I came across some facts and figures that I thought may be of interest?

• 70,000 international pilgrims took part in Days of the Diocese throughout Australia during the week before WYD08
• 150,000 attended the Opening Mass at Barangaroo and CBD sites
• In excess of 400,000 people attended the Final Mass at Southern Cross Precinct
• 500,000 people came out to welcome His Holiness on Thursday 17 July on the Boat-a-cade, Official Arrival at Barangaroo and Motorcade
• 223,000 people registered for pilgrim services during WYD08 (110,000 international pilgrims + 113,000 local pilgrims)
• Over 170 nations were represented at World Youth Day Sydney 2008
• 168 international flags took part in the Procession of Flags at the WYD08 Opening Mass
• 6,000 blankets were donated by Qantas to pilgrims from across Oceania
• 37 lucky Burmese pilgrims overcame VISA difficulties to finally make it to Sydney for WYD08
• At the WYD Big Aussie BBQ, 220,000 slices of bread were consumed - if laid end to end, it would cover the Sydney Harbour Bridge 21 times
• 100,000 pilgrims slept in 400 schools and parishes

Up to 500,000 people thronged the streets and waterways of Sydney to officially welcome the Holy Father to Australia.  In his opening speech at the welcoming celebration in Barangaroo, East Darling Habour, Pope Benedict XVI gave a special welcome to the pilgrims from England and Wales, recognising the distinct role that the British, particularly its religious brothers and sisters had played in the history of Australia over recent centuries.

“Today, we think of those pioneering priests, sisters and brothers who came to these shores, and to other parts of the Pacific, from Ireland, France, Britain and elsewhere in Europe.  The great majority were young – some still in their late teens – and when they bade farewell to their parents, brothers and sisters, and friends, they knew they were unlikely ever to return home.  Their whole lives were a selfless Christian witness.  They became the humble but tenacious builders of so much of the social and spiritual heritage which still today brings goodness, compassion and purpose to these nations.  And they went to inspire another generation.”

The British pilgrims couldn’t contain their excitement about seeing the Holy Father:

“When a few voices exclaimed - “It’s the Pope!” - I think that it was only at that point that I realised just how much I was looking forward to seeing him,” said Rebecca Coyne from Wales.  “I stood up, like thousands of others, and saw his image broadcast on the large screens in front of us.   I was amazed that I was actually looking at the smiling face of  Pope Benedict XVI!  After he arrived,  he spoke to us all, he laughed, joked and blessed us.  I’m glad that I saw him in the flesh because now he is a real person to me.”

Speaking before the opening celebration, David Smeeth-Cardy from East Anglia said that meeting Popes’ was a family tradition: “My aunt once received Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II.  Other members of my family have also met him.  I don’t think that I’ll get that close (to Pope Benedict XVI), but it will be inspiring to hear him speak.”

We have had Mass every day whilst we’ve been in Australia, but it has never been like the Mass we had with Cardinal Pell! Approximately 150,000 pilgrims attended Barangaroo (the site set aside for the Mass in Sydney)

The warm weather and gorgeous Sydney harbour as a backdrop left everyone in awe as the sun went down during the proceedings. Although, towards the end, it did start to get a little chilly!

After an official indigenous welcome, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said “too often when young people travel in large numbers, it’s for war. But you have come here as pilgrims of peace.” The response was loud and encouraging!

In addition there was a 168-flag procession and the walk-in of the WYD Cross, Icon and Indigenous Message Stick, Cardinal Pell welcomed the international pilgrims in four languages – English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Joined by 26 Cardinals, 400 Bishops, a 300-person youth Choir, and an 80-piece orchestra, his Homily focused on the fruitfulness of commitment. He addressed us saying “Don’t spend your life sitting on the fence, keeping your options open, because only commitments bring fulfilment. Happiness comes from meeting our obligations, doing our duty, especially in small matters and regularly, so we can rise to meet the harder challenges.” It was the topic of conversation for most of the evening!

The pictures in the Sydney papers this morning are fantastic- unfortunatley my ones are no where near as vast, but I hope they gove you an idea.

