CAFOD blog

I think I’m getting old, as I wasn’t up for the all-night party some of the people around me were determined to enjoy.

Although it certainly was not the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had (apart from the constant singing and dancing, the temperatures dropped to a chilly 8oC), there was chance for forty winks before morning came all too soon.

The speakers began to play music to wake everyone up (in a Big Brother kind of way) – this was World Youth Day.

Morning prayer of the Church was at 8am, sung by a group of Seminarians and to be honest, completely ignored by most pilgrims as they bleary-eyed went about their early morning routines.

This involves queuing for toilets and water, rooting around in the food parcels for something to eat, rolling up sleeping bags, and attempting to stay warm in the thermal foil blankets which had handily been provided in the pilgrim packs.

Around 9am, the flock of helicopters that we had got so used to indicated that the Pope was near and, sure enough, he circled over the Southern Cross Precinct a few times in a military helicopter before squeezing in a quick aerial tour of Sydney.

He arrived in the Popemobile shortly afterwards and toured Randwick on the actual racecourse, taking time to wave to pilgrims and kiss a few babies held up by his security guards to the Popemobile window.

Mass commenced at 10, with the huge WYD choir and orchestra leading the music and Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian once more singing the WYD theme song.

I’ve never seen so many cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons in one place.

Since the theme of WYD was around the Holy Spirit, 24 lucky pilgrims from around the world received the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Pope himself after the homily.

What was even more special was the fact that everyone was able to receive Communion, with a reported 700 priests despatched to different parts of the venue to minister.

It was a somewhat less dignified experience than we’re used to, with a bit of a scramble over people’s bags and bed rolls to get to the poor priest surrounded on all sides by people waiting to receive.

Finally Mass ended, with many speeches of thanks and congratulations, including one by the Pope announcing the venue of the next WYD in 2011 in Madrid.

A whole group of Spanish pilgrims were ready and poised with Spanish flags at the bottom of the stage area to jump up and down in celebration for the cameras, which made me smile.

Better start brushing up on our Spanish…

We got back to ur hotel eventually, got washed and dressed again and went out for dinner at a nearby pub, relishing every bite of a non-pilgrim meal i.e. on a plate instead of in a plastic bag, with proper cutlery and sitting at an actual table and chairs instead of on the ground!

We enjoyed every moment of it, then went to our hotel and slept for 12 hours to recover from the weekend.

So WYD has finished. But I don’t think this is really the end – the experience will live on for the pilgrims who have travelled from all over the world.

The memories of people who they met, food they shared, liturgy and worship they participated in, fun they had and exhaustion they experienced will stay with them, as they will with the both of us.

We plan to revisit the whole experience in a follow-up weekend we’re planning in November for pilgrims from England and Wales who are keen to learn more about the role social justice plays within our faith and to do something about it.

All the details are on http://www.cafod.org.uk/wyd

So, see you there, yeah?

Posted by AnnaF

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