Yesterday Pope Benedict took up residence near Saint Marys in the city. Today, he will be at the Mary MacKillop centre in North Sydney, across the Harbour Bridge, then return again to travel by boat to a public welcome on the shores of Sydney Harbour - Super Thursday!



Shrine for Blessed Mary MacKillop at Corpus Chrisiti Church, Waratah. A rose is named after her!

Morning Prayers for World Youth Day Pilgrims and others at Corpus Christi Church, Waratah on the feast of Saint Benedict.
(Saint Benedict's Rule is considered a powerful force in building the civilization of Christian Europe. He would have been an abbot and his significant work related to monastic life - the Benedictines. He died in the sixth century.
Trivia: Benedictine liqueur was made famous by a monk. Is this an occasion for strawberries and cream laced with the liqueur!)

Update: I believe this is incorrect in that it was really the feast day of another different Saint Benedict.
Community service by the Pilgrims. This drab area will be improved by tree plantings made close to Warabrook Station (which serves the University of Newcastle in the distance on the other side of the rail line) Another sunny, chilly, windy day.

It would'nt be Newcastle without its coal trains and one is in the background. Newcastle has one of the largest coal ports there is and it is juxtaposed with greening activities.
The city council has equipment and seedlings and works with volunteer group who join in tree planting and greening the city.

St Marys Cathedral Sydney. During World Youth, some question whether Pope Benedict will address the crime of paedophilia in the church ranks. Would a statement offer some consolation? Others plan to protest about issues. The potential power of the police force will have them in control of the city streets but the increase in police power has rightly caused concerns.
It will be intriguing to see how the youthful visitors will be. How will they conform?
I read that Ben 16 will arrive early so as to rest prior to the official engagements, he is elderly, and will probably stay in outer Sydney.

People have ties as buildings, it seems, have ties!

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.

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.

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.

Darling Harbour, Sydney, where, for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict will arrive, by boat, on Thursday 17 July 2008. A colourful boat-a-cade will accompany the Pope who will step ashore at Barangaroo just around the corner from Sydney Harbour Bridge.