Youthful Days Down Under

Where there is no phone and no email

2008-07-31T14:49:00.003+10:00

The above was taken in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. The three peaks are named the Three Sisters.

After a week of wrapping up, writing reports, making movies, and cataloging records, our time with WYD has finally come to an end. It has been a blurry three months, especially since we started WYD just after we finished classes in Toronto and arrived as the activity was reaching its peak. Now it is time for some much needed rest and perhaps more importantly, a chance to get perspective on all we have seen and experienced. Over the last few days, there has been an endless stream of stories conveying the positive impact of WYD on the country, city, dioceses, parishes and individuals. Never could we have imagined the impact or the level of success!

These are the stories we will take with us as we travel. In my own mind, I am all too aware that one month from today, I will profess final vows with the Basilians. So these stories meet the questions in my mind: What have I learned? What are memories that I need to hold on to . . . and those I need to let go of? How does this experience integrate into my life as a Basilian and as a priest? And many more. . . No doubt the Holy Father has left me with his own words to ponder and there are other items I have wanted to read as well. However, I largely look forward to the chance to listen, pray and write. To do this, we are going where there is no phone, no email, not even a computer; so you will have to forgive the silence, but that is exactly the point!

Blessings and G'Day!

Measuring the Impact

2008-07-27T15:35:00.003+10:00

While the above picture is a look at the Vocations Expo in particular, the following article from CNS looks at the impact of WYD on Sydney as a whole. Over the next few days, as I catch up on my news, you can be assured of a few more postings like these:

For secular Australia, World Youth Day was wake-up call

By Anthony Barich
Catholic News Service

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- In what is often seen as one of the most intensely secular nations in the world, Australia received a wake-up call: the faith of the church on public display over the weeklong celebrations of World Youth Day.

For young Catholics used to seeing a steady annual decline in figures such as Mass attendance -- now estimated at approximately 13 percent of Catholics nationally -- and feeling like the only young person in the local parish, the sight of an estimated 300,000 pilgrims from around the nation and overseas may well have provided a much-needed shot in the arm.

Prominent Australian theologian Tracey Rowland, dean of studies at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne, Australia, said the July 15-20 World Youth Day activities and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI will not fix Australia overnight.

"But Pope Benedict's weeklong 'Christianity 101' intensive course for a couple of hundred thousand Australian pilgrims will certainly improve the situation, especially for Generation Y," she said, referring to the young people.

She noted that for many young pilgrims, World Youth Day was their first experience of solemn liturgy, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, receiving catechesis with deep intellectual and spiritual content, and meeting numerous other young people not embarrassed to be identified as Catholics.

The pope's homilies were deeply Christocentric, and in the closing Mass he explained the meaning of the Angelus -- which he recited in Latin -- as God's marriage proposal to humanity, accepted on people's behalf by Mary.

"No one could go away from Sydney thinking that it is possible to compartmentalize the faith or reduce it to a few rules and regulations and Sunday observances," Rowland said.

"The pope constantly reiterated the theme that it is all about a personal participation in the life of the Trinity and that changes everything," she said. "There is no room for secular spheres impervious to the sacred and divisions between public and private personas; there is only a part of us and a part of our culture that either belongs to Christ already or still awaits transformation.

"That task of transformation is the biggest adventure life in the world can offer us, and some half a million pilgrims got a taste of it at World Youth Day," she said.

Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher, chief organizer of World Youth Day, said that in his series of homilies during the weeklong event, the pope gave young Australian Catholics a blueprint of how to change the social and spiritual fabric of the country that the pope dubbed the "Great South Land of the Holy Spirit."

Pope Benedict addressed relativism and apathy during his homilies and emphasized the importance of unity and hope.

"He's provided us with a program for the spiritual and social renewal of our country and has offered young people the encouragement and inspiration to do that," Bishop Fisher said.

"Young people will return to their parishes, schools, communities and universities with a passion. All of us have been shown that Australians can be more idealistic and passionate about what really matters.

"We would hope that there's going to be a new life and energy in every corner of the church, especially youth ministry, which will obviously be bigger and better as a result of World Youth Day," he added.

Bishop Fisher acknowledged Pope Benedict's concern for how deeply secularization has set into Australia.

