A final word

Seeking truth, beauty, and goodness - seeking God.

There have been many blessings and graces received by our pilgrims who took up this journey seeking the truth of faith in pilgrimage sites of Lima in daily masses and in reconciliation, 

the beauty of Machu Picchu, Iguazu, and beautiful churches.

the goodness of Mission work in Pamplona, and in fellow pilgrims giving to the poor.

God has spoken to those who have come seeking Him. We have learnt patience, humility, and trust.

My faith has been encouraged by our pilgrims walking the 10km to pray and worship God in mass, our pilgrims who waited 3 hours to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, the wonderful way our youth entered into the mission work, by the beauty of God in Iguazu and Machu Picchu, and by sharing in the journey with pilgrims from not only Sydney but across the world.

What remains is the challenge to continue this pilgrimage throughout our whole lives back home. To revisit those special places we found God, and to find new ones as our eyes are opened to Him. To continue to seek His grace in the sacraments, and in prayer. I believe there was also a grace given to take up a new good habit, and to lay down an old one which was not from God. We are also called to mission - to share what we have received with others.

We are reminded of the themes of World Youth Day, Hope in the Cross of Christ, Discipleship in following Him, and Going out sharing the Good news - making disciples.

May we always continue to seek and find Him,

God Bless!

Farewells in B.A. as bus 2a stays for one more night.

Leaving Iguazu and arriving in Buenos Aries

Desperate pilgrims seeking wifi!

Our final mass on pilgrimage with Fr Dan 

A short flight of about two hours saw us arrive in Buenos Aires, an airport next to one of the widest rivers in the world at 220km.

Our accommodation in B.A. was upgraded to 5 star as our other place was flooded!

A late walk for some of us around town:

After a good sleep in a proper bed up, packed, and off to mass at Buenos Aires cathedral of The Trinity. This was Pope Francis home parish when he was Archbishop in Argentina.

Retreat day

We had quite a few small group sessions today giving us a chance to recollect and contemplate the experiences we have had over these 3 weeks as well as enjoy some of the facilities. 

Before dinner we had mass with Cardinal Pell who con celebrated with the pilgrim bishops and priests at the local cathedral.

I was moved by the willingness of our young people in our bus group to embrace the sacrament of reconciliation. Fr Dan spent near three hours tonight after dinner with them.

iguazu falls

The area is heritage listed and the water fall is the largest in world. The national park is 2300 square km. Wild animals in the park include the jaguar, monkeys, puma, anteater, deer, native racoon, parrots, toucan, vultures, and swifts. The volume of water in the falls is 1700 cubic metres per second. It is 80 metres high and 2.7 km long. The Iguazu river is a border river between Brazil and Argentina. Iguazu Is a native word for "big water". Paraguay also meets the other two countries at Iguazu and is a tax free shopping centre. Our bus trip to the falls takes us from the Argentina side through to the Brazilian side where we will view the falls. The yearly temp range is 0 to 44 with 80 per cent humidity, brazil is the largest country in South America both in size and population. It borders all but two of the other countries. All rivers flow out into the Atlantic.

One cannot but marvel at the beauty and sheer magnitude of the falls. The wonder of God's creation for all to see. I can well imagine God saying with a smile when He created it a million years ago "my kids are going to love this!"

Flight to Argentina - Iguazu

  We said farewell to our home for the past week at Pier Maua.

and flew out of Rio International airport bound for Argentina. The view was full of contrasts as we passed over open sea, beach side coastline, cloud and blue sky, rugged mountainous terrain, open cut mines, farming land, and beautiful pristine lakes, valleys and rivers, and finally views to Iguazu Falls

View of Iguazu Falls from the air!

The airport seems in the middle of nowhere but is only 15 minutes from our hotel.

Our hotel Americano has a cotton tree, you can see pieces on the driveway.

Accommodation has great facilities including pool, football field, shops, games room. The dining room is well set up and the smorgasbord meals have been superb. Such variety!

