Written by Administrator.

The Pittwater Pilgrims Return

By Penelope Kerr

This is the final WYD08 update for the six pilgrims to Pittwater. After World Youth Day's Final Mass on Sunday, the Pittwater Solomon Islands Pilgrims spent two days recovering. They went into Randwick Racecourse on the Saturday and slept in the open with approximately a quarter of a million other young people. The Papal Mass was a huge affair which will leave lifetime memories.

On Monday they celebrated Mass at the Maria Regina Church, Avalon, where Bishop Bernard lives. Photos click here. He and the parishioners welcomed them warmly and some parishioners stayed back to join them at Morning Tea in the Presbytery. The rest of the day was spent back "home" at the Shanahans though some of the group walked down to experience the joys of the large supermarket in Mona Vale.

On Tuesday, the six joined with 17 pilgrims from Tennessee in the United States for a cruise on Pittwater. They went onshore for lunch at the Basin, a popular picnic spot, where they were greeted by kangaroos and native birds, quite tame because they are so used to people.

Tuesday night saw the final farewell, an Italian Night in the Parish. See the photos- click here. About 200 people enjoyed great food, good company and even some dancing, though this was limited by the crowded quarters.

The photos tell the story. There was general agreement that the young people had been wonderful ambassadors and that their stay had been a blessing for the Parish. We hope that this visit will lay the groundwork for more exchanges in the years to come.

It was up early on Wednesday to leave at 6am for the plane to Brisbane. There the Hyland family had organised for the young people to be met and looked after until their plane to Honiara the next evening. We have now heard that Rose, Cecilia, John and Dennis have arrived safely with Cletus coming on Saturday, and Joseph in a week's time. The Dominicans at Henderson kindly met them at Honiara and looked after them there.

Many people need to be thanked for their assistance in this "Pittwater- Gizo Spirit Link", particularly Simon Hyland and his family and Michael and Christine Shanahan, the hosts who looked after the group so well, providing much more than just somewhere to sleep- a warm fire, delicious food and medical assistance (Michael is a doctor and Christine a nurse). Adam Ahern and other members of the Soul (Youth) Group stayed with the Pilgrims to provide support and liaison. Adam was sick after WYD finished but even so was up early to go to the airport for the final farewell.

Father Rex Curry, the Parish Priest of Pittwater plush the Parish Council were supportive of this project and Bishop Bernard O'Grady helped make the pilgrims very welcome. The "Fund Raising Committee" consisting of Sue Berg the Chair of the Parish Council, Simon, Adam, David and Penny Kerr organised the fundraising, purchased the tickets and co- ordinated the details of the Pilgrims' stay. The Parish raised in excess of SBD$85,000 to ensure that things would work. Of course none of this would have happened without the support of Bishop Luciano Capelli and of Joseph Lalaubatu and others in Gizo, including Raymond, Beatta and Cletus, after the exodus to Sydney. Tangolo as always worked hard to keep the internet systems up and running and passed on messages when the other systems failed.

We hope that the messages and discoveries of World Youth Day will be spread far and wide by these impressive young people and by those returning from other groups. We hope too that the connection between the Pittwater Parish and Diocese of Gizo will continue so that many more blessings flow through this "Spirit Link".

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