Young Catholics return from pilgrimage

I was interviewed for the Westminster Chronicle - here's the article. 

Posted by Juliet Eysenck on Aug 26, 11 03:53 PM in News

Young Catholics have returned from a successful pilgrimage to celebrate their faith with the Pope.

Four members of the Westminster Cathedral Youth Group, in Victoria, joined around one million other young pilgrims from around the world to meet the head of the Catholic Church, in Madrid.

They were taking part in World Youth Day, an event organised by the Catholic Church every few years.

Jo-Anne Rowney, 23, who works as an intern for the Diocese of Westminster, attended the event for the first time this summer.

Despite torrential rain as they camped out at the Cuatro Vientos airfield for an evening vigil with Pope Benedict XVI, she said the event helped her "fall in love with God again".

She added: "It was pouring with rain and you could see tents being ripped apart.

"The heavens just opened on us.

"We thought the Pope would go inside but he said, 'My place is with them, I'm going to stay here'.

"People were chanting his name and there was this amazing atmosphere.

"Then the weather just suddenly stopped and it all went deadly silent.

"We all dropped to our knees and we felt so connected to everyone else."

The following morning, on August 21, the Pope returned for a Sunday mass service to an audience of bishops, priests and pilgrims.

"Even though we had a lack of sleep, we were sleeping rough and getting dirty, I realised I would never have such an amazing experience where everything went silent," she said.

"It was like a burning in my chest and it was the moment I fell in love with God again."

The World Youth Day events were slightly marred by protesters demonstrating against the cost of the Pope's visit to Spain.

"There were only once when we were on the metro, when someone was saying how much the Pope's visit was costing Spain," said Ms Rowney.

"But then someone said, 'Do you know how much you're getting from us?', because the towns and restaurants were packed every night.

"It was the only time we came across anyone who was adverse.

"We had lots more people welcoming us and saying how glad they were that we had come.

"There was even an 83-year-old woman who wanted to join us, even though it was meant to be youth day."

A total of 121 young adults represented the Diocese of Westminster, which includes the whole of London and Hertfordshire.

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Posted in: 2011,catholic,catholic church,world youth day

WYD Round-up

I've been collecting myself following the events of the last two weeks, Googling and searching articles on WYD. I found that my tweets have made a few appearances and articles I've written. So I thought I'd add them to this blog as I find them.


Reuters - World Youth Day, from Carnival atmosphere to silent prayer 


CathNews New Zealand “It’s mad here,” says Jo Anne Rowney on Twitter.

“2.5 million pilgrims is just a figure until you actually see them all. Crazy,” she said.

CathNews New Zealand “Like an Apocalypse here!” Jo Anne Rowney said via Twitter.

Pope: Madrid the Capital of Youth 

Online USA newspaper - Guestview 

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Posted in: madrid11,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: The financial truth

There's been a lot of rumour and estimates flying around regarding how much WYD cost Spain. A recent report suggested that the pilgrims that flocked to see the Pope in Madrid raised $230 million for the Spanish economy. ICN uploaded a break down of the figures that perhaps proves more useful in looking at how WYD is funded for those interested. 

WYD Logo was paid for under branding

According to organisers, the total budget for World Youth Day is around 50 million Euros and is completely self-financed.  The cost is covered in full by pilgrim registrations (70%) and donations (30%). No contribution has been made towards World Youth Day by the Spanish government or the local councils in Madrid. World Youth Day costs the Spanish tax-payer nothing, while it has been estimated that World Youth Day has contributed around $230 million to the Spanish economy. Here's the pre-WYD break down.

