2 DAYS TO GO!!! (but the Pope is already here!)

G'DAY MATE!!!
(WARNING! THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO WRITE A HORRIBLE AUZZIE ACCENT. R's will most likely be replaced with a silent H.)

ELOW! Hieuh is ma furst post and i'm wrey'in frum down unda. We been havin quite a bit o' fun frum the mowment we got hieuh. Afta the long playne riode, baggage claim and customs di'int take too long, especially since we came in a few days uhly.

We di'int wait ta begin our advencha. We grabbed an early brecky and ate some kebabs on Bondi beach. It was cowld! We wuh sowkin up sum auzzie sun, and enjoyin all the li'ole auzzie cahs n li'ole auzzie feyuh trucks, the li'ole doors, n li'ole houses... (the toilets don't flush the opposites way anymore, b/c they changed it so it flushes straight down. saves wohta)

Julie took us to a park so we could take great picture of Sydney Harbor, the opera house and the Sydney harbor bridge.

Ain't that a beaut?!

It was still too uhly in thuh mornin to do much but we just drove arownd a bit and looked at oll the sites.

But saw the best view of the harbor frum the Sydney Tower. We did the the tour and got to walk on a glass floor 60 giraffes high, 260 meters. it looked lioke we wuh walkin on the air. We wuh terrified at furst but afta lookin down long enough we got used to it.
We olso did the Oz-trek which was an informative li'ole hologram show and virtual ride of the land down unda. We toured Sydney, the outback, the swamps, and the auzzie waters.

By the time that woz ova, we wuh buggahd. It was only 3pm local time, but to our bodies it was 10pm.

we prayed 2 days of our novena and prayed for the petitions, then went to bed uhly expecting to attend a High Mass in the mornin.

We woke up uhly in the mornin, naturally, and eddie cooked a filling brecky and we got ready for Mass at the St. Mary's Cathedral.
There was a mass goin on, but we were actually early for the Mass at half past 10. It was beautiful. We visited the tomb of Blessed Pier Gorgio Frasatti and we asked for his intercession as we prayed for the intentions of all the parishioners. We could feel the excitement from all the pilgrims who had just arrived. The crowd was huge already. I reckon this is nothing compared to what will be expected of the masses of people still filtering in.

As we were exiting the Church, there were moments when Eddie seemed to be swallowed by the crowd somewhere behind us. I assume that he was being polite and letting people pass in front of him, but I had to remind him, that may not be the best idea, especially when the crowd will only be multiplying these next few days. It's one of those things that you can't really fathom until you've experienced it. And suddenly all those feelings of my previous experience started coming back to me.

I don't want to expect anything, I'm sure this pilgrimage will be different from the last. But I know many of those same feelings will arise. I remember standing in awe of the size of the crowd and being surrounded by thousands of people with the love of Christ, a feeling so precious and rare, people breaking out into song all over, in so many different languages, but actually the same one. Being united with our brothers and sister from all over the world, who we mostly could not talk to but we understood nonetheless... it was truly heavenly.

I'M SO EXCITED!!! (running really fast in place, flailing my arms like crazy) AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! (a bit out of character, but hey it's me)

ah reckon mah horrible accent is geh'in a bit annoyin, but ya betta get used ta it cuz we'll be tahkin loike this when we get back :)
Well lucky for you I got tired myself and I started writing correctly halfway through the blog. don't worry, I won't do that again.

Til laytah, Cheers!

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Continuation of Whatever Day This is (2ish?) From Edmund

I have a handwritten journal entry about the flight and such, but I'm thinking maybe I can make money off of the journal when I return to the States. It's a bit past 8pm over here, and I'm on my cousin Julie's laptop. Wait... the bathroom is available. BRB.

