Monday 29 July 2013

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.

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