Wednesday

Wednesday sees our catechesis sessions and there will be a Reconciliation service in the afternoon with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Bishops’ Alan Hopes and Bernard Longley. It is really nice that they join us and lead us for these events!

On Thursday we are looking forward to the arrival of the Pope in Sydney- apparently we have good tickets and should be able to see quite well! Hope that all is well back home, as the pilgrimage becomes more focused and prayerful in tone you are all in our prayers.

The official World Youth Day program contains a week-long program of events, and in the year and week prior, a number of lead-up events.

The Journey of the Cross & Icon is the major lead up event for World Youth Day 2008. The Journey commenced on 1 July 2008 and will continue through until 15 July 2008. You can follow the journey on our website, by checking the itinerary, reading the blog and checking the photo gallery.

From Thursday 10 to Monday 14 July, dioceses in Australia will host pilgrims for Days in the Diocese. The Youth of the world to join local communities in prayer and celebration, to experience Australia beyond Sydney, to help renew the Church in the places they visit, as well as to receive Australian hospitality.

Below is a snapshot of the WYD08 week. As the event draws closer, we will include further information on how you can participate in the events.

Tuesday 15 July 2008

• Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell: 4.30-6.30pm at Barangaroo
• Youth Festival events : 2 - 10pm (except during Opening Mass) at Sydney CBD locations

Wednesday 16 - Friday 18 July 2008

• Catechesis (teaching) sessions: 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm at over 250 locations across Sydney
• Youth Festival events : 2-10pm at Sydney CBD locations

Thursday 17 July 2008

• Catechesis (teaching) sessions: 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm at over 250 locations across Sydney
• Papal Arrival via Boat-a-cade and welcome of the Pope on Sydney Harbour.Commences at 2.45pm on Sydney Harbour and at Barangaroo
• Youth Festival events : 2 - 10pm (except during Papal Arrival) at Sydney CBD locations

Friday 18 July 2008

• Catechesis (teaching) sessions: 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm at over 250 locations across Sydney
• Stations of the Cross - a re-enactment of the last moments of Jesus’ life: 3-6pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Domain
• Youth Festival events : 2 - 10pm (except during Stations of the Cross) at Sydney CBD locations

Saturday 19 July 2008

• Pilgrimage walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse: 5.30am starting at Sydney Harbour Bridge through city to Southern Cross Precinct
• Evening Vigil with the Pope and sleep out ‘under the stars’: 7.00pm-9.00pm at Randwick Racecourse

Sunday 20 July 2008

• Papal motorcade commencing in Centennial Park at 9am
• Final Mass celebrated by the Pope: 10am at Southern Cross Precinct, Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park
• Announcement of next host city: 12.15pm
• Youth Festival events : 12.30-5pm at Southern Cross Precinct, Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park

Hello and welcome to the Diocese of Westminster’s 2008 World Youth Day (WYD) blog! Before we begin this online adventure, we want to introduce ourselves. My name is Fiona Paley and my fellow blogger is Ross Kempsell.

I’m 22 and work in Archbishop’s House in the Communications Office and Ross is 16 years of age and studies at The John Henry Newman School in Hertfordshire. Every weekend he attends Mass at Westminster Cathedral. We are part of the Communications Team for the Diocese of Westminster. Also part of the team is Dunstan Pugh and Claz Gomez- who will be helping with many of the pictures and videos that you can also find on the Dicoese of Westminster WYD site.

For now however, it’s over to Ross who will explain the blog and our role in more detail!

“I’m a World Youth Day Communications Officer with the Diocese of Westminster, which means that as well as taking part in WYD 2008 as a pilgrim, I also have a role to promote the event in the media and within the Catholic community, keeping people informed about what’s happening on the ground. And that’s really what this blog is all about!

Over the next two weeks or so, we hope to bring you news, features and insight into a Westminster pilgrim’s experiences of World Youth Day. Aiming to blog daily, I’ll be posting written coverage of everything about the Westminster group, including major liturgies, personal stories, tales from our travels and the low down on my time spent living with an Australian family. Through this site you’ll also be able to access video and still photography of the event posted by my fellow Communications Officers. It’s almost as good as being there!

So then, from a wet and rainy London, that’s all for now! Keep checking back for more!

Ross