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My reflection on Sydney and what happened |
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 I was blessed to be nominated to represent Sandhurst as part of the Australian delegation that received the World Youth Day Cross and Icon on its arrival into Australia on 1st July 2007. Representatives from all the Australian Diocese and movements were present to start the Cross and Icon on its year-long pilgrimage around our land, and to mark the moment when the countdown towards World Youth Day began in earnest.
The day began with an early morning media conference at QANTAS hanger, attended by many dignitaries including John Howard. A delegation of young people from New Zealand was present to farewell the Cross and Icon and entrust it to the care of the youth of Australia. They carried the Cross and Icon down from the plane while performing a traditional Maori farewell, which was followed by a traditional Aboriginal dance to welcome the Cross and Icon onto out sacred land.
 The New Zealand delegation then handed us the Cross and Icon and as it was passed from one group of young hands to another the emotion was obvious on both sides. Out of all the following speeches the words that stood out most significantly for me was when Mr. Howard eloquently expressed 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 then taken to Mary MacKillop Place at North Sydney where we celebrated a simple service by the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop – Australia’s first saint. We prayed for her intercession for the journey and we had our first opportunity to venerate the Cross and Icon.
Following this service at Mary MacKillop Place, we carried Cross and Icon across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through the streets of Sydney and towards Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, on the Cross and Icon’s first pilgrimage walk in Australia!
Our procession attracted the attention and curiosity of many bystanders and to actually carry the Cross was an incredible experience that linked us with the millions of people who have carried the Cross and Icon before us.
We shared the load of the Cross and Icon around the group, and prayed and sang as we drew closer to Tumbalong Park. We arrived at Tumbalong Park after the first ever performance of the WYD08 anthem, “Receive the Power” by Guy Sebastian and Paulini, which was written by Gary Pinto. People, both young and old, had packed the park and we estimated that almost six thousand people were there to welcome us with the Cross and Icon.
The day concluded with mass in the Sydney Cathedral and this day will always be dear to my heart, it was a touching and powerful experience. During the day I got to know my fellow delegates and by the end of it all I felt that I was not just representing the Diocese of Sandhurst, but as a group, we were representing every person in Australia who loves Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to the visit of the Cross and Icon to our Diocese with great expectation and I encourage everyone to experience the power and majesty of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon. |
Journey of Cross & Icon 
