World Youth Day - 9 Days to Go!
In July 2008, the young people of the world are coming to Sydney - and we wantto be ready to meet them!
For more information about WYD please contact Kelly Edmunds - kellyedmunds@gmail.com
Upcoming events
If you are part of the Northern Cluster B WYD group, or want some more information about upcoming evetnts, check out our website here.
Latest WYD News
Our three WYD Closing Mass buses are now full. If you could pay after Mass this weekend (all Masses) or next weekend (Sunday night only), that would be much appreciated, as the parish office is now closed for the holidays. The buses will LEAVE Holy Name at 7am on Sunday, 20th July. There may be a 20-25min walk from the drop off zone to Randwick - Please advise us if you'll need to use the available shuttle service so we can book you a seat.
On Monday, 14th July, we will be having a welcome morning tea running for most of the day as our homestay pilgrims arrive. It’d be great to have some homemade food to offer them, so if you feel like baking next weekend, we would love anything you come up with – just drop it into the sunroom after Mass or on Monday. You are also very welcome to come and greet our pilgrims as they arrive – as soon as we know what time they are expected to arrive, we will post it at the back of the church and on the parish website.
We are also looking for some Traffic Wardens to help manage parking on the mornings of Wed 16th, Thurs 17th and Fri 18th July. This would be from 9:30am – 10:30am. Also, if you have any traffic cones we could borrow, that would be great.
Friday, 11th and Saturday, 12th July – Days in the Diocese
This is a huge festival held up at Mingara on the Central Coast. ALL are welcome, regardless of age and whether you are a registered pilgrim or not. It is FREE for all – you just need to REGISTER on the Broken Bay website – www.wydbrokenbay.org.au and click on “Register for Days in the Diocese”. A Bus will leave from Wahroonga at 8am each morning, returning around 10:30pm. You are welcome to come on one day or both. We also still need LOTS of volunteers to help run it – see the website for details. More details: kellyedmunds@gmail.com / 9489 4701 / 0438 888 876
We also encourage you to come along to all the amazing events the week has to
offer…
Monday, 14th July – Parish Welcome
Come welcome our homestay pilgrims. We’ll be having hospitality in the new meeting room (Sunroom) for most of the day – when we know their expected arrival times, we will post them at the back of the church and on the website. Come along and say hello – and if you are able, we’d love some homemade morning tea to serve them.
Wednesday, 16th July – Friday 18th July – Catechesis Sessions
From 10am – 1pm on these days, a Catechesis session, run by our very own WYSPERS, is being held at Wahroonga Church. Come along and check it out – music, a talk from a Bishop and Mass. If you would like to help serve lunch, we would also love to have you.
Tuesday, 15th – Friday, 18th July – Youth Festival in the City
Each afternoon (2-10pm), a huge festival is being held in the city. All events
are open to everyone, although registered pilgrims are given preference if
the venues fill up. There’s concerts, talks, debates, films, theatre – something
for everyone. There is also the Pope’s arrival on Thursday, and Stations
of the Cross on Friday. See our parish website for the full timetable, and transport details.
More details: kellyedmunds@gmail.com / 9489 4701 / 0438 888 876
NB: Please be aware of the following:
1. On Mon/Tues 14th/15th July, there WILL BE a 9.15am Mass
2. On Wed - Fri 16th, 17th, 18th July, there will be NO 9.15am Masses
since WYD activities will be occurring in the church between 9am -
1pm each day. On these days there will be an 12pm Mass for 650
pilgrims. A different Bishop will be the principal celebrant each day.
My apologies to the daily Mass community.
3. On Sat/Sun 19/20 July, Masses here as usual - Vigil 5pm, 9.15am Sun
20th & 6.15pm.
The WYD Cross and Icon visit Broken Bay one last time...
On Saturday, April 12th, a huge Diocesan gathering was held at Palm Beach. Activities for
all ages included beach games, a jumping castle, and a BBQ generously organised my members of the Lakes parish. The highlight of the morning was watching the Broken Bay WYD Cross being flown high above the beach and Barrenjoey lighthouse, dangled from a helicopter, while the real WYD Cross and Icon were walked up the beach into our gathering.
Have a look at the fantastic photos and stories here...
Animation of Catechesis
One of the ways that Wahroonga parish is getting involved with World Youth Day is by providing an animation of catechesis team – and we want as many of us as possible to get involved! If you're thinking about coming to the whole WYD week, have a read of this, and consider how you can get the most out of this amazing opportunity.
Homestays
We have reached our goal of 150 homestay beds! Many thanks to all our generous hosts. We will be letting you know soon how we will be welcoming our guests into the parish in July.
You can still register to be a host family at www.wyd2008.org.au or contact Dona Gilbert on 9489-0535 or mdgilbert@optusnet.com.au.
What's is WYD?
World Youth Day is an annual celebration of life, youth and faith, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1985 (the UN’s International Youth Year). Every 3 years, it is celebrated on an international scale – the largest youth event in the world, often gathering more people together than even the Olympics. This year, it's being held from the 15th to the 20th of July - right here in Sydney!
Registration
To register for homestay online: http://forms.wyd2008.org/index.php/homestay
To register for the week or weekend, or to volunteer: http://egeria.wyd2008.org/Default.aspx
You can also fill out a form at the back of the church.
Who can register?
WYD Registration and payment needs to be done as soon as possible... so who can come?
0-8yrs: Can come for free to most events with a registered family member.
8-14yrs: Can come with a registered family member, but should register and pay.
15yrs: Can attend without a parent IF they are in year 10 in 2008.
16-35yrs: Target age range! Attend as part of our pilgrim group (includes adult leaders)
35yrs+: Very welcome to attend – we’d especially love some adult leaders, and more volunteers.
Fill out a form at the back of the church or go to www.wyd2008.org to register today!
There's something for everyone -
0-15 yrs: Talk to them about WYD at home, using this as an example of how widespread
our faith is shared.
16-35 yrs: REGISTER! Come along to WYD for the entire week or the just weekend. It is
the experience of a lifetime. Or, consider volunteering.
35yrs+: For the young at heart, feel free to come along to WYD as part of our group –
we’d love to have some adults for help with supervision, and to provide a different perspective.
Alternatively, volunteer – they need an army of volunteers for the week, as well
as the months leading up to it. We’d also love to have more homestay hosts – the more
pilgrims we can welcome into our homes, the less that have to sleep in school gyms!
The week itself -
Monday: 14th of July: Pilgrims arrive in Sydney, staying in schools, halls, hostels and
homestays.
Tuesday: Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pell followed by concert.
Wednesday – Friday: Pilgrims attend catechesis – music, drama, stories, reconciliation,
Mass, and more – at their local church each morning, then go into the city for Youth festival
events each afternoon.
Thursday: Pope Benedict arrives.
Friday evening: Stations of the Cross.
Saturday: Pilgrims walk to Randwick, spend the afternoon and evening with Pope Benedict,
and sleep out under the stars.
Sunday: Closing Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict and concluding events.
Monday: 21st July: Pilgrims go home (end of homestays).