WYD Day 2 Blog Coverage (July 16, 2008)
By bluepanjeet on Jul 16, 2008 in World Youth Day
XXIII WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008 CATECHESIS SESSIONS AND YOUTH FESTIVALS
Various Sites
July 16, 2008
Pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day (WYD) spent early today recovering from last night’s events dubbed the Catholic Woodstock, at more than 300 religious services dispersed across the city. The morning services included a “time for silence for reflection” - according to the pilgrims’ official WYD handbook - and it comes after more than 140,000 pilgrims gathered for a Mass, rock concert and fireworks display at the city’s dockside Barangaroo. The pilgrims have been allocated sites where they attended the catechesis services, in most cases at sites close to the churches, schools and halls where they are being accommodated across suburban Sydney. The believers are not expected to congregate again in city’s centre until after lunch, where WYD events include another pilgrimage walk to St Mary’s Cathedral at 2pm (AEST).
Today is also the final rest day for Pope Benedict BXI, who has been staying at a semi-rural retreat in Kenthurst, in the city’s north-west. The 81-year-old pontiff will tour the city tomorrow afternoon, starting with a “boat-a-cade” that will travel along the southern side of Sydney harbour from about 2.45pm. He will address pilgrims again at Barangaroo, before taking to the popemobile for a tour of the city’s streets and up to half a million people are expected to line the route.
A multi-faith event was also held late today at Sydney University. Spokesman Stepan Kerkyasharian said its aim was to “engage young people from all faiths to pray together … for peace and justice for all people around the world”. “Prayers was offered by Australian representatives of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian Maronite, Christian Orthodox, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian faith traditions”, Mr Kerkyasharian said in a statement. The multi-faith service was held @ 4pm at the university’s MacLaurin Hall.
WYD-related road closures remain in place in central Sydney on Hickson Road, College Street and Macquarie Street, southbound between Hunter Street and St James Road. George Street is again closed today between King and Argyle Streets from 10am to midnight, and commuters are urged to use public transport and avoid bringing vehicles into the central city.
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BLOG COVERAGE (Timestamps are Manila time. Philippines is 2 hours behind Australia)
- 8:00 AM - Pilgrims of World Youth Day (WYD) received a second text message of inspiration from the Pope this morning. Today’s message, which got out around 10am (AEST), said: “The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles and gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI.”
- 9:00 AM - Pilgrims tasted the Australian style food package distributed today for breakfast and lunch. While there was chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate to keep the hunger pains away, it was the meat pies and lamingtons that had them praying for more. Sweet-toothed pilgrims also indulged in Caramello Koalas, Cherry Ripes, caramel slices and mandarins.
- 9:06 AM - Organizers of World Youth Day (WYD) say they did not order the removal of homeless people from open spaces in Sydney. But WYD coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said he was not aware such actions had being taken. Bishop Fisher said the Catholic Church had been working with the St Vincent de Paul society and other charities to ensure homeless people would be given privacy and not have people gawking at them or jostling with them for the same places on the same benches.
- 11:26 AM - Bishop Fisher said today that “People should stop “dwelling crankily” on old wounds,” as he faced questions about the Catholic Church’s handling of Melbourne sisters repeatedly raped by a priest. Bishop Fisher, who is World Youth Day (WYD) coordinator, today said the latest controversy was detracting from the celebration of WYD.
- 12:00 PM - Youth Festival commenced in various Locations. Hyde Park and Bodi Beach was the most common site of the program. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal founded by Fr. Benedict Groeschl and is based in New York held a concert at the Famous Bodi Beach coined as “Come to the Waters” wherein many pilgrims were entertained by dancing and singing friars. Some Pilgrims took also the opportunity to take a dip at the beach.
- 4:50 PM - Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in the centre of Sydney ahead of World Youth Day’s “Super Thursday”. After resting for almost four days at a rural retreat, the Pope arrived at St Mary’s Cathedral just after 6.50pm (AEST) today in a motorcade of around 10 white cars, led by three police motorbikes. He will spend the rest of his time in Australia at St Mary’s Cathedral House, Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell’s official residence. The motorcade took about 45 minutes to travel from the Opus Dei-run retreat at Kenthurst, on Sydney’s north-western outskirts.
- 6:03 PM - Health authorities say there have been outbreaks of influenza among World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims at a number of Sydney locations. NSW Health today confirmed reports pilgrims attending the week-long Catholic event staying at Oakhill College at Castle Hill and Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush have influenza. Control measures had been implemented at the sites, NSW Health acting chief health officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said in a statement late today.
- 7:33 PM - A South African Catholic cardinal says the rampant HIV infection rate in Africa would not change if the church ordered its faithful to use condoms during sex. Speaking on the SBS Dateline program tonight while visiting Sydney for World Youth Day, Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier said he had long been opposed to the use of condoms to prevent HIV. When asked why the church had not instructed its followers to use condoms to slow the spread of HIV, he said such a call would make little difference.
- 8:00 PM - Youth Festival officially ended as pilgrims trek back to their homes for tommorow’s super thurday event with the Pope.
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