7771.

Every Thursday FINDING NEW LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR

8pm to 9.30pm beginning 7 August at 67 Howe Street, Osborne Park, come and experience the power, mercy and love of God through His Holy Spirit. A time of healings, miracles and transformation. Enq: Mark 0411 246 419. ratas@disciplesofjesus.org

Every Sunday ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK: ACCESS 31 1pm - 2pm. 13 July, Creation, evolution and a rational faith by Christoph Cardinal Schoenborn OP, Archbishop of Vienna, with Raymond Arroyo. After several weeks of uncertainty, the good news is that the station will broadcast for the next 18 months.

Every Thursday JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE 7.30pm, July 31, Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation, Osborne Park using The Bible Timeline; The Great Adventure can be studied towards accredited course or for interest. Resources provided. See http://www.acts2come. wa.edu.au/ or Jane 0401 692 690.

First Friday and First Saturday COMMUNION OF REPARATION-ALL NIGHT

VIGIL

Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park, 47 Lochee

Road. Starting with Mass at 7pm on Friday with Father Bogoni and concluding with Mass at midnight. Confessions, Rosaries, Prayers and silent Adoration every hour. Please join us for reparation to The Two Hearts according to the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357.

Every Saturday VIDEO / DVD NIGHT

After the 6.30pm Mass St. Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean, a variety of Videos/Dvd’s will be shown. Videos approx. 30mins. Want to learn more about our Catholic faith? Bring the family along, no charge. 19th July showing Conversion Story, Dr Scott Hahn; 26th July presenting, Conversion Story, Alex Jones. Enq: Parish 9379 2691.

Third Sunday of the Month

OBLATES OF ST BENEDICT MEET

2pm St Joseph’s Convent, York Street, South Perth, affiliated to Benedictine Abbey of New Norcia. All interested in studying rule of St Benedict, its relevance to lay people’s day-today life. Vespers and tea conclude meetings. Enq: 9457 5758.

Every Saturday HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING

10.30am to 12.30pm at St Peter the Apostle Parish Hall, 91 Wood Street, Inglewood. All welcome. Enq: 9475 0155.

First Friday of Each Month

CFC PRAYER ASSEMBLY 7.30pm at St Joachim Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. The Couples For Christ and its Family Ministries welcome all members who now reside or are visiting Perth to join the community in its monthly general prayer assembly. Enq: Tony and Dolly Haber 9440 4540.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Jesuit Volunteers Australia calls for part-time volunteers to respond to the needs of people in the community who live in marginalised circumstances. At the heart of this program is a reflective process, based on Gospel values, which underpins the work of the volunteers. To learn more: www.jss.org.au. Enq: Kevin Wringe 9316 3469 or email kwringe@iinet.net.au.

Every Sunday LATIN MASS KELMSCOTT The Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal will be offered every Sunday at 2pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, 40-42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott, with Rosary preceding. All welcome.

Every Tuesday THE GOSPEL

suffer Dementia. Get into Dementia Remission like me! http://www. wgrey.com.au/dm/index.htm or (02) 9971 8093.

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS General repairs to books, old bibles & missals. 2ndhand Catholic books avail. Tydewi Bindery 9293 3092.

WANTED

St Joseph’s, Subiaco is seeking an organist to play for Masses and other occasions. Lessons given if required. Please contact Michael Peters, Director of Music, on 041 429 4338 or michael@michaelpeters. id.au

THANK YOU

Thank you St Jude Apostle and Martyr for petition granted. Richard

Thank you St Jude Apostle and Martyr for petition granted. Bridget

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ RICH HARVEST – YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP

Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, baptism/communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Court (off McCoy St), Myaree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

■ KINLAR VESTMENTS

‘Modern meets tradition.’ Quality hand-made & decorated. Vestments, altar cloths, banners. Vickii Smith Veness. 9402 8356 or 0409 114 093.

■ CATHOLICS CORNER

Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for baptism, communion and confirmation. Ph: 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

■ OTTIMO

Shop 108 TRINITY ARCADE (Terrace Level) Hay St, Perth Ph 9322 4520. Convenient city location for a good selection of Christian products/gifts. We also have handbags, fashion accessories. Opening hours Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.

EMPLOYMENT

■ SHOP ASSISTANT

2 Positions avail in supermarket located in Perth, (1) part time & (1) full time, must be reliable, will train. Phn. Thomas 0412 125 417.

