Monday, June 30, 2008



A warm hat and scalf will be cool to wear on our cold winter days and World Youth Day gear is on sale. As well, I believe Target stores sell these clothes.
The back pac makes a statement in the WYD colours and is given to the pilgrims and holds a little treasury of items.

Our bushland with certain trees and plants is an environment that differs from many other places.
The visitor is surrounded with new sights, sounds and smells which most of us love to experience but a few people can find this upsetting and may seek support so as to adjust.
Tree planting is a good community service that pilgrims can do in Days in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and join in greening the world. Cherish all creation!
As well, jet travel uses fossil fuel and contributes to global warming and tree planting is a means of establishing carbon offsets.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Another meeting to plan Days in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle paused to reflect on words of Aboriginal spirituality and a liturgy with smoke.
Many of the visitors will be welcomed to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley to spend several eventful days just prior to the gathering in Sydney.
Those who plan to take part in World Youth Day painted a cross to take with them and chose to paint in the style of Aboriginal dot painting.
This group of people at the meeting must surely see how capable they are of making arrangments and the potential they have for decision making and responsibility, as laity, now and into the future.


.....In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north,
all Christlike souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
......His service is the golden cord
close-binding humankind..........
John Oxenham in Praise to God Parish Hymn Book

Saturday, June 28, 2008



Change is within reach.
Renewal through the Spirit of World Youth Day is open to us all.

Above, would you believe, this classic foyer of an old picture theatre has changed to become a MacDonalds restaurant.

Is Maccas a key indicator of city prices? The price of a Cheeseburger is $4.95 and the prices range up to $6.95 for a double beef and bacon burger.
Whether this represents value for money is open to discussion!

Friday, June 27, 2008



The Cunard line presented us with their stunts on Sydney Harbour but that cannot compare with the arrival of Pope Benedict, by boat, on Thursday 17 July, for World Youth Day! The harbour has seen legendary events and this should be another memorable occasion.
A walk over Sydney Harbour bridge is planned for Pilgrims on Saturday, 19th July, from the north. The photo shows the northern side opposite Circular Quay.
Apart from that, the bridge can be crossed in several ways, by the usual car or train or by walking but the most spectacular way is the bridge climb up to the very top of the arch.
Meet a happy Captain Cook look-alike promoting Captain Cook Cruises which will take you from Circular Quay to the best points to join the scene on Sydney Harbour . (Cook discovered this land.)
The regular ferry services, to many parts of the harbour, will offer some views. The ferry to Manly takes half and hour or more to reach the northern end of the harbour passing waterfront suburbs, bays and headlands and the entrance to the harbour at which point it can be a roller coaster ride in rough seas.

Thursday, June 26, 2008


WELCOME from a Didge expert! Kooris or Aboriginal Australians use this distinctive instrument. Heard in Circular Quay.
Sydney is not only a city of buskers!
Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay.


Low Budget accommodation in Sydney is found everywhere and is probably literally low budget and basic. Westend and Maze Backpacker CB Hotel are fair examples in Pitt Street, Sydney. Global Gossip is for communication and heaps of phone cards are on sale.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008



'Wake Up' and Sydney Central Youth Hostel Association for accomodation.


Internet Cafes in Liverpool Street, Sydney.

Signs and wonders!
Just for World Youth Day some city streets will be the domain of people not cars. The planned walk over the Sydney Harbour bridge and through the streets means that the city will be shared with young visitors in strength. Woe betide the motorists!
The yellow sign: Pitt street Closed. 2am to 5pm Saturday 19 July. World Youth Day 2008!

Monday, June 23, 2008


Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, North Sydney.
World Youth Day folk can don their joggers on Saturday, 19th July, and begin a walk near this point and then take on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with vistas over the harbour and hike through the city to the Southern Cross precinct. The traffic will be stopped to make way.
Blessed Mary MacKillop followed her dreams in a big way and formed the first religious order founded by an Australian, the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Australia was first settled over 200 years ago as a British colony and Christians are relatively new to this ancient land. We relate to the saints of the church in far off lands.
Now there is hope that the holiness of an Australian, Mary MacKillop will be acknowledged by the universal Church.
Like Mary we can respond to the big challenges in our own societies, rich and poor alike. The Josephite sisters largly work in education and welfare. Mary MacKillop struggled with 'the establishment' and with church politics to achieve change.
We are all called to be saints!

Sunday, June 22, 2008


Returning to North Sydney to the Mary MacKillop Place Museum we see a carefree number from a trio, members of the first Religious Order, founded by an Australian, in early colonial times: the Sisters of Saint Joseph. (We are seeing Statues here)

Saturday, June 21, 2008


Days in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will bring some World Youth Day pilgrims to the delightful Port Stephens/Nelson Bay environment and a planned hike up the peak at the headlands is sure to be a memorable day and a mini-pilgimage in itself.
School boys in straw boater hats, suits and ties mean we could be in the North Shore.
Over the Sydney Harbour Bridge (or the tunnel) and a short distance brings you to the Mary MacKillop Centre in North Sydney.

(Those blue buses can be used to take you anywhere in Sydney.)

The underground in central Sydney is fast and handy and Town Hall stop has a number of levels making it a bit tricky for the visitor to find their way but public transport is recommended. Access is improved on most stations by escalators and lifts.

Friday, June 20, 2008


A local theme with Australian Flowers in stained glass.
From Corpus Christi Church, Waratah in Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.

