WYD GUEST BLOGGER: Cathy Kusman

Thursday, July 17
Group had catechesis with Archbishop Vincent from England. He was WONDERFUL. Very relaxed and comfortable. He challenged us all “Have you thought about your relationship with the Holy Spirit?” and the probing question, “When did the church begin?”
Was it:
- When Mary said yes to the Angel, as she was covered with the Power of the Holy Spirit?
- The Last Supper?
- When Jesus said, “Do this in Memory of me?”
- Christ’s death on the cross, when we were given the ultimate gift of salvation?
- When Jesus gave his mother to John and from that moment on John took Mary as his own reminding us to develop relationships from His?
- When the soldier pushed the spear in Jesus side?
- When Jesus gave up his spirit for us.
- When the descent of the Holy Spirit in the upper room telling us to go out and teach the gospel?

All these teach us about the soul of the church & the Holy Spirit. The Church was started and instituted by Christ in his words, actions, death and resurrection. The Church is held together by the power of the Holy Spirit and is constituted by the Holy Spirit. What happens on the altar should touch us deeply each week. We should see beyond the bread and wine and see the presence of Christ. God’s love draws us to Himsef, making us a family. Every time we go to Mass, we gather as Christ’s family.

Friday, July 18
Catechesis with Bishop Sheridan and the WYD Stations of the Cross. Bishop Sheridan reminded us that sometimes the Holy Spirit is the forgotten person of the Trinity but is someone we should develop a relationship with. The Holy Spirit is a gift to each of us — God working in us. Young people should be the bearers of God’s love to others.

The Q&A time was DEEP. The audience asked some tough questions (much tougher than the other days of catechesis we have attended) and Bishop Sheridan did a great job. Topics included, why can’t women be priests; why can't priests be married; how do I live in a world where my friends are Christian or make fun of me? What words cn I say in my country where people are being killed for their faith? What can we do about the other faiths that are drawing Catholics from the faith with MONEY!?

STATIONS OF THE CROSS—Wow! I watched it on TV. SKYNEWS covered every minute of the event on tv. No commercials. It was BEAUTIFUL. The stations were re-created all over the city, starting with the pope at the cathedral and the Last Supper. I was disappointed we did not have an assigned ticket but after it was all said and done, I was pleased that I got to watch it all on TV. It was a beautiful event. It was two hours long & was at different locations all over the city from the Cathedral to the Opera House to Barangroo & Darling Harbor. AMAZING!

Saturday, July 19
The site of all the pilgrims leaving for the vigil and closing Mass was beautiful. To see 100,000 young people celebrating, singing, laughing, praying & walking -- proudly carrying their flags -- was a site to see. Young & old were in the walk thru the city of Sydney.

One of the youth was sick so I stayed back with them as the group left on the pilgrimage, I was sad in many ways not to be going along, but I watched it on TV. Again, Skynews covered the event on TV. The Evening Vigil with the Holy Father was amazingly beautiful. Our Colorado Springs Diocese did not have a good spot at Randwick Raceway sadly so they could see very little. The pope’s talk was about 20 minutes long. I want to get a transcript of it as it was very moving. The incorporation of the different cultures & countries into the vigil was very moving & beautiful. Seeing the 100,000 pilgrims in prayer before the Monstrance was a sight to see with all the candles burning. The pilgrims were touched by the experience as was I watching on tv.
It was a COLD night & the thought of sleeping outside did not make me as sad that I missed it. I did go to the little Catholic Church in Chinatown to reconciliation before the vigil service.

Sunday, July 20
We got up early (Carin was feeling somewhat better). We caught the bus to Randwick & then ‘pilgrimed’ ½ mile to the site. They were right.. you could not see anything, as we were far back & there was no jumbtron within viewing distance. But celebrating the Mass with our C/S pilgrims & the Holy Father made it all worthwhile, as we could hear it all just the same. There were 400,000+ people at the closing Mass with the Holy Father. He arrived by helicopter and drove thru the race track in the Popemobile before & after Mass. He gave a beautiful homily and there was incredible music.

Sadly MANY people left even before communion. To share in the sacrament of the Eucharist, consecrated by the Pope!! How could you leave early? We stayed until the end, except there were several people who were getting this ‘bug’ that was attacking the pilgrims. So Michelle got the sick ones on the bus right after Communion while the rest of us all walked back to Sydney, singing & celebrating. We arrived at our hotel and were all ready for a nap & a shower!

Monday, July 21
We had reservations for the tour at St. Mary's Cathedral but the pope was having a meeting to apologize to local abuse victims and then had a thank-you session with all the volunteers that helped with WYD. So we were on ALERT. Getting in after the Pope left for the airport was worth the wait. The Cathedral was a beautiful, spiritual sight. Also took a trip to the Opera House (you can’t go to Sydney without seeing the Opera House). It was COLD & WINDY but we were all so thankful for the week's beautiful weather, as we had such a great week for WYD. Many took a ferry ride to Manly Island for the afternoon or a visit to the Aquarium. So much to see & not enough time to see it all!

Tomorrow we say good bye to Sydney and our many new friends. We will travel 23 hours by plane ‘home’ -- living through Tuesday July 22nd TWICE!