WYD Pilgrimage: Catholic Girls High School Edition Pt. 1

So, I am typing this blog in a classroom at an All Girls Catholic High School. St. Ursula's in Kingsgrove. This is where we will be staying for the next five days. Basically they stripped all the classrooms of their tables, desks, chairs, materials and each room is barren except for the luggage of 8-15 pilgrims (Pictures to follow)

It's a cool place, the staff and volunteers are really Acers (that's more Australian Slang)! There are about 500 people staying here in total. From like 10+ countries... Singapore, to India, to Brazil. That's cuh-razy! Imagine 500 people spending the night at your school. 5 nights... complete with breakfast.

We are also staying right next to Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Pretty cool that it's that close. Only a gate separates the school and the parish. Now the Church. Interesting architecture. Interesting Tabernacle and Fonts. It's not a traditional setup... but that isn't a bad thing. St. Catherine's isn't a traditional setup either. I don't know how to describe the art style, but don't worry pictures will come later.

On an additional note, it does feel good to feel connected with back home... whether it be through reading e-mails about things going on, or reading the comments you all post, or even continuing to read and pray the intentions in the prayer binder. It is so beautiful just to see how we can be connected through prayer this many miles away.

I think the priest at Our Lady of Fatima said it best: "We hope that WYD makes you feel at home. At home in Sydney. But more importantly at home in our Church, the Catholic Church."

Here's to home... wherever you find yourself: Vallejo, Montana, Alturas, San Diego or at an All Girls Catholic High School in Kingsgrove, Australia.

Pax et Bonum.
Raj

p.s. I am going to post about all the interesting foods and products I find in Australia, but here's one to amuse you until then: