As people in our country become more affluent and overseas travel more simple and affordable, there are more Catholics interested in taking pilgrimages. The idea of the pilgrimage is not a new or a Christian idea. All major religions have pilgrimages as part of their traditional practice of the faith. Perhaps the most well known and established would be the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Meccah, which Muslims are obliged to do if able at least once in their lifetime. Buddhists to the significant places in the life of Buddha and Hindus to holy sites and temples. Pilgrimages are often to sacred places where some significant event took place in their faith.
Pilgrimages were a common practice in the time of Jesus for the Jewish people. There were three great pilgrimage festivals which according to the Law obliged one to offer worship in the Temple in Jerusalem. These were the Passover, the feast of Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was often in Jerusalem to fulfill these obligations and his last pilgrimage to Jerusalem ended with his passion and death.
From the time of the early Church, Christian traditions began to develop and pilgrimages naturally became a part of this. A popular place was the Holy Land, the places of Jesus’ birth and death, later to places associated with the apostles and saints and the tombs of martyrs were particularly significant at this time. Some would even travel to visit a holy monk or hermit to seek spiritual direction or ask his blessing. In the Middle Ages, without efficient transportation, pilgrimages were long, tiring and even dangerous. It could involve months, even years of walking, in all conditions. Each night, the pilgrim might camp outdoors, stay at an inn or find refuge in a monastery before continuing the next day. People went on these pilgrimages sometimes as a form of penance, to ask a favour of God or to fulfill a vow they had made. In later centuries to more modern times, popular pilgrimages include shrines and places of apparitions of Our Lord and Our Lady and also to Rome and the Vatican.
Pilgrimage is not just going somewhere, it is not the same as a holiday. I could visit any number of tourist attractions, the pilgrimage is different. Two things set the pilgrimage apart, it is spiritual and it is symbolic.
When we go on a pilgrimage, we separate ourselves from our daily routine and everyday concerns. In our hectic lifestyle today, that might require us to travel out of the country! Nevertheless, we are going in search of something greater, in search of God and we travel to a place of particular spiritual significance.
Often it is not so much the destination that is important but the journey. And journey in our faith is a powerful symbol. It brings memories of the journey out of Egypt into the Promised Land, the journey of our own life of faith, and our eventual journey back to God.
Perhaps we could reflect on the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. (John 2:13-25) This happened during the time of the Passover pilgrimage. The pilgrimage had become a big business, travel agents, money changers, hotel owners and those selling the animals for sacrifice and other religious goods were more interested in their business and profit than the spiritual. Jesus driving out the vendors, was a purification and that is something we have to do to our motivations. The World Youth Day is a pilgrimage. Why are we going? What are we hoping for? These are questions only we ourselves can answer. But Jesus challenges us to look deep within ourselves.
The World Youth Day pilgrimage is not so significant for its location than the fact that people of faith will be gathered there to celebrate and share the faith and be together to study and pray. In this way, we join with all the pilgrims in the world, all the pilgrims in history who have made the journey, searching for God. We ask God to walk with us on this journey.
Gerard
Hey guys...
This is my 1st post!!! And for the sake of those who do not have a facebook account, here are some of the photos we took on the 21st of July.
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Listening to 'wholeheartedly' to Archbishop. But i guess for Geri, Patrick and Winfrid, the camera managed to tempt you anyway. .jpg)
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SMU peeps singing the theme song of WYD. And yes, many of us don't know the song yet.
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Everyone was so shocked that we actually did the SMU jump on stage. For those who didn't jump, including me, we'll jump in Sydney ok?!
We will be having our last spiritual preparation on the 6th of July after the fundraising event (canteen duty). Do try and make it cause this session will be a whole new experience. You will definitely get to know the people of our contingent better!!!
Love,
Desiree
Above all the excitement as we prepare for World Youth Day, it was here that Bishop reminded us of the mission God calls us to. Our daily mission, be it to help one another, to bring a smile to others, to be a listening ear or to simply love Him more and more each day.
All of us are called to be missionaries. What is the mission that God has called you to in your life?
All in all, I take comfort in the knowing that no matter how heavy and challenging the cross gets at times, GOD is walking alongside me, empowering me always with His strength and love.
Peace,
Samantha
Actual pictures of the accommodation taken in April 2008.
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the itinerary for Benedict XVI's apostolic trip to Australia, released Friday by the Vatican press office.
The highlight of the July 12-21 trip will his participation in the 23rd International World Youth Day.
