World Youth Day08 Is Here!

After so much preparatory work, we have finally made the pilgrimage to WYD08. The WYD08 opening day is today in Sydney!

My family and I have been in Sydney for the Regnum Christi "Youth & Family Encounter," that was held over the past weekend.

It was a great way to usher in World Youth Day with testimonies from Regnum Christi members and the families Legionary of Christ's priests.

We soaked up some of the pre-WYD events like Sunday Mass with Cardinal Pell. National Nine News caught us meeting Cardinal afterwards.

You can see it by clicking on the link below. It is titled "Pilgrims Turn Out In Force"- July 14, 2008. http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-AU&brand=ninemsn&vid=b807b11a-1343-4c9f-9b0b-4940dbdce339 (If you are unable to click the link, please copy and paste the URL in the browser to watch the video.).

We also caught an intimate and very lively concert in Hyde park with Guy Sebastian.

Walking along our 4 year old daughter was taken up in the chants of the pilgrims and on our way home she burst into the same song and clapping her hands she sang "Bene-disco, clap clap.." How gorgeous!

Back home now, there is so much happening around WYD it is hard to keep up. The news services are running WYD as their top story and it is hard to imagine anyone in Australia missing out on the Good news.

"Watch this space:"

Ruth Russell appeared on morning TV talking at length about her life of chastity under a story title "no sex before marriage." She spoke so eloquently and powerfully about this topic so dear to our youthful hearts. Many youth are experiencing the joy and freedom that chastity brings or conversely the heart break and confusion that sexual activity before marriage brings. What would you rather choose? Any comments?

Praise God for WYD and the opportunity is has brought for young Catholics and the Church leaders to present a clear and sensible message to Australia- a message for all to hear. (...and they say the faith is out of touch! In every new age, it is more relevant, meaningful and give s us direction.)

Regnum Christi has covered our story on their website. You can read it- and other testimonies by clicking on the link below.
http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?se=364&ca=198&te=782&id=20871

When all the local pilgrims return to Adelaide we will hear from Regnum Christi's priest John Bullock LC who has come to Australia for WYD from America. He wants to come to Adelaide to help set out hearts and minds on a path to follow our WYD inspirations and help us to connect with what WYD meant to us personally. He is a real heart searcher so keep up the prayers so you can hear what Our Lord is asking you!

For more updates on post WYD08 activities in Adelaide please visit http://www.cathyouthadelaide.org.au/

Vietnamese Pilgrim's Adelaide Welcome

The Vietnamese Christian Community in Pooraka, Adelaide has raised over $26,000 to support pilgrims from Vietnam to visit Adelaide and pilgrimage onto Sydney for WYD08.

Unite Adelaide members were invited to join celebrations on Monday July 7 at the community centre due to their support and for initiating the project.

This is when we met the Vietnamese pilgrims for the first time. Sr Marie (in photo with Sally and Paul) is the pilgrim group leader. She has worked very closely to Binh and the youth leaders from the Vietnamese Christian Community here in Adelaide for the past 9 months to arrange their pilgrimage.

We were thanked by the beautiful performances by the sisters and pilgrims.

The following Wednesday was more informal. This provided up with a wonderful chance to get to know the pilgrims a bit more. We were struck by their joy and purity. They also know how to have a lot of fun!

I can just imagine what the bus ride to Sydney will be like. I hope the pilgrims have a most blessed time in Sydney and take with them the spirit of World Youth Day to their homeland.

Catherine's Official webpage is launched

Go to http://www.goanextramile.org:80/ to visit Catherine's official webpage.

Soiree Fundraiser for World Youth Day

Soiree for Tiwi Islanders' pilgrimage to WYD08

Never before have local musicians Eugene Raggio, Bethany Hookway, Arthur Siow, Paul d'Assumpcao and Karolina Gasparovic come together to perform their favourite pieces.

The exciting afternoon soiree raised over $1000.00 for the pilgrim partner support program.