Thursday, June 19, 2008


Identity, set in stone, heavy, individual, morphing, transforming

The word mob is a positive Australian Aboriginal word and the World Youth Day Mob will be very empowering and our Catholic identity will be claimed. All identities may share the faith experience.
God is encounted in community with all people.

Sculptures from the University of Newcastle.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008


Royal Randwick. These quiet deserted grand stands will soon be echoing the events of World Youth Day. Although they can tell of other Papal visits in the past. (The grandstand was opened by Queen Elizabeth.)

As a fire is meant for burning,

With a bright and warming flame,
So we are meant for mission
Giving glory to creation's name.
....not our creeds or customs
but to build a bridge of care,

We join hands across the nations,
Finding neighbours everywhere....


The race horse stalls are empty now and racing has been put on hold, not without controversy, so that World Youth Day can have the best venue there is. The grass on the race course will be protected by some type of covering I believe.

WYD workers were busy and were about to drive into the arena to see to the project.

The Southern Cross Precinct at Randwick will be a wonderful scene with the Evening vigil with the Pope on Saturday 19 July; the sleep under the stars (of the Southern Cross) and memorable Final Mass for World Youth Day on Sunday.
A Festival continues on during Sunday afternoon.

A hugh number of good facilities are installed there and work is in progress to make it a fun, safe and secure venue.




Tuesday, June 17, 2008


It may look like World Youth Day at Randwick racecourse but these are University students stressing out and about to sit their examinations in the large gathering rooms there. The campus of The University of NSW is nearby.

Monday, June 16, 2008


The International Airport is not a great distance from Randwick Racecourse with its World Youth Day arena and a jet can be seen as a speck still climbing above there soon after takeoff.
Day or night time, a magical view over the city, awaits new arrivals.
Those long, long-haul flights will be forgotten and excitement, anticipation and relief will be yours!
Does the Sydney skyline look mystical viewed from Randwick Racecourse?

Randwick Racecourse arena is where it is all at on World Youth Day hence the play with words.

An official World Youth Day office in Sydney is 'getting traction'!

Sunday, June 15, 2008


City sights and Sydneysiders will be welcoming to visitors and probably won't be surprised by anything and are typically in a hurry.
Here they are enjoying a warm winter's day, about 22C, last Thursday. Today it is very chilly by our standards, about 15C and 5C overnight.

XIV Jesus is removed from the cross (Pieta) from the Stations of the Cross.
From the chapel at Lochinvar in the Hunter valley.

Action and drama will be found on the city streets at the time of World Youth Day 2008 where a virtual Calvary will be simulated. The words of the scriptures will be re-enacted and the Way of the Cross will unfold so we can follow the path taken by Jesus.
Above: VI: Veronica wipes Jesus' face. One of the fourteen Stations of the Cross.
These actions will be new to the city and what will Sydneysiders make of it all? Conversion is an on-going experience.
A scriptural Way of the Cross is a more recent form of devotion that differs a little from the form we are used to and has been approved for meditation and public celebration (Wikipedia).

Saturday, June 14, 2008


During World Youth Day week a dramatised presentation of the Stations of the Cross will be played out in the Sydney precincts. The Stations of the Cross are on the side walls of this chapel and, although indistinct, five of the pictures are seen in the photo.
In our churches it is usual to have seating and this convent chapel is an exception with traditional pews for the sisters. The chapel was open so that visitors could see and pray in this charming little sacred space (in Singleton in the Hunter valley).

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The World Youth Day Cross and Icon has reached every diocese in Australia.
Religious Icons hold a special place in Christian heritage. This window, in a Hunter valley institution, is modelled, I read, after a mosaic in the Church of Saint Pudentiana in Rome. European imagery and heraldic themes were adoped by the founders of the church in this land.

This depiction of Our Lady of Mercy was assigned by the Pope to the Mercy nuns a century ago.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008


Above us is a famous bridge and one you can walk over (car free) during World Youth Day 2008.
Sydney Harbour will be much busier than this when the Pope arrives at east Darling Harbour by boat. This is from a road that links the city side with Darling Harbour by way of a longer drive or walk under the bridge.

Sunday, June 8, 2008



Western side of Darling Harbour, opposite side to that of the previous posts. World Youth Day gatherings will be made in Darling Harbour.
.....We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav'lers on the road,
we are here to help each other...
....in the night-time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you...
when you laught I'll laugh with you...
.....I will share your joy and sorrow
'til we've seen this journey through....

....let you be my servant too.
from The Servant Song from Scripture in Song. Auckland NZ

Saturday, June 7, 2008


Darling Harbour is also the scene of the gathering for the opening Mass for World Youth Day on Tuesday 15 July 2008.
This locality could be returned to as it crams in a lot to do and see.
The Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour will have hundreds of religious orders, groups and movements from all over the world ready to explain their work.

On another note, Sydney Aquarium takes you where you can see and wonder at the creation found in marine life and to walk, not on water but by tunnel under the water.
The Imax theatre boasts about its hugh screen and 3D and two shows at present include Dinosaurs 3D Giants of Patagonia and the Stones. I think I could safely say that creationism is not popular in the church and that dinosaurs of all types would be cool to see and hear.

Food services abound there, open areas to sit and wonder, water installations - reminders of Living Water, as well boating exhibits and museum and a small scale zoo operate there.
Ferry, buses, monorail and light rail reach Darling Harbour.