* * *
Saturday, July 12, 2008
10 a.m. Departure in plane from the Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (Rome) for the airport of Darwin/Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air base.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
9:15 a.m. Arrival at RAAF Military Air Base in Darwin.
Technical stop.
10:30 a.m. Departure by plane from Darwin's RAAF air base to Sydney's Richmond RAAF military base.
3 p.m. Arrival at Sydney's Richmond RAAF Military Air Base airport.
3:15 p.m. By car form Sydney's Richmond RAAF Military Base airport to private residence.
Private time until Thursday morning, July 17, 2008.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
7:30 a.m. Private Mass in chapel of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
9:00 a.m. Welcome ceremony in Sydney's Government House.
Address by the Holy Father.
9:30 a.m. By car from Government House to Sydney's Mary MacKillop Memorial.
9:45 a.m. Prayer visit to Sydney's Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.
10:00 a.m. By car from Mary MacKillop Memorial to Sydney's Admiralty House.
10:15 a.m. Courtesy visit to governor general in Sydney's Admiralty House.
Meeting with prime minister in Sydney's Admiralty House.
11:05 a.m. By car from Admiralty House to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
11:30 a.m. Arrival at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
2:20 p.m. By car from St. Mary's Cathedral House to Sydney's Rose Bay pier.
Brief welcome with traditional dances and songs by a group of Aborigines.
2:45 p.m. Embarkation on "Sydney 2000" ship and travel by sea to Barangaroo's East Darling Harbor pier in Sydney.
Young people's welcome celebration at Sydney's Barangaroo East Darling Harbor.
Address by the Holy Father.
4:45 p.m. By popemobile from Barangaroo East Darling Harbor to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
5:30 p.m. Arrival at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
Friday, July 18, 2008
7:30 a.m. Private Mass in chapel of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
9:30 a.m. Separate private audiences with the governor of New South Wales, the premier of New South Wales and Sydney's mayor, with their respective families, in the reception hall of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
10:25 a.m. On foot from St. Mary's Cathedral House to the crypt of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
10:30 a.m. Ecumenical meeting in the Crypt of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
Address by the Holy Father.
12 noon On foot from St. Mary's Cathedral to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
12:30 p.m. Lunch with young people in the Reception Hall of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
2:55 p.m. On foot from St. Mary's Cathedral House to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
3:00 p.m. Prayer at the start of the Stations of the Cross in the square in front of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
The Holy Father will pronounce the prayer at the end of the First Station and will follow the Stations of the Cross on television from the crypt of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
6:30 p.m. By car from St. Mary's Cathedral to the University of Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church in Sydney.
6:45 p.m. Meeting with a group of disadvantaged youth at the University of Notre Dames' Sacred Heart Church.
Address by the Holy Father.
7:45 p.m. By car from the University of Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
8:00 p.m. Arrival at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
9:00 a.m. On foot from St. Mary's Cathedral House to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
9:30 a.m. Holy Mass with Australian bishops, seminarians and men and women religious novices -- and consecration of the new altar -- at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
Homily by the Holy Father.
11:30 a.m. Return to the sacristy.
11:45 a.m. On foot from St. Mary's Cathedral to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
12:15 p.m. Lunch with the Australian bishops and the papal entourage in the reception hall of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
6:30 p.m. By car from St. Mary's Cathedral House to Sydney's Randwick Racecourse.
7:00 p.m. Vigil with young people at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse.
Address by the Holy Father.
9 p.m. By car from Randwick Racecourse to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
9:30 p.m. Arrival at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
8:30 a.m. By car from St. Mary's Cathedral House to Sydney's Victoria Barracks heliport.
8:45 a.m. Arrival at Sydney's Victoria Barracks heliport.
Embarkation on helicopter to fly over the gathering of young people in the Southern Cross Precinct -- Centennial Park and Randwick Racecourse -- in Sydney.
9:15 a.m. By popemobile from the Victoria Barracks heliport to Sydney's Randwick Racecourse.
Tour in popemobile among young people gathered in the Southern Cross Precinct -- Centennial Park and Randwick Racecourse -- in Sydney.
9:45 a.m. Arrival at the prepared Sacristy in Sydney's Randwick Racecourse.
10:00 a.m. Mass for the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney's Randwick Racecourse.
Homily by the Holy Father.
12:15 p.m. Return to the Sacristy.
12:30 p.m. By car from Randwick Racecourse to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
1:00 p.m. Arrival at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
Lunch with the papal entourage.