Guests enjoyed a glass of wine, canapes, tea, coffee and cakes for over 2 hours at the Dulwich hall last Sunday afternoon, May 25.

Sponsors included local produce from the Dulwich Bakery & Panini Brothers at Newton, decor from Silverearth & raffle prizes from Jooki, House (Norwood), Impulse Boutique, Dulwich Meats, The Sauce Restaurant, GG's, Floral Collections & Tony & Mark's, Newton.

The highlight of the event was of course the musicians, their talent & passion.

The atmosphere was uplifting and we shared in the blessings God has for those who work in His vineyard.

Thanks goes to the musicians who spent many hours practising and for donating their talents for the cause.

Thanks also goes to the the Dulwich parish, sponsors, helpers & all who donated to the cause.

PPSP Warm Clothing Dilemma

Many pilgrims coming to Australia for the first time will not believe how cold it is here in July.



In July 2007, the overnight temperature in Sydney got down as low as 3.7 degrees. This will be a shock to the 200,000 + pilgrims planning an overnight sleep out in the middle of Randwick racecourse.



Pilgrims coming from Palau, Vanuatu and other pacific countries do not own warm clothing because all year round in their country, they enjoy summer warmth.



As a part of the Pilgrim Partner Support Program (PPSP) Vinnies is looking at supplying pilgrims with warm clothing.



Talks are bringing together possibilities to supply pilgrims with clothing from a central store in Sydney and an outpost in Darwin.



This will comfort many pilgrims in their plight to attend WYD08 due to the enormous cost of travel already being outlaid.



The number of pilgrims set to attend WYD has markedly dropped after initial pledges due to such costs.



Stephen Crittenden’s April 2, 2008, Religion Report states “Thirty-seven-thousand young people from the United States registered their interest initially, but fewer than 20,000 are expected to actually make the journey now. The Americans are blaming the high airfares. And of course the higher the cost of travel, the more likely that World Youth Day will be a jamboree for rich kids, and the less likely that it will truly reflect the African, Latin American and Asian diversity of the worldwide Catholic church."



It has become an important focus of WYD organisers to keep the doors to WYD08 open to all youth of the universal church, rich & poor. Efforts around Australia to reach PPSP targets testifies to the open & generous heart of the church, our authentic focus on social justice and a commitment to the future church in Oceania & Australasia.



Organisations such as Vinnies are making all this possible.



Keep up the good work!


See the comment posted for post WYD08 updates!

Vietnamese Pilgrims come to Adelaide for WYD08

Our pilgrim partners for WYD08.




So far 20 pilgrims from Vietnam have been sponsored to attend World Youth Day.

This photo shows some of the youth at Mass in the Beatitudes Community in Vietnam.





The Vietnamese Christian Community Parish in Pooraka, South Australia will host the pilgrims during Adelaide's Days in the Diocese and travel together to Sydney for WYD08.

Fundraising efforts have provided funds for all the Vietnamese pilgrims to attend WYD. We are looking forward to meeting the pilgrims when they arrive in Adelaide for Days in the Diocese.

Thank you to the parish priests in Adelaide who supported our campaign and to their generous parishioners.

Thank you to all those who helped the campaign and provided the fundraising products.

We are also pleased to announce that the soiree in support of the Tiwi Islander pilgrims was successful and all those desiring to attend WYD from the 'top end' are provided for!

Thanks to the sponsors of the soiree, the musicians and all who attended!