Income

Pilgrim registrations                                                                             31,500,000      

Company sponsorship                                                                          16,500,000  
Donations and other  individual donations, SMS, info, product sales, etc     2,482,621      

TOTAL INCOME                                                                                    50,482,621      


Expenditure
01 Pilgrim bag contents    4,763,655        Includes materials, production and distribution
02 General Secretariat and Welcome    5,567,511      
Preparatory materials, organisation offices, welcoming costs
03 Executive directors and finance    712,594      
Salaries, travelling, finance costs
04 Computer systems    2,130,837      
Equipment (software and hardware)
05 Central acts (Cibeles, Recol., 4V)    12,530,746      
Screens, sound systems, preparation of main acts
06 City environment    367,753      
Plan of activities for environment
07 Disabled     101,746      
Preparation of special spaces for the disabled
08 Infrastructure    7,253,657      
Tents, installations, water, energy bills, etc
09 Security and accreditation    1,258,489      
Accreditations, pilgrim passes, individual security
10 Other acts    580,233      
Sound, image, etc Almudena, Escorial, Retiro, etc
11 Lodgings and catechesis    2,044,430
   
12 Promotion    2,627,600        Of the brand JMJ/WYD
13 Cultural prog. and pilgrim guide    4,199,989      
14 Volunteers    3,983,750        Accommodation, equipment and maintenance costs
15 Communications and media    2,359,631      
Press room, TV costs, signals, Press Centres, etc
TOTAL EXPENDITURE    50,482,621      

Disclaimer: This is a pre-WYD break down and planned expenditure

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Posted in: finance,madrid11,pilgrim,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: Pope announces Rio for next WYD: "Go and make disciple of all nations"

The Pope has announced that the next international WYD will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013 with the theme "Go and make disciples of all nations".

Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement to the million young pilgrims at Madrid’s Cuarto Vientos airbase on 21August.

“Even now, let us ask the Lord to assist all those who will organize it and to ease the journey there of young people from all over the world, so that they will be able to join me in that beautiful city of Brazil,” the Pope said following his midday Angelus prayer.

The next WYD will be held earlier than normal, leaving two years for preparations. This is because Rio is hosting the football World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games two years later.

Brazilians who had come to Spain for World Youth Day 2011 waved their flags and shouted with cheers of 'Viva la Papa'.

The World Youth Day cross changed hands after the announcement - a tradition at events since 1984 - with a Spanish young people passing it to a group from Brazil.

“I hope to see you again in two years’ time at the next World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” said the Pope, bidding farewell in Portuguese, Brazil's native language. “Till then, let us pray for each other, witnessing to the joy that brings forth life, rooted in and built upon Christ. Until we meet again, my dear young people! God bless you all!”

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Posted in: madrid11,Rio de Janiero,world youth day,wyd

Famous at last ;)

I was trawling twitter when I saw my name in bright lights - well OK that's an exaggeration. In reality my tweets had been used for an article on the CathNews website, the New Zealand Catholic news site. You can read my words of wisdom here.

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WYD 2011: What the Pope intended to say at the WYD Vigil

Due to the storm, or hurricane, depending on who you ask, the Pope was unable to deliver his address at Cuatro Vientos airfield. Here's what he intended to say:

Dear Young Friends, I greet all of you, especially the young people who have asked me their questions, and I thank them for the sincerity with which they set forth their concerns, that express the longing which all of you have to achieve something great in life, something which can bring you fulfilment and happiness.

How can a young person be true to the faith and yet continue to aspire to high ideals in today’s society? In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus gives us an answer to this urgent question: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love” (Jn 15:9).

Yes, dear friends, God loves us. This is the great truth of our life; it is what makes everything else meaningful. We are not the product of blind chance or absurdity; instead our life originates as part of a loving plan of God. To abide in his love, then, means living a life rooted in faith, since faith is more than the mere acceptance of certain abstract truths: it is an intimate relationship with Christ, who enables us to open our hearts to this mystery of love and to live as men and women conscious of being loved by God.

If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true happiness and joy. Faith does not run counter to your highest ideals; on the contrary, it elevates and perfects those ideals. Dear young people, do not be satisfied with anything less than Truth and Love, do not be content with anything less than Christ.

Nowadays, although the dominant culture of relativism all around us has given up on the search for truth, even if it is the highest aspiration of the human spirit, we need to speak with courage and humility of the universal significance of Christ as the Saviour of humanity and the source of hope for our lives. He who took upon himself our afflictions, is well acquainted with the mystery of human suffering and manifests his loving presence in those who suffer. They in their turn, united to the passion of Christ, share closely in his work of redemption. Furthermore, our disinterested attention towards the sick and the forgotten will always be a humble and warm testimony of God’s compassionate regard.

Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world.

During this prayer vigil, I urge you to ask God to help you find your vocation in society and in the Church, and to persevere in that vocation with joy and fidelity. It is a good thing to open our hearts to Christ’s call and to follow with courage and generosity the path he maps out for us.

The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh (cf. Gen 2:24), find fulfilment in a profound life of communion. It is a prospect that is both bright and demanding. It is a project for true love which is daily renewed and deepened by sharing joys and sorrows, one marked by complete self-giving. For this reason, to acknowledge the beauty and goodness of marriage is to realize that only a setting of fidelity and indissolubility, along with openness to God’s gift of life, is adequate to the grandeur and dignity of marital love.

Christ calls others to follow him more closely in the priesthood or in consecrated life. It is hard to put into words the happiness you feel when you know that Jesus seeks you, trusts in you, and with his unmistakable voice also says to you: “Follow me!” (cf. Mk 2:14).

Dear young people, if you wish to discover and to live faithfully the form of life to which the Lord is calling each of you, you must remain in his love as his friends. And how do we preserve friendship except through frequent contact, conversation, being together in good times and bad? St Teresa of Jesus used to say that prayer is just such “friendly contact, often spending time alone with the one who we know loves us” (cf. Autobiography, 8). And so I now ask you to “abide” in the adoration of Christ, truly present in the Eucharist. I ask you to enter into conversation with him, to bring before him your questions and to listen to his voice. Dear friends, I pray for you with all my heart. And I ask you to pray for me. Tonight let us ask the Lord to grant that, attracted by the beauty of his love, we may always live faithfully as his disciples. Amen.

In French: Dear young French-speakers, be proud of the gift of faith which you have received, as it will illumine your life at every moment. Draw strength from the faith of your neighbours, from the faith of the Church! Through faith we are grounded in Christ. Gather with others to deepen it, be faithful to the celebration of the Eucharist, the mystery of faith par excellence. Christ alone can respond to your aspirations. Let yourselves be seized by God, so that your presence in the Church will give her new life!

In English: Dear young people, in these moments of silence before the Blessed Sacrament, let us raise our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, the Lord of our lives and of the future. May he pour out his Spirit upon us and upon the whole Church, that we may be a beacon of freedom, reconciliation and peace for the whole world.

In German: Dear young Christians from the German-speaking countries! Deep in our hearts we yearn for what is grand and beautiful in life. Do not let your desires and aspirations dissipate, but ground them in Jesus Christ. He himself is the sure foundation, the point of reference, for building up your life.

In Italian: I now turn to the Italian-speaking young people. Dear friends, this vigil will remain as an unforgettable experience in your lives. Guard the flame which God has lit in your hearts tonight. Never let it go out, renew it each day, share it with your contemporaries who live in darkness and who are seeking a light for their way. Thank you! Until tomorrow morning!

In Portuguese: My dear friends, I invite each of you to enter into a personal dialogue with Christ, sharing with him your hesitations and above all listening to his voice. The Lord is here and he is calling you! Young friends, it is good to hear within us the word of Jesus and to follow in his footsteps. Ask the Lord to help you to discover your vocation in life and in the Church, and to persevere in it with joy and fidelity, knowing that he never abandons you or betrays you! He remains with us until the end of the world.

In Polish: Dear young friends from Poland! This prayer vigil is filled with the presence of Christ. Grounded in his love, draw near to him with the flame of your faith. He will fill your hearts with his life. Build your lives on Christ and on his Gospel. I willingly bless all of you.

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Posted in: address,benedict xvi,pope,pope benedict,vigil,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: The end is nigh

All of lifes responses surrounded the Westminster gorup, from apathy to revernece, to deep emotional reactions to the disinterested. All of life was present, nearby a girl so overcome by Christ's love for us, the suffering he went through broke down into tears.

As the hammer sounded echoing the nailing of Jesus to the Cross people hung their heads listening to the resounding sound pounding, the definite resolute knocking captured the spirit of the moment.