Ahh... I've decided to just write in my journal first, then copy it over to this one. Here's my first entry:

"To what shall I compare myself, sitting in the midst of the crowd at the gate, or what analogy shall I use to describe it? Perhaps if I knew about botany, I'd say I'm part of a flower or fruit bearing many seeds. We're all clumped together only to be scattered about to After a few quick errands, I skipped telling you about several events from the day because now I'm on the plane, and I don't feel like divulging what happened in the morning. Laziness prevails, because I just had some turkey. Well, earlier we met up with a load of CYMers & parents at this dim sum place outside the airport. The restaurant was nicely decorated, and the tables were teeming with eager, hungry people, which is always a good indication of good food. I was ready for lots of small, hot dishes like various types of dumplings. I'd been looking forward to a place like this for quite some time. However, two problems came up. First, too many people at our table. Second, it's hard to write neatly on this awkwardly-positioned piece of notebook paper. Third, the dishes that were ordered for our table were authentic Chinese delicacies; the temperatures and textures of some of them didn't bode too well with our palates. Reservations notwithstanding, we ate in good company. I was just glad to be at table with some good friends.

Ward was kind enough to cut out of the restaurant early to take us to the airport, where we eventually said our goodbyes to everybody and took some pictures. I've never had anybody see me (or a group) off at an airport before. I probably didn't show it [at the time], but my heart was glad. I felt empowered by the presence of everyone was we walked off towards the gates and onward with our pilgrimage.

The gate itself was flooded with youth and adults like, a vividly colored sample of what we'll likely see in Sydney. This wasn't my first time flying, so blah blah blah and takeoff weren't a problem for me. In past flights, I enjoyed watching the blanket of clouds paint the sky on the canvas of the sun, impressing one with a crisp, celestial feeling. Instead, the watermelon-sized viewing windows treated us to a vast view of the city lights in the dark, obscured by the fog and later, completely blocked by - would you believe it - THICKER fog.

It's been about two hours into the flight. We've had our little airline meal and a half (Well, Angela did) and everyone's completely knocked out. Raj deserves a good night's rest for once... or rather... all the time. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are almost at their happy movie ending, and I think I'm the only one awake on the plane right now. Including the cockpit crew. Maybe that's an indication that the movie sucks. Maybe not. (1838 h, Sydney time)"

More to come later, everybody. Lots of interesting stuff to be reported concerning our first day's stay in Aussie Land. World Youth Day banners and advertisements were everywhere. The toilet flushes straight down due to a tank design which uses less water than previous ones; such is the case in every toilet we've encountered so far. But I'm going to call this a night until the next post. 'Til then, mates.

Godspeed!

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Pilgrims Journal: Day 2? erh 3?

EDITOR'S NOTE: ORIGINALLY SCRIBED EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT NOT POSTED UNTIL NOW BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WAS BUGGIN'
Australian Time: Saturday, July 12th, 2008 about 6:45am
For all intents and purposes I am going to stick with it as day 2, although we did lose a day with the plane ride and time zone stuff. Yes, that's right we got on a plane on Thursday and exited the same plane on a Saturday... So qwheird.

I am currently sitting on a bench near customs, while Eddie tunes his guitar, and Angela goes to see if the toilets really swirl the other way.

Let's see. How was the plane ride? Eh, long. True Statement. The three of us sat relatively close to each other. Angela and Eddie actually were able to sit next to each other. I would say about 90% of the travelers were headed to WYD. There was a flight attendant who even gave a Papal shoutout. I was blessed to sit next to someone who wasn't a WYD pilgrim. He was actually heading to Australia from Boston to study abroad for a year (sidenote: I know, Boston? strange... right?). It was cool to break down WYD to him and share a little bit of my faith. He had no clue why there were so many people dressed a like on the plane wearing neon colored shirts or orange outback hats. He was surprised and excited to hear that the Pope was coming into town.

For part of the plane ride I was reading Chesterton's Orthodoxy and I had a beautiful revelation about another great thing about being Catholic:

"... the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms forever without altering its shape. Because it has a paradox in its centre it can grow without changing... The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travelers."

*input journey background music: so now I come to you with open arms...