Please email us at uniteadelaide@gmail.com

Go An Extra Mile's Story

Go An Extra Mile

Most feel some apprehension at the thought of driving to Sydney, but uni student Catherine Burke plans to go one step (or pedal) further and do it on her bicycle. In a colossal fund-raising ride, Catherine will pedal out of Adelaide in late June 2008, making it to Sydney in time for World Youth Day. The ride will raise funds to bring a group of pilgrims from Vietnam to Adelaide for Days in the Diocese and then on to Sydney for WYD. The project will also support Indigenous pilgrims from Melville and Bathurst Islands to come to World Youth Day. Catherine will visit towns and parishes along the way, building support for WYD. Her journey has been split into individual miles which can be bought by parishes and individuals wishing to contribute to the cause. Behind the ride is diocesan group Unite Adelaide, which runs monthly meetings for young adults. Unite Adelaide aims to send a group of youth to visit the pilgrim partners in their home parishes to mark the 1 year anniversary of World Youth Day in 2009.

Email us at www.uniteadelaide@gmail.com for more or add your comment to support the mission.

Catherine's Sponsorship Road Map

Go An Extra Mile for WYD08 pilgrims !

Catherine Burke cycles to World Youth Day08

to raise awareness for WYD & money for the Pilgrim Partner Support Program.

You can sponsor Catherine!

Sunday June 22, 2008
Adelaide to Nurioopta 73km (via Pooraka)
Adelaide Cathedral, Pooraka, Gawler,
Nurioopta.

Monday June 23
Nurioopta to Waikerie 62km


Tuesday June 24
Waikerie to Renmark 79kms (via Berri 3 hours)

Day of rest Wednesday


Thursday June 26
Renmark to Mildura 142km

Day of rest Friday

Saturday June 28
Mildura to Balranald 174km

Sunday June 29
Balranald to Hay 131km

Monday June 30
Hay to Narrandera 172km

Day of rest Tuesday

Wednesday July 2
Narrandera to Wagga Wagga 95km

Day of rest Thursday

Friday July 4
Wagga Wagga to Gundagai 83km

Saturday July 5
Gundagai to Yass 101km

Sunday July 6
Yass to Goulburn 83km

Day of rest Monday

Tuesday July 8
Gouldurn to Bowral 80 kms

Wednesday July 9
Bowral to Fairfield 90 kms

Day of rest Thursday

Friday July 11
Fairfield to Sydney 34 kms

About Catherine

JORDANNA SCHRIEVER, May 19, The Advertiser writes:

While most young people flocking to Sydney for the Catholic celebration will use faster modes of transport, Ms Burke, 26, plans to cycle the 1600km trip.

"I kept wondering what I could do for World Youth Day, I kept asking myself how I could help raise awareness," Ms Burke said.

Realising her love for cycling – the Irish expatriate has never owned a car – Ms Burke decided to pair this passion with raising money to help young pilgrims from the Tiwi Islands and Vietnam make the journey to Sydney. The event will bring Pope Benedict to Australia for the first time.
"It's one of the best opportunities a young person can have – the whole idea of being in one place for the same reason of being close to God will be invigorating," Ms Burke said.

World Youth Day is expected to bring 225,000 young Catholic pilgrims from across the world to Sydney. Ms Burke plans to leave Adelaide in the last week of June and arrive in Sydney on July 15, her 27th birthday and the first day of World Youth Day celebrations, which end on July 20. "It's about the journey of getting there too," Ms Burke said.

She will travel with a support car carrying supplies and her two sisters.

Chairwoman of Adelaide's World Youth Day Coordinating Committee Anne Rhodes said Ms Burke's effort would help raise awareness about World Youth Day.

"Catherine's bike ride is one of a number of creative activities associated with World Youth Day coming out of the Archdiocese of Adelaide," Ms Rhodes said.

"We are pleased to be supporting Catherine as she prepares to raise the awareness of young people to World Youth Day."

All fundraising to bring about 20 Tiwi Island and Vietnamese children to the World Youth Day celebrations closes on June 1.

Any money Ms Burke raises beyond that date will be used to cover her overheads.

For more information or to make a donation go to http:// goanextramile.blogspot.com

If you want to become more involved in the pilgrimage to WYD08, you don't even need to leave home! Journey with Catherine in this blog.

If you want to sponsor Catherine email us www.uniteadelaide@gmail.com to register your sponsorship.