Solomon 6 to Pittwater for WYD08
We know the parents are wondering about how the youth are going here in Australia. They are spread all over Sydney and most of them will probably not meet other groups unless they happen to see each other at the big Papal Mass or some other event. There could be as many as 500,000 at the Papal Mass. This is the same as the population of the whole Solomon Islands, all in one place!
We can tell you about the six pilgrims sponsored by Pittwater Parish on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
You can see photographs of them here (all except Dennis John who has been in bed, sick). It is best to click on full-screen slide show. There will be a delay the first time because your computer will automatically download what is called a "Java Applet":
Many pilgrims had a very difficult time in Honiara before setting out for WYD08. Approvals for Australian visas were a big problem and many of these only arrived on the day of travel. There was a lot of "behind the scenes" work to get the visas issued.
Our pilgrims were met at Brisbane Airport by Robert and Veronica Hyland, parents of our Parish Youth Minister plus daughter and son-in-law. They looked after them really well, gave them tracksuits and bought them gloves, socks, scarves and "beanies" (woolen hats) to keep out the cold. Brisbane is about 7degrees overnight and up to 23degrees in the day. Sydney is down to about 7 degrees at night and to 20degrees in the days. However, it is much colder 50kM inland from where we are and where many of the Honiara pilgrims are staying.
The six staying in our parish are being kept very busy even before WYD starts tomorrow, Tuesday 15th of July.
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In general they are doing well. Dennis John has been sick with a fever but is now a great deal better. He was well looked after because the husband where they are all staying is a doctor, the wife a nurse. He was taken to the Medical Centre for another opinion, but mainly needed to be warm and quiet. Dennis missed out on a couple of events but the good news is that he is on the road to recovery in good time for World Youth Day itself. A couple of others had a slight cough or sore throat but nothing to worry about.
The Shanahans (Michael & Christine) are looking after the Solomon-6 plus two members of the Soul Group who are taking it in turns to look after the 6. They are doing a fantastic job and going "beyond the call of duty" in their care and concern. As well as feeding everyone, they are taking them places, helping them to understand Sydney and also looking after them as well as a mother and father would do.
Everyone is feeling the cold so as soon as they arrived they went to a big St Vincent De Paul shop where they were able to choose warm clothes. A parishioner also donated some very smart new jackets, very good as wind breakers but needing something warm underneath. The pilgrims are now quite well set up and today were looking quite comfortable.
The Parish gave each visitor a 27 photo camera and we will have the photos developed before they return home to the Solomons. However, they used up the cameras in the first couple of days! So, we are ordering one more camera each and these will have to last until the end of the event. We have also given each pilgrim Aus$100 spending money. However, everything is being provided.
On Friday and Saturday the SI Youth joined with others from our Diocese, Broken Bay, for Days in the Diocese on the Central Coast North of Sydney. Reports are that there were good things happening, especially on the second day when ours met some Pilgrims from PNG and enjoyed a chance to get together in pidgin. One problem at these days is that it was very, very cold especially in the evening when the sun went down. All events were outside. The temperature fell to minus 3 degrees- can you imagine that?
On Sunday everyone slept in, then warmed up by joining with our local youth to climb to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, which is the symbol of our Diocese (and is located in our own Parish). They had a chance of a guided tour and had magnificent views from the top. Bishop Bernard O'Grady joined them for a picnic afterwards. This was of course followed by a soccer match which enabled the Gizo youth to shine, though some of the locals (including the local girls) were quite good. Rose and Cecilia didn't play soccer but played around with a rugby ball. By the end of the day, everyone was at last feeling warm enough to take off their jackets!
Sunday night is the youth (Soul) Mass in our Parish and this Sunday was a special welcome to the Solomon Islands group. Bishop Bernard concelebrated, the Solomon Island Flag was prominent, the Pilgrims looked very smart in their WYD tops and Cletus Junior (guitar and singing) and Joseph (singing) combined impressively to contribute "Behold the Lamb of God" before Communion. Each of the Pilgrims was introduced by Bishop Bernard, and they then presented the Parish with the beautiful carving which Cletus explained and which was placed on the altar for Mass. So many
parishioners went up to look more closely after Mass- it is hard to describe how overwhelmed we were by receiving such a meaningful and thoughtful gift.
Thank you very much.
There was Kai Kai after Mass- a barbecue with the Parish Family.
And so to today, a bit more relaxed as WYD proper starts tomorrow. We were to go sailing on our boat but it was raining in the morning so we decided instead to go to the movies and have lunch at McDonalds. We stayed very warm in the movie theatre and everyone seemed to enjoy "Mongol", a film about Genghis Khan.
So, everyone seems to be fit and looking forward to the "real event". We may catch up with Archbishop Adrian Smith tonight but otherwise have had no contact with the other Solomon Island Pilgrims.
Best wishes to you all,
Penny & Dave Kerr