The pain Jesus went through, the suffering he must have endured. The realisation that Jesus is not just simply a man that was crucified in a romantic fashion, he isn't the picture perfect Jesus often shown on a cross. He was in pain, he bled, he sweated. The pain was so bad he cried out to God to come to his aid.

Pilgrims around me were touched. The reality of the banging hammer struck home. Jesus' death was reality in that moment, the reality of his love. The enormity of it all, I was back in that place over 2000 years ago, at the bottom of the cross looking at Jesus feeling his pain, and overcome with his love for us. 

Jessica from the USA said: "You can read and meditate of the Way of the Cross alone and you get a small, minute idea of the suffering Jesus endured. When that hammer sounded, just the banging. The loud echo. It was silent and still and I forgot there was anyone else there. I felt it, inside I was deeply moved. How could you not cry? That amount of love is overwhelming."

Our Magnificat books included the lyrics to This is the Way of the Cross. The lyrics couldn't have summed it up more for me. This is the Way of the Cross. The Saviour of the World.

Via Crucis. The Way of the Cross. The way it should be. Reverent, thought provoking, moving. 

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Posted in: madrid11,pope,pope benedict,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: This is the way of the Cross, the way it should be

All of lifes responses surrounded the Westminster gorup, from apathy to revernece, to deep emotional reactions to the disinterested. All of life was present, nearby a girl so overcome by Christ's love for us, the suffering he went through broke down into tears.

As the hammer sounded echoing the nailing of Jesus to the Cross people hung their heads listening to the resounding sound pounding, the definite resolute knocking captured the spirit of the moment.

The pain Jesus went through, the suffering he must have endured. The realisation that Jesus is not just simply a man that was crucified in a romantic fashion, he isn't the picture perfect Jesus often shown on a cross. He was in pain, he bled, he sweated. The pain was so bad he cried out to God to come to his aid.

Pilgrims around me were touched. The reality of the banging hammer struck home. Jesus' death was reality in that moment, the reality of his love. The enormity of it all, I was back in that place over 2000 years ago, at the bottom of the cross looking at Jesus feeling his pain, and overcome with his love for us. 

Jessica from the USA said: "You can read and meditate of the Way of the Cross alone and you get a small, minute idea of the suffering Jesus endured. When that hammer sounded, just the banging. The loud echo. It was silent and still and I forgot there was anyone else there. I felt it, inside I was deeply moved. How could you not cry? That amount of love is overwhelming."

Our Magnificat books included the lyrics to This is the Way of the Cross. The lyrics couldn't have summed it up more for me. This is the Way of the Cross. The Saviour of the World.

Via Crucis. The Way of the Cross. The way it should be. Reverent, thought provoking, moving. 

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Posted in: madrid11,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: Pope tells youth to help those in suffering

Last night the mood of WYD shifted. Last night wasn't about joy and celebration, it was about suffering, the pain and hurt in the world. 

14 vivid stations of the cross lined the route between Plaza de Cibeles and Colon, pilgrims arrived hours before hand waiting in the heat of the sun, scorched and tired in dedication to seeing the cross pass by en route. 

Between each Station the bearers of the cross changed over, representing different people from countries where there is particular suffering in the community. 

Groups carrying included Iraqis, immigrants, unemployed, recovering drug addicts and people from Rwanda and Burundi.

Each station involved a stop for a meditation. These included prayers for the defence of human life, for peace in the Holy Land and areas where there is conflict, for the victims of natural disasters, for the unemployed, for those who suffer racial discrimination or religious persecution, for those with alcohol or drug addictions, and for the victims of sexual abuse.

Pope Benedict XVI also focused his address on suffering. At the end of the liturgy he said that everyone knows or has experience suffering. He urged youth to focus on Christ's suffering - out of love for us, and to imitate this by committing themselves to help the suffering of others. 

The Pope said that meditating on Christ’s Passion and death should make Christians ask: “What can we do for him?”

He added: “Christ’s Passion urges us to take upon our own shoulders the sufferings of the world, in the certainty that God is not distant or far removed from man and his troubles." He reminded us that Christ became human himself, enduring suffering and death. 

