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/