6:00 p.m. Meeting with the benefactors and organizers of the 23rd World Youth Day in the reception hall of St. Mary's Cathedral House and in the Chapter Room of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
Address by the Holy Father.
7:00 p.m. On foot from the Chapter Room of St. Mary's Cathedral to Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
Monday, July 21, 2008
7:00 a.m. Mass in private in the Chapel of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral House.
8:35 a.m. Leave from St. Mary's Cathedral House in Sydney.
8:45 a.m. By popemobile from St. Mary's Cathedral House to the Domain.
8:50 a.m. Gretings to the volunteers of the 23rd World Youth Day at the Domain.
Address by the Holy Father.
9:10 a.m. By car from the Domain to Sydney's international airport.
9:30 a.m. Farewell ceremony at Sydney's international airport.
Address by the Holy Father.
10:00 a.m. Departure by plane from Sydney's international airport for Darwin's airport.
1:50 p.m. Arrival at Darwin's airport.
Technical stop.
3:05 p.m. Departure by plane from Darwin's airport to Ciampino in Rome.
11:00 p.m. Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport.
Itinerary for July 12-21 Trip Published
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has "a tight agenda" for his trip to Australia next month, says the coordinator for the 2008 World Youth Day.
Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said this in comments to the press Friday upon the Vatican's publication of the Pope's itinerary for the 23rd International World Youth Day, to be held July 15-20 in Sydney, Australia.
The bishop acknowledged that the Pope "has a very tight agenda on his first visit to Australia," and added that many of the meetings were requests from the Holy Father himself.
"He very much wanted some of the specific meetings that have been planned, to connect with the whole spectrum of Australian youth and of the rest of the world," said Bishop Fisher.
Benedict XVI will begin his journey to Australia on Sunday, July 13, at the Richmond Royal Australian Air Force Base, located northwest of Sydney.
He will then spend a few days resting until Thursday.
The first papal public event will be a welcome ceremony July at Sydney's Government House, after which the Holy Father will visit the Blessed Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.
Sister Mary MacKillop (1842 - 1909), together with Father J.T. Woods, founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She is the only Australian to be beatified.
Benedict XVI will then visit Sydney's Admiralty House, where he will meet Australia's governor general, Major General Michael Jeffery, and meet with the country's prime minister, Kevin Rudd.
Welcome
In the afternoon, the Pope will travel by car to Sydney's Rose Bay, where he will be welcomed with traditional songs and dances by a group of Aborigines.
He will then board the ship "Sydney 2000" and travel by sea to Barangaroo East Darling Harbor, where the Pontiff will deliver his first address to the youth pilgrims.
On Friday, July 18, the Holy Father will grant three private audiences: to Governor Marie Bashir of New South Wales, Premier Morris Iemma, and Mayor Clover Moore of Sydney.
Benedict XVI will then participate in an ecumenical meeting in the crypt of St. Mary's Cathedral before going on to meet with some 40 representatives of other religions -- including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
At midday the Holy Father will have lunch with 12 young people in the reception hall of St. Mary's Cathedral.
In the afternoon, the Pope will participate in the Stations of the Cross, which will begin in the square in front of the cathedral. He will read the prayer after the first station, and will then follow the remaining stations on television from the crypt of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.
In the evening the Pontiff will meet with a group of disadvantaged youth of the rehabilitation community of the University of Notre Dame. The meeting will be held at the university's Sacred Heart Church in Sydney.
Vigil
On Saturday, July 19, Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral with Australian bishops, seminarians and men and women religious novices, and consecrate the new altar. The Mass will be followed by a luncheon attended by the prelates and the papal entourage.
The Pope will leave St. Mary's at 6:30 p.m. for the World Youth Day vigil at Randwick Racecourse. He will deliver his second address to the youth day pilgrims, and will reflect on the theme of the event, "You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You; and You Will Be My Witnesses."
Before the closing Mass on Sunday morning, the Pontiff will do a fly-over in a helicopter above the Southern Cross Precinct -- Centennial Park and Randwick Racecourse. Then by popemobile, he will tour the same area.
The final Mass will begin at 10 a.m., during which the Holy Father will give a homily. After the Mass he will recite the midday Angelus.
In the evening, Benedict XVI will meet with the benefactors and organizers of the youth event at St. Mary's Cathedral.
On Monday, July 21, the Pope will thank World Youth Day volunteers gathered at the Domain in Sydney, and then head to Sydney's international airport for a farewell ceremony.
The Pontiff's flight will depart at 10 am, and after a technical stop in Darwin, will head for the Ciampino airport in Rome.