The Pope prayed that this love would “increase your joy and encourage you to go in search of those less fortunate. You are open to the idea of sharing your lives with others, so be sure not to pass by on the other side” of the road “in the face of human suffering, for it is here that God expects you to give of your very best: your capacity for love and compassion.”

He continued: “The different forms of suffering that have unfolded before our eyes in the course of this Way of the Cross are the Lord’s ways of summoning us to spend our lives, following in his footsteps and becoming signs of his consolation and salvation."

The Pope said that the harsh wood of the Cross is a sign of the self-giving love that will give eternal life to all who ask.

“The Cross was not a sign of failure, but an expression of self-giving love,” the pope said. The cross “teaches us to love what God loves and in the way that he loves. This is the good news that gives hope to the world,” he said. 

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Posted in: benedict xvi,madrid11,pope,pope benedict,world youth day,wyd

Video: Archbishop Nichols Homily at Westminster Mass

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster presided at the WYD Westminster Mass in Madrid on 17 August.

In his Homily he reflected upon the Gospel Luke 6:46-49, and shared his own personal prayer experience during times of turmoil with the pilgrims, telling them he turned to Mary and prayed the Rosary. He reminded them of the importance of silence on a pilgrimage.

Archbishop Nichols also told them about a lady called Etty, who was a holocaust victim.

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Posted in: archbishop nichols,archbishop vincent nichols,madrid11,world youth day,wyd

Viva la Papa!

0 comments | 19 August 2011

Pope Benedict XVI has arrived. His 'plane touched down in Madrid at noon (Spanish time). According to WYD website the Holy father appeared energetic as he made his way down the stairs of the Alitalia aircraft, smiling as he greeted the waiting dignitaries. Halfway down the red carpet he stopped to greet the military guard with a quick bow.

A group of 56 boys aged 10 and 13 dressed as Swiss Guards acted as honour guards on the red carpet .

The Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Rouco Varela and Spain's King Juan Carlos waiting on the tarmack to recieve the Holy Father on his third visit to the country. 

Best formed youth 

King Juan Carlos made a brief speech welcoming the pope to Spain. He recalled Pope John Paul II's third visit to Spain, which as also for World Youth Day.

The king said this generation of Spanish youth are the “best formed” but also are in much need of help and support from their elders during this difficult moment when many find themselves unemployed and seemingly without hope.

Pope Benedict then took the podium, thanking the king for his words. “I have come here to meet thousands of young people from around the world,” he said, thanking the schools, parishes and other institutions that opened their doors to house those young people this week. 

Voice of God

He said said those young people are in Madrid because they “have heard the voice of God, perhaps only as a little whisper, which has lead them to search for Him more dilligently.” The pope also said there are reasons for concern, chief among them “the desire for the betterment of all Spaniards with that dynamism which caracterizes them.”

The Holy Father addressed youth directly saying, “I repeat to you again, nothing and no one can take away the peace that comes from the Lord”

Following the address Pope Benedict and King Juan Carlos retreated to the State Pavillion where they met privately for about five minutes before the Holy Father boarded his Popemobile for the 20 km journey to the Nunciature, where he will be staying during his time in Madrid.

Official pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrid011/sets/72157627313780201/

After the Mass the Pope mobile drove through the streets to Plaza de Cibeles, on the way the Pope was greeted by cheering pilgrims - with many Westminster groups in the crowds. 

The Archbishop of Madrid greeted Pope Benedict. The text is here. 

The welcome text is here.

The Pope also greeted all the youth, but in their different languages! His greetings can be read here. 

Tomorrow the Pope meets women religious, and university professors. In the evening we'll be back in the centre of Madrid for Via Crucis - the Way of the Cross. This is a traditional in Spain normally saved for Holy Week. The cross will stop at 14 stations around the historical part of Madrid stopping at designated points, the cross will finish in Plaza de Cibeles. The cross being used has been travelling around different countries before making its journey back to Spain. 

I am also speaking at a WYD event, iCat tomorrow - wish me luck!

