7-14 March Diocese of Sandhurst

Friday, 14 March

Students gather for Cross & Icon's final day in Sandhurst The highlight of today’s events with the Cross & Icon was a big schools mass in the Bendigo Cathedral. The grand Cathedral hosted students from primary and secondary schools throughout the Bendigo region and was celebrated by Bishop Joe Grech. The involvement of school students in the liturgy helped to make it a joyous and lively celebration of faith. It was great to see so many pilgrims are attending World Youth Day from within the schools of the Sandhurst Diocese. When these students were called forward at the end of mass it was definitely a sign that big celebrations and gatherings of young people will continue well into the future in Bendigo.

The Cross & Icon remained in the Cathedral for some quiet time of veneration and reflection during the day, and in the evening a mass was held to mark their final day in the Sandhurst Diocese. Many young people attended the mass and participated in the choir and were present to see the Cross & Icon handed over to the Diocese of Parramatta, where the Cross will travel to next.

What an inspiring visit the Cross & Icon have had in the Sandhurst Diocese! So many friendly faces, prayerful events, great preaching from Bishop Joe and communities gathering in their hundreds to see this Cross and witness to the man that carried it for us. It is great to see so many young people preparing to go to Sydney for WYD – I look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday, 13 March

Cross of light greeted in darkness The Cross & Icon’s day began at Kow Swamp in the darkness of the pre-dawn. A community of over 100 people were present to witness the rising of the sun gradually illuminating the sky and revealing a most picturesque location (despite it’s somewhat humble name!)

The photos tell most of the story from the morning’s liturgy, but what was really striking for me was the sense of peace and tranquillity was evident not only in the gift of creation around us, but in those who gathered. It seemed with each minute that passed the scenery changed and something previously invisible became visible to see. What a surprise to realise that we were only a few metres from a paddock of cows and a few hundred metres from the local piggery!

The Cross & Icon were then taken to Bendigo where a liturgy attended by primary and secondary school students took place, after which the symbols were taken to the Bendigo campus of Charles Sturt University. The day’s events ended with an outdoor mass at St Killian’s parish led by the vibrant and energetic young people of the community.

Wednesday, 12 March - Cross & Icon steam up the Murray

Another glorious start to the day this morning at Echuca! A large crowd gathered early underneath the shade of the large gumtrees, which formed together in what looked like huge natural Cathedral. Here we were welcomed by a group of Aboriginal dancers who performed for us and then carried the Cross down to the river where it boarded the Etona Paddle Steamer for a short time, and then the P.S. Adelaide Paddle Steamer for a trip down the river. The Etona (the boat with the cross on it) was used as a floating Church in the early days, reaching out to communities up the river. The P.S Adelaide is the oldest Paddle Steamer in the world that is still in operation!

After a stunning trip up river, local school students spilled of the boat and then processed the Cross & Icon back to the Aquatic reserve where hundreds of other students where being entertained by various performances, including Stations of the Cross.

After lunch everyone gathered for a liturgy with Bishop Joe and students from Brigidine College then processed down to their school for more prayer and music. The Cross & Icon were returned to the Reserve in style - on the back of horse and carriage!

The end of the day was just as spectacular as the start. We closed off with an outdoor Mass underneath the ‘natural Cathedral’, celebrated by Bishop Joe & Father Chris.

Tuesday, 11 March - Shepparton displays the Youth Cross to the town.

Students from Notre Dame College gathered with the Cross and Icon at Victoria Park Lake for morning prayer and breakfast. They then processed passed the skate park and War Memorial to Princess Park for a combined Primary schools gathering.

Here the primary students took part in prayer, reflection and veneration of the cross before enjoying a little Cross Surfing. The Cross and Icon were then processed through town to the Mall and a dramatisation of the Stations of the Cross was preformed. What a powerful witness these students gave to the public!

The Cross continued past the TAFE to Notre Dame for a service with the College students. Here we had an awesome time surfing the Cross three times around the stadium. 

We took the Cross and Icon to Goulburn Valley Hospital and Ave Maria Retirement home and prayed for the sick and elderly of the community.

The day was finished off with a beautiful Mass at St Brendan’s with Bishop Joe and many of the priests from the region. The local young people provided the music and the church was full of such an air of enthusiasm and joy. Different groups in the parish then took turns leading the community in a prayer vigil.

Monday, 10 March - Large public holiday crowds greet the Cross & Icon

What a picturesque start to the day! This morning the Cobram community gathered at Thompson’s Beach where Bishop Joe delivered another inspiring talk before we shared a beautiful BBQ breakfast together. As we then processed towards St Josephs’s Church we were met by a brass band who first led us to an Aged Care facility where we stopped to pray for the sick.

After a liturgy at St Josephs, we jumped into our van bound for another St Josephs at Numurkah. Despite the public holiday a large crowd gathered and participated in our afternoon celebration with the Cross & Icon, which included Benediction and Veneration.

The young people of Numurkah then took to the street, spreading the WYD message as they walked up the main street towards the park for our final prayers and farewell.

The Cross & Icon then visited St Mary’s Church at Mooroopna for a liturgy, and finally St Mel’s Church Shepparton for a street procession followed by Mass.

Saturday, 8 March - Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright witness to Cross of Christ

Today’s events began with the people of Beechworth gathering in the Historic Precinct for a liturgy before processing through the town and concluding with a ceremony outside the church. It was great to hear a past pilgrim speak to the community gathered about her experiences of WYD, and to see her excitement and enthusiasm about WYD being hosted here in Australia.

Fr Chris Ryan shared an insight from the JCI with the people of Beechworth, commenting that often processions with the Cross & Icon take less time than the organisers have allowed. He suggested this is just one more way that we are being told that carrying the Cross of Christ doesn’t hold us back or slow us down in our lives.

Next it was the community of Myrtleford’s turn to host the Cross & Icon, coming together with a barbeque followed by a prayerful liturgy. 

The congregation were privileged to hear from Bishops from the Catholic and Anglican Churches, who encouraged the people present to continue to be a church that lives for the good of the whole world.
A beautiful time of prayerful veneration ensued in the Church, before the Cross & Icon were taken out into the streets of Myrtleford and taken right into the midst of the bustling Myrtleford Festival. It was great to see the youth of Myrtleford witness to their faith in such a bold way by walking through their main street on one of the busiest days of the year.

The day’s events concluded in Bright, where the community processed with the Cross & Icon to locations around town including the cemetery and rotunda before taking the Cross & Icon for mass followed by dinner.

What a fantastic day and an awesome privilege to pray beside, walk beside and celebrate our faith beside the people that we did.

Friday, 7 March - JCI hits the Sandhurst diocese

The community of Tallangatta welcomed the Cross & Icon into the Sandhurst diocese this morning with a lovely liturgy in the Church, where Bishop Joe shared his first encounter with the WYD Cross back in 2000 at Rome. The enthusiastic community then helped process the Cross & Icon to the Anzac War Memorial for an ecumenical service, to pray for all those who lost their lives in service of our country.

St Monica’s Primary School was next to receive the Cross & Icon, along with students from Wodonga Catholic College. A large gathering came together on the school oval where everyone had the opportunity to touch the Cross as it was crowd surfed through the many hands in true rock-star style!

The Cross & Icon where then taken to a memorial in Wodonga where locals remember Mary MacKillop's quick visit to the area back in 1881. Here a Josephite Sister shared a little of Mary MacKillop's life with us, in particular her dedication to her fellow Sisters as she travelled the countryside to visit them.

We then processed to anther significant place in the town – the front of the house in which the first Mass was celebrated in Wodonga, back in 1843.

Final stop for the day was Sacred Heart Church where the community gathered for Mass and a final opportunity for their own personal encounter with the Cross & Icon.

Text and Photos courtesy of the official WYD Journey of Cross & Icon Team blogspot at http://jci-wyd2008.blogspot.com