See, although it would have been cool to share my excitement about WYD and maybe share plans if I had sat next to another pilgrim this situation was filled with grace as well. It was a nice opportunity to share my faith in a way that I wouldn't have been able to sitting next to a fellow pilgrim. In the coming weeks I will be surrounded by more than a million Catholic faithful. For 13+ hours I sat next to someone who wasn't. I was able to share my faith openly, answer his questions openly... and it was good times. To the ends of the earth, right?


Well I am not sure what is planned for the day. We meet Eddie's cousin in a little bit, and she apparently has some plans for us.

G'day, and that's it for now, stay tuned for a post from our 4th pilgrim.

AMDG.

p.s. Angela came back dissapointed and said the toilet flushed straight down. We'll have to check later on.

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South Land of the Holy Spirit

Did you know that the country of Australia has Catholic roots?

In the early 1600s, Portuguese explorer, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, sailed under the Spanish flag (geez! First Columbus and now de Quiros--Portugal missed out) in search of the mysterious Great Southland: a continent at the Southern end of the earth thought to "balance out" the large land masses in the North. This undiscovered continent was called "Terra Australis Incognita" or "The Unknown South Land".

In May 1606, de Quiros landed on the largest island in now the Republic of Vanuatu and thought that he had discovered the mysterious southern continent. He called it La Australia del Espiritu Santo (The South Land of the Holy Spirit). However, he wasn't far off; the islands of Vanuatu are actually off the coast of Australia.

The following is a description of the official claiming ceremony.


It was not quite dawn when the Camp Master and ministers, taking with them an armed party in the two boats, went on shore. Presently, with joyous diligence a booth made of branches was set up on the beach, surrounded by stakes, to serve as a fort in case of necessity. Within, the monks arranged a clean and well-ordered altar under a canopy. This was the first church, and was named by the Captain "Our Lady of Loreto".

RAISING OF THE CROSS

Be witnesses the heavens and the earth, and the sea with all its inhabitants, and those who are present, that I, the Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in these parts which up to the present time have been unknown, raise and plant in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the eternal Father, and of the Holy Virgin Mary, true God and man, this sign of the Holy Cross, on which His most holy body was crucified, and where He gave His life as a ransom for the whole human race.

ACTS OF POSSESSION

Possession in the name of the most Holy Trinity
In these parts of the South, until now unknown, where I am, and have come with authority from the Supreme Roman Pontiff, Clement VIII, and by order of the King, Don Philip III, King of Spain, despatched by his Council of State, I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of the most Holy Trinity, take possession of all the islands and lands that I have newly discovered, and desire to discover, as far as the South Pole.

Possession in the name of the Catholic Church
I take possession of all these, the said lands, in the name of Jesus Christ, saviour of all men, how unknown soever they may be, and in the name of His mother the most Holy Virgin Mother of Loreto, and in the name of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all the holy apostles and disciples, and in the name of the universal Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, and in the name of the whole Catholic Church, and of all those pious, just, and holy things that have a right in such possession; which I do with joy and to the end that to all the natives, in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.

The reading being finished, all cried with loud voices: "Long live the King of Spain, Don Philip III, our Lord!" Then we entered the church to give due thanks to God.

They said three Masses, and the fourth, which was sung, was by our Father Commissary. All the people took the sacrament very fervently...The Commissary blessed them with great solemnity; and, at a certain signal that was given to the ships [which] fired off all their guns with full charges; the soldiers discharged muskets and arquebuses, and the gunners sent off rockets and fire-wheels. In the middle of all this noise, all shouted with almost infinite joy, and many times: "Long live the Faith of Christ!" And with this the celebration of the festival came to an end.

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Ite Missa Est: Go! You are sent!

It was good to see many of you at the blessing and send off of our small delegation from St. Catherine's who have hopefully already arrived in the Land Down Under. But, before they left, these three pilgrims were entrusted with 6 items to take with them on their journey. In case you missed it, this is what Fr. Bert said at the send off ceremony.