SETTLEMENTS

EFFECTIVE LEGAL, family owned law firm focusing on property settlements and wills. If you are buying, selling or investing in property, protect your family and your investment, contact us on (08) 9218 9177.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

MISSION MATTERS

Reflections on this Sunday’s Gospel; Matthew 13:27

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field...” God’s love amidst terrible human suffering and oppression in our world is the hidden treasure of Jesus’ parable. Baptised, we are all called to give witness to this Love so that this hidden treasure is revealed to the whole world, as

Ready to go? Spanish youth celebrate the announcement that the

Opening Mass a clarion call to return home

The experience of being at the WYD opening Mass was uplifting, writes

Anthony Barich

CARDINAL George Pell used his World Youth Day homily at the Opening Mass on July 15 to call non-Catholics and non-believers “back home” to Christ and His Church, and offered hope to those who are despairing.

The Mass, at Barangaroo - a disused shipping port in East Darling Harbour that held up to 150,000 pilgrims from 168 nations – kicked off a week of celebrations in Sydney for the XXIII World Youth Day.

He used the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel about the ‘valley of dry bones’ – one of the most terrifying images in the Bible, according to chief WYD08 organiser Bishop Anthony Fisher OP – to illustrate the promise of hope.

The ‘valley’ was in Ezekiel’s dramatic vision where the dead were preyed on by birds that had long since finished stripping off the flesh, in an “immense battlefield of the unburied”. Ezekiel was urged by God to prophesy to these bones and as he did so the bones “rushed together noisily, accompanied by an earthquake. Sinews knitted them together, flesh and then skin clothed the corpses”, then God breathed life into them and “a great and immense army” rose.

Bishop Fisher earlier that day said the homily was particularly poignant for Australia, the country described by Pope Benedict XVI shortly after the 2005 WYD as having “moribund spirituality”.

More than the literal interpretation, which Bishop Fisher said is also apt to describe the drought Australia has suffered over the past 10 years, he said it represents more “a people in decline”.

“The promise Christ makes is of new life for our culture, our country, the countries from which the pilgrims come, for those who are suffering and those youth experimenting in drugs,” said Bishop Fisher, Cardinal Pell’s Auxiliary.

Bishop Fisher said the reading would give disaffected youth hope to get them over their fear, depression or anxiety.

In what Bishop Fisher described as a very challenging homily by the cardinal, he said its message of hope for youth was that World Youth Day would offer Christ and His Church as hope for them, “when they are feeling like dry bones, that there is hope for a new Spirit, of new life for them”.

Cardinal Pell stressed that his first priority was not those who are already strong in the faith, but “welcoming and encouraging anyone, anywhere who regards himself or herself as lost, in deep distress, with hope diminished or even exhausted”.

He said the causes of any personal wounds – whether they be alcohol, drugs, family breakups or even the loneliness of success - were “quite secondary” compared to Christ’s call to all those who are suffering.

The cardinal said his message was not just to Catholics but to other Christians and especially to those without religion. “Christ is calling you home; to love, healing and community,” he said.

He offered hope to “all of you who are tempted to say ‘our hope is gone, we are as good as dead’,” he said.

He said that while secular wisdom says that leopards do not change their spots, “we Christians believe in the power of the Spirit to convert and change persons away from evil to good; from fear and uncertainty to faith and hope”.

The cardinal explained that God remains mysterious, especially today when “many good people find it hard to believe”.

“Our task is to be open to the Spirit, to allow the God of surprises to act through us,” he said. “Whatever our situation we must pray for an openness of heart, for a willingness to take the next step, even if we are fearful of venturing too much further.

“If we take God’s hand, He will do the rest. Trust is the key. God will not fail us.”

You’ll never miss the news... if you subscribe to The Record!

The Record is the best Catholic newspaper in Australia. Week-in, week-out, we bring news of the Church from throughout the world to you at home. When you read The Record you see beyond the boundaries of the parish and even the nation to the four corners of the globe. But we still bring the best of parish life to all our readers, and week by week we’re expanding our coverage. At just $55 a year you stay in touch with the most important news in the world: what the Church is doing and saying - and living.

From the Calvary of a Pope’s death, to what the Church preaches to the whole world, to the joy and renewal of World Youth Day - we bring it home to you. Subscribe now.

Contact: Bibiana on (08) 9227 7080 or at: administration@therecord.com.au

New subscribers will receive a free entry into our Cathedral Crucifix competition!

Gathered: An estimated 150,000