World Youth Day Sydney 14-20 July 2008. Part 1 of 3

Because my story quite long for WYD SYD event. I make it into 3 parts.
1st part is my story between 14-16 July
2nd part is my story between 17-18 July
3rd part is my story between 19-20 July and special thanks.

I arrive in Sydney at 14th July actually. I stay in Parish of Lady of The Rosary in Fairfield. A Pilipino family hosted me in their house. It is 5 stars host family!! I will tell you why I say they are 5 stars. Hahaha..

When I arrive in the Parish, the Parishioner already prepared for us some welcoming pray and party. They provide so much much much food for us. From roasted chicken, lasagna, pasta, fried rice, pizza and even Indian food rice nun! They are very kind and warm welcomed to all pilgrims who stay in their information.
From information that I get, there are more Parishioners who want to be hosted family than the pilgrims! Because of this, the Parish priest split some pilgrims into smaller groups to make sure all Parishioners get pilgrims. Unfortunately, still some parishioners do not get pilgrims.

15th July!! In the morning, I go to CBD of Sydney. I arrive about 10 AM. Some of my groups go to vocation expo, but I decide to Indonesian Gathering to meet some of my friends. Hehehe… I meet 2 ST (read: Super Teen) graduates and some Indonesian pilgrims from Singapore and Australia (Most of them are studying). In the afternoon, I join the opening mass celebrated by His Grace Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney). The mass finishes at 6 PM, still not so night. So I decide to go to Veneration of WYD Cross and Icon and have dinner in Hyde Park. Unfortunately, they don’t provide food in Hyde Park. So, I take the dinner at The Domain. Now the time is about 9 PM. The WYD Cross has not reach the Hyde Park (it is used for the opening mass). So I am going to St Mary’s Cathedral which is not far away. Luckily, it is closed at 10 PM so I have about half an hour to walk around.


16th July!! It is Wednesday. I have catechesis today in Parish of Lady of Mt Carmel. The Parishioners celebrate their feast day today. My lesson today is about receiving Holy Spirit, the speaker is a bishop from Australia. I forget his name. The worshiper is rexband (again!). I do some sharing with other pilgrims about what we want to ask from Holy Spirit. After mass, I have lunch with BBQ. If you imagine about grill steak, you are wrong. BBQ what I mean is sausage grill using bread with onion and tomato sauce. For me, it does not make me full.. Hahaha
I go to Hyde Park. Finally, WYD Cross and Icon arrive here. So, I get some time to venerate the cross. I find some interesting stuff; it is small wooden cross written “WYD SYD 08”. The most interesting of this stuff is that it is free!! Hahaha. I take about 40-50 pieces for goodies. =p
In the afternoon, I go to vocation expo (for others it is again!).I am so jealous with my brother; he takes photo with Pope!!
At night, I join the workshop by Christopher West titled “Theology of The Body, introduction about teaching God, Sex, and Marriage by John Paul II”
The workshop is very interesting. Though I am very tired, I can still wake up until the workshop end. Hahaha. I come back to home about 11.45 PM. It is very very tiring! But, my host family is very nice! Auntie Aleli provides me chicken soup that really nice.. :)

To be continue.. Part 2 is just next ahead