Ministry with Young People
Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba, Australia
Yourself: The Adventure
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Our Diocesan Journey with the Cross and Icon In August this year a 3.8m high wooden Cross entrusted by the late John Paul II to the youth and young adults of the world arrived in South East Queensland. The Cross is currently on a journey throughout Australia as part of the lead up to World Youth Day in Sydney in July 2008. In 1984 John Paul asked young people "to carry it as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity". Also accompanying the cross was a replica of a painting of the child Jesus and his mother Mary, known as the Icon of Hope of the People of Rome (Salus Populi Romani), and a message stick from the Sydney indigenous communities, imprinted with an invitation to the Indigenous young people of Australia to come to World Youth Day in 2008. Following are links to some of the Stories and photos from the Journey of the cross and Icon throughout our region and the impact that it had on our communities. We hope you enjoy them. My Journey with the WYD Cross, Icon and Message Stick James Bryant, our Diocesan Coordinator spent Nine Days traveling the Diocese with the WYD Cross, Icon. and Message Stick. Follow this link to read his reflections on this time .....Click here to read more Toowoomba City JCI Events 7 & 8th August 2007 ...Wow! Our young people really were fantastic and gave glory to their creator in the way they gave their all to the day. Bishop Bill spoke inspiringly about the gift of each and every life and about discovering the sacred in the way we recognise and value the dignity of all people and the fact that all are created by God. I am sure we could have heard a pin drop as the young people seemed to hang on every word he spoke ...Click here to read more
Dalby JCI Events - 9th August 2007 In afternoon the cross was set up in a very public spot on the corner of Thomas Jack Park. A small ecumenical service was held as semi-trailers rumbled by and tourists with caravans in tow. Some curious by passers stopped to find out what this was all about ...Click here to read more
Chinchilla JCI Events - 10th August 2007 We were setting up the Cross and Icon in what is known as Fullers place in the town centre when a little girl ran up to see what we were doing. The little girls mother yelled at her to get out of the way and to come back to her. Two of the JCI girls stepped in beautifully at this point and sat with the mother and assured her it was ok for the little girl to come and look and touch the cross and icon ...Click here to read more
Roma JCI Events - 11th August 2007 Lots of local youth and students and teachers from the local schools joined the procession waving streamers, balloons and the WYD flags. All of this combined to make a rather regal atmosphere. The number of people that turned out was all the more impressive considering the fact that it was the morning of football and netball finals and many of the young people left straight afterwards to take part in these ...Click here to read more
Charleville - 11th and 12th of August We were greeted in Charleville by an enthusiastic but noticeably older group. The absence of young people was quite apparent, a little like the lack of water in the dry creek bed which we stood in and prayed for young people and rain...Click here to read more
... As we hit the bitumen for another couple of three hour stints our city companions began to get a deeper appreciation for the vastness and isolation experienced by many in rural Diocese. And the dust kicked up by willy-willys emphasised the parched and desperate environment...Click here to read more
... one of the elders of the local indigenous community was present to also give a welcome to country on behalf of his people and to receive the message stick which was read and passed on to young members of the indigenous community. This was a very moving moment for himself and for the rest of us, it was a very powerful that he was able to greet and invite the cross into his land, rather than it being imposed in any way by outsiders...Click here to read more
Goondiwindi via Weengallon - 15th August 2007 We were encouraged by the photos in the church of floods of bygone years. They spoke of the potential for change, a little like the gathering of young people who excitedly unpacked the cross and icon and who did a wonderful job in helping celebrate mass for the second time that day ...Click here to read more Stanthorpe - Evening of the 15th of August 2007 ...Someone had worked very hard on a beautiful setting for the Cross and Icon and as they were bought in the lights went out and the church was lit up with hundreds of candles both big and little....Click here to read more Within that little group there was something profound that represented the reality of Ministry with Young People and the journey of the Cross, Icon and Message stick in our Diocese. Hopefully the JCI has sown some fresh seeds of hope throughout our region.....Click here to read more Handover to Brisbane Archdiocese After nine very moving, wonderful days and over 2000 kms of travel our Diocesan Journey had come to an end. It ended similarly to the way it began, with a small number of people from our Diocese standing with the Cross and Icon, only this time we were handing it over, not receiving it ....Click here to read more
www.wyd2008.org - Follow this link to reach the official World Youth Day site where you can find out more about the Cross and Icon and updates about its journey to date through Australia and Oceania.
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Click here to view photos from these events