Sunday! Mass with all WYD pilgrims and Pope Francis

It's a wonderful morning with welcome cries of Bom Dia (good morning in Portuguese). This seems to be a city without sleep as I'm sure there was singing all through the night. There is generous applause as the sun peeks over the mountains and we receive direct warming rays on this glorious morning. On this day we dedicate to our Lord! We joined with an estimated 3.5 million others in this wonderful mass. The Brazilians have a wonderfully extroverted way of worship before mass with heartfelt singing, dancing and clapping.

The themes from Pope Francis homily were: Go, do not be afraid, serve!

Go out to all the world making disciples of all nations. Do not be confined to those who are nearest to us. the message of the Gospel is for all people. The best person to evangelise a young person is another young person! 

Do not be afraid. Jeremiah was a young person and was afraid to go but God promised to be with him. In the same way you will not go alone as Jesus will be with you. 

You are also called to serve. To look after the poor.

After mass the big but not unexpected news was that next WYD will be held in 2016 in Krakow, Poland, which was Pope John Paul II's home town.

We enjoyed the beach until mid afternoon, then returned home, for welcome showers, another mass (We didn't get communion at the WYD mass), delivery pizza for some before bed.

The Pilgrimage walk and Vigil with Pope Francis

Before embarking on the journey the students took up prayer stones which were relate to the great Way of St James pilgrimage beginning in France and crossing Spain. the stones were placed in the shape of a cross with a WYD candle at the cross beams. the students were encouraged to have hope in the cross, to be disciples of Jesus by taking up their cross to follow him and with Christ to go out into the world making disciples and bringing Christ into the world. They were asked to consider what on this pilgrimage they would take up (good habits) and what would they leave behind ( habits they need to let go)

Due to the rain we have been having, the vigil and final mass have been switched to Copacabana Beach, making them accessible to more people and also allowing the locals to go home and return in the morning. The switch shortened the walk to about 10 km. It was a jolly affair with much singing, waving, exchange of gifts, and "where are you from?" from many of the estimated 3 million pilgrims gathering. The walk was particularly picturesque as we passed from one side of sugarloaf mountain to the other along the bay. After arriving and securing a section for Aussie pilgrims, we iinvestigated the markets before Pope Francis arrived.

The pope was helicoptered in and then drove the length of Copacabana beach just as he had done on previous occasions. We were able to get within about 5 m of the popemobile each time!

The evening began with spiritual music and then testimonies of how God has touched the lives of several young people, including stories of conversion of heart to God.

The Pope's homily.

(With apologies for errors and missing the beginning due to audio clarity) The seed is the word of God. We need to make fertile soil in our hearts so that His word may grow in us. Our holy father says that this is much bigger than the World Cup, it offers the possibility of eternal life. However we need to pay the entrance fee - which is prayer and speaking with Jesus. Do not be afraid of the silence. Ask Jesus what do you want me to do. This is the training. Ask Jesus and do not be afraid to pray. via log with Jesus and through the sacraments, to listen to God, forgive, and love others without exclusion. Prayer, sacraments, helping others. The field is a work in construction. In our hearts is good land when we receive the word of God. We are never alone, but part of a church, together we are able to build the Church like St Francis. Are you ready, we are part of the church, but we become builders of the church. Be protagonists, strive for a better world and for peace, St. Peter tells us that we are living rocks that form a spiritual field. Jesus asks us to be living rocks which build the church. Jesus asks us to build a big church which will hold all people. Make disciples, build a church. Be constructor builders of the church of Jesus Christ. Your young hearts want to build a better world. Don't be passive and let others lead the change, but you are to be protagonists of this change, I ask you to be builders of the future, don't watch life from the balcony, be active just as Jesus did. One question remains, "where do we start?" people once asked mother Theresa. "With you and me." She replied. Everyone should ask yourself this question of themselves. Dear friend remember you are a field of faith, builders of a new church. And look to our lady who gives us the strength to say to God, may your will be done in me. 

This was followed by some time of adoration and songs of praise. Including, I need you - sung by Matt Maher. O God how I need you, your my one defence, my righteousness, O God how I need you!

