The
World Youth Day Cross and Icon of the Virgin Mary have,
for the first time, arrived on Australian soil on Sunday 1 July!
Gathered
early in the morning at the QANTAS jet base at Sydney Airport were
about 50 young Australians representing the Catholic dioceses and
movements from all around the country. A Boeing 767 brought the sacred
cargo to the Australian people from New Zealand across the Tasman Sea.
There was a moving ceremony
and press conference attended by Archbishop Wilson, president of the
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference; Archbishop Dew, president of
the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference; Bishop Anthony Fisher,
WYD08 Coordinator; the Hon. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia;
and the Hon. Morris Iemma, Premier of New South Wales.
As the rear doors of the
Boeing 767 opened, our brothers and sisters from New Zealand carried
the 3.8 metre-high simple wooden Cross and the 15 kilogram Icon of
Jesus and His Mother off the plane, to the great applause and delight
of all. A traditional Maori farewell was followed by a traditional
Aboriginal dance to welcome these significant symbols of Christ’s and
Mary’s love to Australia.
The moment we had all been
waiting has arrived when the youth of New Zealand entrusted the Cross
and Icon into the care of young Australians, and so the year-long
pilgrimage around our island continent and countdown towards World
Youth Day begins.
Those present expressed
that they felt very proud to be Catholics and to be Australians as a
letter from the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to Cardinal George
Pell entrusting the Cross and Icon to the Australian people was read
out. The Premier of NSW reminded us that in July 2008, Sydney will be
the new Rome – the centre of the Catholic Church, and the Prime
Minister of Australia expressed the excitement of the Australian
people towards welcoming the Holy Father next year. Words to our ears
echoed around the hangar as Mr Howard described World Youth Day as “a
magnificent opportunity for the young in their thousands, not only
from Australia, but around the world, to reaffirm their faith”.
The Cross and Icon were
taken to Mary MacKillop Place at North Sydney where a simple and
humble liturgy was celebrated by the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop –
Australia’s first beatified saint! The Cross and Icon were handed over
to representatives of the MacKillop family, and the Josephite sisters
reminded those present that Mary MacKillop’s life was based on the
cross of Jesus Christ (as she was known as Sister Mary of the Cross)
and challenged everyone to follow her example.
People had the first
opportunity to venerate the Cross and Icon, and to do so amongst the
Holiness of Blessed Mary MacKillop was a blessing in itself.
Following this liturgy at
Mary MacKillop Place, the Australian delegates processed the Cross and
Icon across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through the streets of
Sydney. The procession attracted the attention and curiosity of many
secular bystanders, which was a wonderful opportunity to give witness
to Jesus Christ.
As
the cross and Icon continue to make their tour of Australia over the
past year, we were delighted to have their presence at a nearby
church, St Martha’s at Strathfield. An all night Vigil was held on
Monday 3 July in which many people came to participate, even remaining
in prayer all night. Priests from the surrounding parishes, joined the
priests of Strathfield in concluding this event
with a overcrowded Mass at 6.30 a.m., participated in by religious and
faithful. After Mass, the Cross and Icon were processed through the
streets, stopping traffic, on their way to other parishes.