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Posted in: madrid11,pope,world youth day,wyd

Interview: Archbishop Vincent Nichols on WYD & London riots

After our Westminster Mass we were lucky enough to grab Archbishop Vincent Nichols for a chat about WYD. He spoke about Pope Benedict's ability to speak to the youth, the significance of WYD for those involved in the London riots and how the papal visit has impacted the pilgrim experience. He also spoke about his expectations and gives advice to pilgrims for when they head back to their parishes.

  

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Posted in: archbishop nichols,archbishop vincent nichols,london riots,madrid11,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: Inaugural Mass

While Westminster pilgrims journey may have begun last Thursday, the WYD celebrations kicked off just a few hours ago.

Photos of the WYD Opening Mass are here

Many pilgrims we met along the streets surrounding the Plaza had just arrived for WYD. Filipino pilgrims had flown 12 hours, having to change in Amsterdam just to reach Madrid in time for the celebrations. A Scout group have set up a campsite that can be seen from my window. A Canadian group have endured a tiring flight and no dinner to make the Mass. French pilgrims our bundled together in a school hall on a hard floor. Now that's dedication. That's perseverance. 

There was a carnival atmosphere when we arrived in the square. Each nationality had their own flag. Everyone was waving them until the sky became a sea of colour. Pilgrims wearing brightly coloured shirts, rosaries, crucifixes and their WYD badges filled the square over the next two hours. The square itself became so crowded people were shoulder to shoulder. The sun was right overhead, beating down on us so for the Londoners used to the rain and cold it was a bit of a change!

Mercy by Duffy, Outkast's Hey Yay and Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love blared from the speakers echoing down the streets accompanied by the sound of shouting and cheering pilgrims. The choir was pitch perfect creating an ethereal beauty to the Mass settings that were sung. 

Confessionals were set up around the edge of the square in the parks nearby for pilgrims to benefit from the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

It was all chaos. It was all calm.

It was the youth of the world coming together in unity. In one faith. 

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Posted in: madrid11,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011 Opening Mass: Cardinal Ryłko tells pilgrims they will "never forget" WYD

"These will be days that you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future." 

These were the welcoming words of Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko following the Opening WYD Mass on 16 August where over half a million young people from countries all over the world crammed into Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles to mark the beginning of World Youth Day.

The Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco presided the inaugural Mass, which was concelebrated by bishops and priests joining in the WYD celebrations. 

In his homily, Cardinal Rouco said that the pilgrims "have come to say aloud to the whole world...your unwavering “yes”! Yes, faith is possible. It is in fact a wonderful adventure that allows us to discover the magnitude and beauty of our lives."

Cardinal Rouco reminded us that Blessed Pope John Paul II will always be linked with WYD, especially as he's a patron and "protector" for this WYD. 

He argued that Pope John Paul II's relationship with young people is "unprecedented" as well as "direct, immediate...imbued with the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, enthusiastic, hopeful, joyful, contagious." 

The youth of today are searching for Jesus, he said. Adding that Jesus "is the only one who can understand you and lead you to the truth giving life that never ends, to give you happiness, true love."

"Letting him in is the key to WYD," he said. "It will be your success. Youths of this century need...to find the Lord through the only path that has proven effective spirtually: the humbles and simple pilgrim seeking his face."

Reflection

Following the Mass Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity welcomed the pilgrims by telling the crowd World Youth Day had finally arrived. 

"These will be days you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future." he said.

The Cardinal reflected on the theme for WYD, the words of Saint Paul: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf Col 2:7)" saying that this was a challenge for us all. 

"This is very demanding because it contains a definite plan for each of us," he added. 

"Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments. It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives."  

For miles all that could be seen was a sea of colour - a mix of national flags, coloured pilgrims t-shirts and hats. Natasha Purcell, Westminster Diocese said: "I haven't met any of the pilgrims before, but it doesn't feel like we're strangers at all. We may speak different languages, and come from different countries, but we are all brothers and sisters in Christ."

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Posted in: madrid11,world youth day,wyd

WYD 2011: Goodbye Salamanca

WYD Pilgrims in Salamanca from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

Our time in Salamanca has drawn to a close, with a packed last day. Starting the morning with  with prayer in our small groups was followed by Sr P's session. We looked at Expect the Unexpected, and were encouraged to answer God's 'knock at the door'. After experiencing adoration - many of the group for the first time - Sr P explored how sometimes we can just 'be in the silence' and 'listen to God's call'. Many of us agreed that we rattle of lists of things when we pray, but how often do we stop in that time of silence and just feel God's presence and his voice calling us to do something? 