Following this were prayers and benediction. Also was sung the australian WYD 2008 theme song, Receive the Power, in Portuguese and English. And of course Salve Regina. And a previous WYD theme song Jesus Christ you are my life.

Catechesis day 3. Theme - mission. Plus Stations of the cross.

A student gave his testimony of faith journey. He went to mass but lived the "cool" way at school. it didn't work out and he had a "involuntary gap year". He prayed and through the invitation of the parish priest after mass joined some great people in the young adult youth group. Through the community he received support and after that year was offered a local university place. He was asked to o Youth Ministry despite his lack of confidence and perceived ability. But it was really not about him, but was about God and His mission. So he has been working in Youth Ministry for 1.5 years now. God also calls each of us on a mission.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane. Reading from Gospel about Jesus after the resurrection. They worshipped Jesus although some doubted. All authority has been given to Jesus, "go make disciples of all nations...". When we are on mission. Jesus asks us to go and make disciples of all nations, not just the people we know, but to all even those with which we feel uncomfortable. Jesus speaks to his 11 remaining disciples who are deserters, the doubters, these are the ones Jesus sends out. an unlikely band to send, bizarre even. How can Jesus expect this group of deserters to do the job. It seems crazy. But consider the difference that one person can make. Consider the lives of St Anthony, St Benedict, and St francis of assisi who were three young people in chaotic times who did something considered crazy at the time. All showed a new way of being Christian and indeed brought to birth a new way for civilisation. The world was transformed by them. You can also do this in God. Christian mission comes from God. It starts in the flesh of God and becomes one with Jesus. In these days we are called to become missionaries. It is not the time to circle the wagons and protect ourselves. We need to roll out the wagons in new ways. Our culture can be hostile to our words and mission. Facing this hostility is the temptation to become insular. However JP II brought to us the new evangelisation. A new surge in Gospel activity which is like the ones in the past. Pentecost. The fall of the Roman Empire brings St Benedict and the monks evangelise the world. Another surge in Gospel activity comes from St Francis who goes tao the poor and takes vows of poverty chastity and obedience. After the reformation chaos descends. But then the Jesuits go out and discover the new world. After the French Revolution we have another surge as the missionaries set out for the pacific. A sunburst of Gospel activity takes place. In the wake of WW1 and WW2 we are at a time now where we need a new surge of Gospel activity. A new evangelisation is needed. The leadership of lay people and young people is a sign of this activity. Young people are being called to lead the Church in ways that they can scarcely imagine. The God who commissions you will also equip you. You are called to cross new frontiers, to evangelise new continents ( the digital continent with its own culture). You are all digital natives. You know the culture. Discern what is light and what is darkness in this digital continent. To lead the digital continent. Cross new frontiers for the sake of Christ. Jesus brings all that is native and brings it into the light. truth does matter. It is not my truth or your truth. God reveals the truth in Jesus for all not just for some but for the whole of creation. Not just abstract, about a truth of love not just for Catholics and Christians but for all of creation, for everybody. Your faith is based on fact, not upon fantasy and feeling. The death and resurrection of Jesus is fact. Jesus is truly raised from the dead. The church is in the world and for the world. If they don't come to us, we need to go to them who or wherever they are. we need to reach out to them. How do we reach those who do not come to us? What have we to offer? Share the love which has been entrusted to us. Joy - Algeria. This joy is strange. It doesn't mean fun. It is deeper than happiness. Joy is something Jesus alone as the risen Lord can give. Joy given to those who are invincible in the knowledge of Christ. After Jesus death His enemies can do no more to Jesus. He is invincible. We who are in Jesus are invincible. We are part of a life which in invincible and immortal. we can experience joy in any situation no matter what place or events happen to us. Nothing and no one can take this joy away. In mission we share this joy. The human being is made to share in the ecstasy of God. Paradise is our true home. When Jesus says go make disciples to bring His joy to all and bring all on a journey home to paradise.

