World Youth Day: KOLN TO SYDNEYby Jane Chifley
Thank you For the prayers and support I was grateful for the many people who were praying for those of us who went to WYD. I took our parishes intentions to the papal mass at Marian Field and am sure our parish will receive the blessings of Cologne. The whole trip was a time of great blessing. I arrived with a small group of Australians to a Lutheran Cloister at Volkenroda, East Germany to stay with the ‘Chemin Neuf’ Community an Ecumenical French Community. They gave us a week of teachings and talks from various European Cardinals, Bishops and Lay Ministers, on topics such as Married vocation, single life and working together with other churches. From there I traveled to the ‘Karlsplatz’ in Munich to perform at an International Christian festival called ‘Sing the Father’s Praises’ it was a wonderful experience and I met many other Christian musicians and artists making many new friends. On arriving back in Cologne for WYD I was hosted in the musicians village by the German Scout movement at Dussledorf in a global ‘tent village’ which accommodated thousands of pilgrims and was located on the Rhine river. The scouts arranged for two extra performances for me in Cologne and Dusseldorf. My main singing arrangement was at a large venue in Hofgarten, Bonn. This went well if not slightly daunting however it seemed my style of singing suited a German audience (Many are keen to come to Sydney) and I had a wonderful time. At WYD this year there was a sense of two popes being present, it was a time of transistion. There was a great sadness amongst young pilgrims as they milled around a giant Mosaic of John Paul Two covering half of a building in the main ‘Dom plaza’ in Cologne. Many would cry and sing Hymns to the ‘Papska’ John Paul had a very special relationship with young people and they were the love of his heart. He often referred to them as the ‘future of the church’. Pope Benedict, (better known as B16), was received with enthusiasm by the young on the 18th of August, as he came down the Rhine in a barge and anticipation was high. He had received much media coverage from the German and European press. Young Pilgrims crammed to see him and it was obvious that it had been no accident that a German pope was coming to WYD in Germany. There was a particular badge circulating with Benedict on it saying ‘WE are Pope’ implying of ownership, but I think on a more global scale to me this meant that as a body of believers we are a world-wide community and that popes are part of that global community of believers too, no matter who is pope. Pope Benedict talked about the Eucharist at the Papal Mass and his words were not new but resonated within as his obvious devotion to Christ in the mass was revealed. So many nationalities representing many different parts of the church, all worshipping as one. Singing, laughing and generally being noisy as they filled churches, that had been empty for years. Not just Catholics were participating in this event. Many religions were involved. The German people opened their hearts and their homes to the pilgrims. This was not just an experience for the young it was/is for all. Now in 2008 it is our opportunity to open our parishes and hearts to the pilgrims who come here. Start praying for them now because it is a pilgrimage and we can pray for their safety and that they can attain the finances to come here. Our prayers are powerful and can contribute to something special that God may want to do in Sydney. IT’S ALL GOOD |