We also sang Cherrie Anderson's 'Firm in Faith' which I'll still say is an incredibly catchy tune! John Rainey demonstrated his ability to have fun while on 'holiday and pilgrimage' because it was 'normal' as a heads up to Fr Stephen Wang's talk yesterday on examining why we're at WYD.

While everyone escaped for lunch in the sun, the comms team took to the terrace roof. We interviewed quite a few pilgrims for a new youth resource asking them about their faith, what it means to them and what they thought about church teaching. I think by the end of the interviews we really got some good material and got people thinking. 

We all joined together again for our Deanery Mass in the evening at San Estaban, another stunning Church. The church was packed with pilgrims from all over the world; Canada, Germany, Italy and Korea - and those were just the ones I could make out!

The party after Mass continued into the main square with the pilgrims partying away. More congos, dancing and singing. The cheering could be heard streets away! Leaving the younger pilgrims to it the older more sleepy pilgrims returned to their hotels for some much needed sleep ahead of our traveling and day in Avila tomorrow. 

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In photos: Salamanca

0 comments | 14 August 2011

Adoration in San Marco

Even during a busy tour of Salamanca we managed to stop in the Cathedral and light a candle

Fr Agustin shares an umbrella with Archbishop Stack 

Fr Stephen gave a reflection on what WYD is

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How the Hokey Cokey transcends all languages

We've had a crazy day today, involving adoration, a talk by Fr Stephen Wang, an amazing homily by Fr Richard Nesbitt on the transfiguration and a free guided tour of the whole of Salamanca by the department of Tourism thanks to our old friend Jose Ignacio. We also saw inside the Cathedral, getting a sneaky peek inside the museum thanks to Bishop Alan sweet talking the guard and were graciously received by the Ambassador in the Town Hall in Plaza Mayor stopping for not just one but two group photos! As it's now nearly ten to one in the morning I've compiled a quick guide today, summing up the events in the lessons I've learnt.

Lessons I've learnt today:

WYD groups have a sixth sense that means they can identify each other

Hokey Cokey can defy all language barriers

No one ever knows what they're ordering in Spain unless they have a translator with them

Adoration is extremely calming in the heat of the day

Fr Stephen Wang can explain the 'Heaven is like treasure buried in a field' scripture passage really well

Fr Richard Nesbitt's Homilies have everyone in rapturous silence as he explains the Transfiguration in relation to WYD, and how we will have a life changing experience

The Town Hall in the Plaza mayor has a really nice staircase for taking group photos on!

Tapas is great when you're really, really hungry!

We take technology and internet for granted at home - try going without your mobile for a bit and see what I mean

When its this hot - 37 degrees - you really need a lot of sun cream and even more water!

Spanish architecture is beautiful, and the churches are great examples of this

James K is obsessed by lemon shandy

Dave Burke owns a see-through poncho

Having a Bishop's cross gets you in anywhere, well at least Bishop Alan's does!

Fr Dave was once known as Deacon Dave, and also owns a poncho - this time from WYD 2008

The trinity icon means so much more than we see at first glance

Prayer can help deepen our understanding of ourselves and each other

The Spanish must be robots as they never seem to sleep!

Greatest lesson: WYD will be a life changing experience for us all

PS and yes I know Hokey Cokey is anti-catholic, don't think the pilgrims did though! 

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WYD 2011: We've arrived!

While this blog may start with Thursday's pilgrim travels, my pilgrim really started yesterday. I finished work early and headed down to Victoria station with Sr Emma to get the Gatwick Express. Boarding she turned to me and said "really our pilgrimage starts here". 

Every meeting we'd had leading up to this pilgrimage there's been a count down. Now it was one day to go. I stayed the night at a hotel nearby and was jarred awake by the annoyingly familiar noise of my BB alarm clock! 

We were to meet at the gate at 4:30am - yes that early! - to check in. Arriving slightly earlier than planned I found a group of eager (but not awake) pilgrims waiting for the Core group to check them and check them off the lists. 