Homily 

Jesus brings sight to the blind, sets captives free, oppressed a given freedom. Yet we are a blind, poor, captive and oppressed first. In Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit we experience sight, wealth, and freedom. Having experienced this through the power of the Holy Spirit we are then able to go as missionaries and share what we have experienced.

Stations of the Cross.

Beginning with the high excitement of the pope's arrival by helicopter, the stations of the cross was a wonderfully creative and moving affair. With the back drop of the Rio evening skyline and crash of waves on the beach. Re-enacted using contemporary scenes to make present each station, yet paying careful respect to the actual events of Jesus' passion. Beautifully scripted and moving music culminating in adagio. The stations ended with a prayerful commissioning of each continent. The pope prayed for our youth to have the grace to be evangelists in the world.

Catechesis Day 2. Theme - discipleship. Plus Papal welcome.

Archbishop Of New York Tom Dolan - Definition of discipleship: holiness means friendship with Jesus. JP II was first a disciple of Jesus. It is not just being a student, but learning the life of Jesus the wisdom of the teacher. It is a profound intermate reverent friendship with Jesus. How can we become better disciples of Jesus?

1 - We need to spend more time with Jesus. This is done with prayer. Whilst we need to improve in our prayer lives we are not unlike the apostles who asked Jesus teach them to pray. We don't need to get caught up with many words so much as simple direct sincere prayers of those in the gospels eg Lord remember me in your kingdom. Praise, Request, Apologise, Yes (lord to your invitations )

2 - Have a meal together, with Jesus. Jesus often ate with his disciples. The mass is our sacred meal with Jesus. Especially on Sunday. Also spend time in prayer before the Eucharist.

3 - Get to know the master better. This can be done through reading the bible, in particular through prayerful  meditative reading the Gospels.

4 - friendship mean that we want to change the things in our life which is contrary to teaching of Jesus. It means repentance,  conversion, metanoia. Our whole life is about this. repent and believe. Jesus invites to conversion of heart. discipleship means turning our back on sin and turning towards him. Conversion! we need to start with conversion of ourselves rather than other people. Eg Mother Theresa was asked there we're two things in the world me and you.

5- Learn to say I'm sorry. The 6 Words for a successful marriage are: "I love you" and "I am sorry". An honest sincere confession will jumpstart your spiritual life.

6- friendship means also hanging out with your friend's friends. The Church are these friends. In discipleship we we would want to spend time with the people of church. The temptation today is to try to have Jesus on your own. But Saul is knocked off his horse and Jesus says "Saul, Saul , why are you persecuting me?" Because the church and Jesus are the same. We are part of Jesus best friends.

7- we are willing to suffer, sacrifice, and even die for our new friend. There is a cost to discipleship (Deitrih Bonhoeffer ) we must be prepared to "take up your cross and come follow me". Included in this is identifying and serving with the poor and marginalised. We are called to love and serve them.

Mass homily- archbishop cardinal Dolan

We carry the dying and rising of Jesus. We are absorbed into it. Ray dietz becomes brother Elias Becoming a new identity in Christ. In RCIA, a gamblers addict realised the need for God's grace to Break his habit. On his baptism he had left a poker chip in the baptismal font as a way of dying to Christ. We are constantly dying and rising with Christ. We do this daily. Eg the normal struggles in life. We die to our common urges eg getting up in the morning. Also when persecution and difficulties arise, eg a nurse who was retrenched because she refused to assist with an abortion. Once every 11 minutes a Christian dies for their faith. In our lives we do not suffer red martyrdom but suffer white martyrdom in everyday hardships. We also suffer sin, and return to Jesus via reconciliation. We also share in the paschal mystery when we physically die. We have even given the opportunity of eternal life. As Christians we have hope in death. When we die in Christ we rise to eternal life with him.

Papal welcome:

Pope Francis spoke of challenging the youth to put on Faith, put on hope, and put on love. In doing so we become transformed in Christ and more able to shine in the world. Whilst worldly materials can give temporary happiness they are not long lasting. Only by putting on faith, hope and love can we be whole.