SYD WYD 2008: In the Eyes of the Pilgrims (Irene)

Hi Nanette,

Thanks so much for sharing your SYD WYD 2008 experience. I am so envious with you and Irene and all our brethren and sisters who were and are fortunate to experience this WYD 08 (even if are no longer "Youthful", but I am sure very youthful inside!).

Irene and workmates were at the crowd of well wishers at the parade yesterday as well. Funny, they were testing their mobile phone cameras so they can take a photo of the Pope and the Pope mobile as it passes. She said all you can see are the myriad hands with cameras and what not. When the Pope mobile whizzed thru, no one in their contingent managed to get a picture. It was that fast! I think I got a better view on the news on TV. I guess being there; the experience would be totally different....

Mar

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The Three Sisters with the Pope

Auntie Chit messaged (SMS) my wife if she wants to come to the Sunday mass of the SYD WYD 2008 at Randwick. She said she could get extra tickets as she was a "homestay" host. At first she was lukewarm to the idea, as they were not on speaking terms. I told my wife that this might be the her way of making up with her. She relented and called her back. They spoke of Auntie Chit's recent travel to the Philippines and she said it would be good for them to go to this mass. Especially since the Pope would be celebrating.

So last Sunday, together with their other sister, they met up at Central and trekked by foot to Randwick to join the more that 400,000 pilgrims. Although the walk was pleasant enough, it took them more than an hour to get there. From what my wife tells me, it seems that the whole "ordeal" was an experience she could not forget.

According to her, there was this eerie spirituality with the whole experience. A pilgrimage of sorts with her two other sisters, as if they were being egged on by their late mother: to forget past differences and hear the Pope's message in this historical ode to young Catholics. I am sure the more than 12 hours makes up for the past conflict they had. Her mother, I am so sure; is only too glad to see her three daughters on this pilgrimage!

SYD WYD 2008: In the Eyes of the Pilgrims (Nanette)

"The Papal Boat", part of the Papal boat-a-cade. Photo courtesy of Manny Placido.

"Hi Mar and Irene,

I joined the many pilgrims yesterday to see the Pope. It was just a fantastic experience to just be there amongst the crowd. To see so many young people have the kind of faith that they have is very uplifting. It makes you think that "Hey, the next generation will be in safe hands after all".

I went with my friend Lorna. We had tickets that got us inside Barangaroo. We were supposed to go to Gate 1 which was at the end of Kent Street at the Rocks. It should not really have been a long walk but because we did not know where the entrance to each gate was, we ended up taking the longest route passing through all the gates, ie. from Gate 25 (I think) down to Gate 1.

Nonetheless it was a pleasant walk, as we were greeted warmly by the many volunteers. Along the way, we met friends who were actually volunteers. There was actually one volunteer who told Lorna and me, "You are nearly there..." I told Lorna, "We must look very tired to her". :)

We walked with the pilgrims who were singing songs, cheering and chanting. How I wished I knew the songs.

When we reached our designated area which was Gate 1, Area A, Section 7, we saw a Filipino contingent. Lorna and I went across to them and spoke to a group of young boys aged 16 and over. They were calling us Titas (Aunties) and were telling us their experiences so far. How they are feeling the cold and how they did not know initially where they were going to stay as the school they were billeted had double bookings. So from Bossley Park, they were moved to Meadowbank. Some members of the group were asleep but the boys we were talking to were very jovial. You knew that they were happy to be part of such a momentous event.

I was told that the Philippines had 2700 delegates to WYD, bigger than the number of delegates from the rest of the Asian countries combined. The Cross, I was told, originated from UST and that the Pope mobile was made in the Philippines. At least this was what my Tita Pat said.

The crowd, arriving at Barangaroo, got bigger and bigger. Being young, they were noisy but you can say it was a happy, friendly noise if you know what I mean. There were nuns (some looked really young) and priests (good looking ones I must say).

With the crowds increasing, Lorna and I were worried about not being able to quickly get out when the Pope leaves so we decided to leave the area even before the Pope arrived and find a good vantage point instead. And we did found one at Argyle Road, atop Hickson Road.

From there we could see the stage, the big screens and heard the songs, etc. There was a big crowd where we were too, mostly office workers in the area, police, children with their mums, young adults and many more.

When the Pope arrived, everyone cheered and though we may have been in a different area, we knew that we were one with the crowd. We participated in the prayers, in the singing, in everything.

I may have switched off a bit when the Pope was delivering his speech as I could not hear some parts. When the Pope blessed the crowd, you have this feeling that you were really among those people blessed.

We knew the Pope was going on his Pope mobile along George St, but from where we were standing, Lorna and I really did not know where to go. We just decided to go to George St from Argyle St. Lorna had a bit of a sore leg so in my attempt to get to George St, I ran as I've never run before and in doing so, I unintentionally left Lorna behind. And you know what, just as we reached the end, the Pope passed. I thought that was amazing and I was waving like a lunatic.

Believe it or not, the Pope mobile was speeding (no speeding tickets issued though) but I think it was because they were behind schedule. It was a fantastic experience and I am just glad I was part of it.

I saw Pope John Paul when he was in Sydney. I don't remember what year that was but I was working in North Sydney then. He was in the Pope mobile and I saw him from our office window. Though I may have been far, you still felt his presence. I guess Pope John Paul had a special aura about him.

Anyway, I consider myself blessed that I got to see them both right here in Sydney!"

:) Nanette

(Barangaroo is located in East Darling Harbour, to read the full text of the Pope's speech, click here.)

SYD WYD 2008: In the Eyes of the Pilgrims (Manny)

From the Matilda, "Approaching Barangaroo". Photo courtesy of Manny Placido.

"Hi All,

Firstly, Sis Nanette's account below captured it all.

Secondly, what I forgot to tell you beforehand is that, as home stay hosts, your Sis Dodo and I were selected to be part of the flotilla accompanying the Papal boat on the Papal boat-a-cade.

Amongst an escort of about 10 big boats (plus a big collection of smaller boats and police jet-skis), we were at the Matilda yesterday. At the Matilda, we found Bro Dan and Sis Amy on the upper deck with some friends.

We also saw Chito and Pilar Perez.

On the way to the bridge, the sun is right in front of us so it's difficult to take (good) pictures - but here's some (see above picture) taken using Rosanna's camera. Your Sis Dodo has taken more (and perhaps better) pics with her camera."

Manny

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Thanks Bro Manny for the pictures, especially sharing your experiences at the boat-a-cade!

Also I have to mention that aside from you guys, Bro Jack and Sis Elvie Sta Maria are also hosting some pilgrims. I believe their "pilgrims" are from Italy.

Sweet!

My sweet tooth got the better of me. Mom made me banana and sweet potato (kamote) in sugar syrup. Served hot with cold milk, brought back childhood memories.

Marlo at Three (I Think!)

That's Pappy at, I think at three years old. Does he look like Aiyee?

Marlo is what my family calls me or "Pappy" by my three grandsons.

Huggable Kallen

Don't you just love these cute t-shirts: "I'm A Hug Waiting To Happen!"

My Honey is on Facebook

Finally, my honey is on Facebook and networking!

That is the photo she chose for her Facebook site, taken on a P&O cruise last February 2008. She's wearing one those Indian (Hindu) traditional dress bought when we visited Fiji. A friend, Odeng, and her bought a dress (with pants, and not a Sari) each to wear on one of the formal nights on board the cruise ship Pacific Dawn. Well, as expected they were a hit.

Aiyee Soccer Picture

I think Aiyee is more handsome, after all he looks more like his Pappy!

Just kidding Jay...

Jaylen Soccer Picture

Just showing off this handsome picture of Jay. He looks like his dad.

Journey of Faith: SYD-WYD 2008

In less than a fortnight, Sydney will be transformed by the hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims participating in discovering and rediscovering their Christian faith in Sydney's World Youth Day 2008. The SYD WYD 2008 (click for my previous blog!) will be held from 15 to 20 July at the Randwick race horse tracks and other various Sydney venues.

My friend, Nanette and Bob just picked up a distant niece from the airport the other day. One of the many thousands of young men and women on the pilgrimage. Her name is Ina, from San Francisco, California. Together with another fifteen youngsters, they flew to Adelaide (what a fitting place, the "city of churches") this morning spending time on outback Australia: "... experiencing God in the outback as she (Ina) puts it."

According to Nanette, "She (Ina) has a bubbly personality and gets along well with Nicole and Mikey. Last night, they spent hours just talking.. in Mikey's room... and practicing her Australian accent on them. Nicole told her she needs more practice. She cracks up at all of Nicole's jokes."

Ina's mom emailed her the following, with the title: "Trust in the Lord Jesus"

"Tomorrow you will be joining a pilgrim. It's a journey together with some of the students where you will travel OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. You will walk for miles and miles to reach your destination in search of God's LOVE and MERCY. You will experience a once in a lifetime journey in search of the TRUTH. The truth that there is GOD. Whatever hardships you encounter along the way, trust that GOD is with you and has always been ever since you were born. He will be with you along the way. Trust in the Lord Jesus.

Love,

Mom"

(Photo credit, MJB - taken at Glebe's St James Catholic Church, love Sydney's sandstones in most heritage buildings and churches.)