My flight was from Gatwick to Porto, but at the same time two flights were departing from Stansted! There are 120 pilgrims in the Westminster group, so herding us all onto flights and making sure we were all accounted for was quite a feat!

We landed in Porto in the early morning and boarded a coach. We only stopped for lunch, so the Pax travel guide who was making sure we reached the hotel safe and sound had to deal with very hungry and hot pilgrims!

We reached our hotels in the afternoon. I'm staying in Ana Mogas which is only 10 minutes away from Plaza Mayor, the Main Square. 

After a welcome talk by Dave Burke and an introduction to the group leaders and chaplains we were reminded to read the pilgrim booklet! Bishop Alan had told us he'd come across pilgrims on the way to see us, the German pilgrims had rushed to give them German WYD hats! 

Our first Mass of the pilgrimage followed, celebrated by Archbishop Stack, former Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. Bishop Alan Hopes concelebrated along with the priests from our diocese. Deacon Kim read the Gospel and pilgrims read the first and second readings. There was a feeling among us that this was it now - the pilgrimage had really started! 

Pilgrims dispersed to find dinner, with myself and some others heading down to Plaza Mayor for tapas. We were shortly joined by Spanish singers and musicians performing right next to us! The traditional performance drew a large crowd, and we had ring side seats as we munched away on our selection of foods. Apparently the musicians attend the University, and the different colours they wear represent their colleges. Now night had fallen, and  not having got much sleep the night before we meandered back to the hotel. 

I've uploaded the pictures from today onto flickr - so take a look here.

Until tomorrow!Jo-Anne

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WYD 2011: The waiting is over

Today is the last day before the Westminster group head to Spain.

Yes, the waiting is now over and we're all in a mad rush and panic to pack those last minute things.

This morning before heading in to work I could be found sitting resolutely on my suitcase. Jamming all those essentials in. Trying to get it to shut - worrying that my suitcase is too heavy, too big.

Of course once I'd dragged my case onto the bus and arrived at work, a new set of questions arose. What equipment do I need? Does it fit in hand luggage?

So now I'm half ready - still got to pack away my laptop and cameras - I'm a terrrible traveler. I can fly, drive or coach any journey fine, its the worry in making sure you have everything, it drives me mad!

Packing all done, I've registered the Comms Officers for iCat, which you can read abouthere. I'm just finishing off my notes as I'm speaking at the event! I looked at the list of speakers earlier and they are all very qualified! Should be interesting.

Now I'm off to finish off those niggling bits and pieces, and then there is nothing more we can do. I'll be off on the Gatwick express and chekcing in to Travelodge trying to grab a few zs before our early flight to Porto (yes Portugal!).

We'll be checking in at 4:30am, and flying about 6:55am, so say a pray for a safe flight! 

Once we land we have a coach ride from Portugal to Salamanca ahead of us, so after I've sampled the scenice views I'll be catching up on that sleep I lost. 

We should arrive in Salamanca about 3pm in time for a rest and a welcome Mass for the weary pilgrims. 

The pilgrimage is an unknown for most of us, we haven't experienced something on this scale before let alone a pilgrimage. It will be a journey that will hopefully teach us a lot about our faith, as well as a chance to meet new people and make new friends. 

We'll have fun, but there's a spritual side to this journey too. People keep asking me if I'm looking forward to my "holiday" to Madrid. I answer "Yes, I can't wait for my pilgrimageto begin." 

That's it for now, next time I blog we'll be in Spain! 

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Pilgrim in Westminster Chronicle

I popped up in Westminster Chronicle last week, looking rather funny in my Westminster group t-shirt! I was talking about WYD and what we're expecting from it. It was a great thing to get in the local newspaper. Why don't you try and contact your local newspaper before we leave for WYD? Let them know you're going, send them a picture of you in your top maybe! Or even call them for a chat, and get yourself in the newspaper too! Give it a try and let's spread the news about WYD :)

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New Horizon Magazine: University of Hertfordshire

My article 'A Great Place to Play' for the New Horizon magazine can be viewed here. 

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