Brothers and sister,

Before you set out on your pilgrimage,
keep in mind that you three were chosen by God
to make this journey.
At your baptism,
you were anointed to be builders of the Kingdom of God
in the family of the Church.
At your Confirmation,
you were anointed to proclaim the Good News
with your words and with your lives.
Now, having been nourished in this Mass by the Word of God,
and by the Flesh and Blood of Jesus,
St. Catherine of Siena Parish sends you forth
to meet your brothers and sisters
and Pope Benedict XVI in Australia,
the South Land of the Holy Spirit.

You have been called, and now you are sent.
As you proceed forth in the footsteps of Christ and His saints,
take with you these articles which this parish community entrusts to you now.


I. Take with you this book of prayers. With you go the needs and intentions of this community. Pray for us as we pray for you.

II. Take with you this candle. As you light it at the vigil before the closing Mass, may the fire of faith be enkindled in your hearts. May you return and set the world ablaze with the love of Christ.

III. Take with you this bible. May you be heralds of the Gospel, and always bear witness to the Truth with boldness and charity. Listen well to the catechesis talks and especially to the words of the Holy Father. May your hearts, minds, and ears be open to the voice of God speaking to you through our shepherds.

IV. Take with you this crucifix. As you make your way to the Land of the Southern Cross, may you always remember that you are pilgrims and that your journey will not be easy. Offer all your discomforts and trials as sacrifices to Our Lord who favors the poor and the humble.

V. Take with you these scallop shells. May this ancient symbol of pilgrimage remind you that you do not walk alone. Seek the intercession the saints, especially the World Youth Day patrons; ask them to be your companions on this journey. And may you always keep your eyes fixed on your true homeland that awaits you at the end of life’s pilgrimage.

VI. Take with you this flag. As soldiers of Christ, serve Him under the banner of Mary. May she, who is Queen of all Saints, enfold you in the mantel of her maternal protection.

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Pilgrim Journal: Day 1

Hello Lisa, and whoever else reads this =)

In less than 15 hours we will be in the Land Down Under.

Am I excited? Incredibly. Am I tired? Same answer. See, based on the suggestions of some people, I stayed up most of last night so that I would be tired enough to sleep most of the ride. I apologize in advance to all of our fellow passengers that will have to withstand the sound of my deviated septum. Is it a sin to snore that loud on a 13+ hour flight? Just kidding.

The three of us pilgrims were blessed enough to meet and pray with Father Jess this morning. We read psalms and shared spontaneous prayer. It gave us an opportunity to take a break from all the packing, planning and printing of paperwork to just pray.

Father Jess blessed us with a prayer of 3 S’s. Safety: for our travels and all the other pilgrims, that we may arrive safely and share Christ’s love. Solidarity: United together as One Body, with those we meet, and those we leave behind at home. Spirituality: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

G’day Brothers and Sisters.



Until next time, be God’s.




P.S. Thanks to all of our supporters, and all the people who helped/came to see us off. Love all of you. Here's a picture.

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Prayer Book

As part of our WYD Pilgrimage, we are inviting people to add their prayers to our WYD Prayer Book/Binder. We will be taking this binder and praying for these intentions throughout our pilgrimage. Your prayer requests will be our prayer requests at every Mass we participate in, in every Church, at every prayer service, when we see the Pope, and at some point every day of our pilgrimage. We want to take the intentions of all of our friends, families, and fellow parishioners with us as we share our faith with millions of youth.

You can add your prayers in a multitude of ways:

- Visit our Table in the Narthex of St. Catherine's Parish and add your prayers there directly
- You can add your prayers as a comment to this post, and we will add it to the prayer binder.
- If you do not want others to see your prayer requests, you can e-mail me @ rajderivera@gmail.com
- Or you can hand deliver your prayers to me, Edmund, or Angela. We will be at all the masses this weekend, and we will be around the Church several times this week until we leave, including the Mass on Wednesday.

Pax et Bonum

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