MYSPACE?!?!

G'day mate!

so i woke up early this morning and i turned on the tv to watch Aussie Sunrise, like Goodmorning America, to catch the news. they had a few topics that they kept coming back to every 30 mins. one of course is the Pope's arrival for World Youth Day. the only other topic mentioned more is the birth of the Brangelina twins.

the anchorman asked, "what exactly is WYD??"
"it certainly has nothing to do with the world that's for sure!" the "Catholic" anchorwoman replied.
i though to myself, "uhm... only people from all over the world are coming together to be in one place, it's bigger than the olypics, and i only flew more than 13 hours from a different continent to get here... but i guess none of that has to do with the world... ?"

i continued to watch the show as i packed my bags, and i noticed that they paid way more attention to the brangelina twins. but as the show went on, they talked about it a little longer each time they brought it up. The anchorwoman was Catholic and confessed that she hadn't been going to Church for a while.
They talked about the attitude of the aussie youth, and they say that the Catholic Church is out of touch with the youth. (i don't think they knew about all the pilgrims that went to the last WYD)
PLUS, GET THIS, this poll comes from MYSPACE!!! THAT'S CRAZY!!
they said that:
77% of youth in australia, 14-24 feel that the Church is out of touch
89% disagree with the Churches teachings on sex
and more than half want to boycott WYD!

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!?!
how reliable is any internet poll, especially myspace?!?!

those numbers are shocking, and indeed one can't deny that the Church's youth is always at risk, but that's exactly why we are gathering here and that's why the Holy Father has blessed them (and us) with his presence.

The Homily from Mass yesterday was about the faith of the aussie youth, and he said that they were straying from the Church. and he said that faith must taught and nourished in the family as well in Church. On the morning show, the anchorman would joke about his partner and that she should go to all the events and bring her kids, and maybe it would be the opportune time for her to start going back to Church.

it makes me think of how blessed i was to have been brought up in practicing Catholic family, were i was brought up in strong faith. even though i have my lost moments, no matter how far i stray i have a home to return to.
then being out here, 7416 miles from home, but at the same time still be at home with all our brothers and sisters.
My highlight of the day was signing the WYD theme song and holding hands with everyone right after the welcome liturgy at St. Ursula's college. everyone held hands, high in the air and waving side to side we sing loud and proud and the energy and love in the room was amazing.

I can still feel all the anticipation building up for tomorrow when we meet the Pope on the Borangaroo. gradually my limbs get numb and there's butterflies in my stomach... it's all overwhelming, and i try to remind myself that this pilgrimage is different from the one before. so, i really don't know what to expect, except for the massive crowds, and the freezing cold...

I'm lovin it!!!

ok, well it's almost 4 in the morning, and i'm buggahd!
so i guess i'm off to my cold classroom and i'll sleep on the cold floor in my little space.
BTW, in aussie football, the saints won and the demons lost! HAHA