"When (the pope) is talking about things like apathy and relativism, they're commonplace in the Western world, but certainly I think he had Australia in mind, and it's a real issue for us right across the board, not just for the church," Bishop Fisher said.

"People are at times apathetic about key issues in the world, and Australians in particular are very comfortable -- we've got a pretty good life.

"But the risk is that if we don't then ask the bigger questions ... what it's all for, and what about the poor people of the world who don't have the affluence we have, even in our own community? The indigenous Australians have been so prominent during WYD ... how do they fit into the new wealth of Australia and the comfort?" he asked.

The challenge was clearly set out by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver, who told more than 1,000 youths at a Theology on Tap session at an Irish pub in Sydney about the futility of living a double life -- going to Mass on Sunday but not giving public witness to the faith.

"We can't live a halfway Christianity," he said. "Every double life will inevitably self-destruct. Being a Christian is who you are -- period. And being a Christian means your life has a mission. It means striving every day to become more like Jesus in your thoughts and actions."

The focus of the catechesis, held over the first four mornings of World Youth Day in 250 locations across Sydney and taught by bishops from around the world, was carrying out the church's mission empowered by the Holy Spirit.

World Youth Day has been the seed of many vocations, be it to married, religious or single life. Amid the hype and noise of the multicultural week, bishops and lay leaders alike warned pilgrims that unless they took time for silent meditation and prayer, then the fruits of World Youth Day might be lost.

After celebrating Mass at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of Las Vegas said quiet reflection is essential "so God can whisper to you and give you your vocation" -- as the pope reminded young people in his visit to the United States three months before World Youth Day.

"If we have the environment of prayer, then we're communicating with God, and God will communicate with us, telling us if we will have vocations in our families," Bishop Pepe said.

Bishop Fisher said he felt optimistic after World Youth Day.

"We often talk of Australia being a secular country, as if the view that religion has to be privatized or abolished has won," he said.

"We know in fact that most people still say, when asked, that they believe in God and they pray sometimes and say they are Christians. So Australia isn't as agnostic as it's portrayed," he said.

Recovering

2008-07-25T15:53:00.003+10:00

By now, you have all heard that WYD is over and has been regarded as a huge success! As the city now returns to normal and the Pilgrimage to the Cathedral (the last and longest of the WYD events) now closes, the papers and press continue to talk about the events of the past week. The past few days have been filled with celebrations and prayers for the many people now very ill as they come off the adrenaline high which has been sustaining them for the past few months. I must admit that I have never been part of such an aftermath as we all went from unimaginable intensity to an absolute full stop. At the office people are closing out their files and sharing stories as the first wave of departures begins today. Even the Directors, who anticipated much more clean-up, are spending some much needed moments with their families since the "damage control" is actually quite minimal.

Morgan and I are also resurfacing -- catching up on emails and news that we have ignored for the past month. Tuesday was the first day I have had out of the office for over a month, though it wasn't until last night (finally) that my adrenaline began to slow. Now I have realized how tired I am and how much I am craving some quiet alone time.

In time, I am sure I will write and process what has been learned and favorite moments, but for now, it is time to recharge and relax a bit. Vacation and retreat time is around the corner, though it may unofficially begin as soon as this weekend. Meanwhile, I am still basking in awe at all that God has done. Even as I write this, a very cold rain is pouring down (as it has all week), in sharp contrast to the beautiful sunny, relatively warm days of World Youth Day. Lest anyone think that God doesn't have it all under control, this dramatic coincidence is hard for anyone not to notice.

Please continue to pray for the many pilgrims since their work is really just beginning. There are many stories to be shared and witnesses to bear that will require courage and faith in order to tell the tale that needs to be heard. Please also pray for the staff and their families as they re-unite after so many late nights and unending work days these past few months. Until next time, many blessings.

Feels like home

2008-07-15T08:20:00.003+10:00

Last night, CCO and Fr. Tom Rosica led a prayer service, inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, at St. Mary's Cathedral. After a day of running around like a chicken without a head, it was wonderful to spend a few quiet moments in prayer. I also had a chance to spend some time with Frassati's niece and Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus. However, the really amazing part of the evening was the chance to be with so many friends on the other side of the world. I realized how blessed I am to belong to such a wonderful community that exists on so many different levels. It has been a while since I have felt "at home" but last night, among so many friends from the USA, Canada and Australia, I felt as if I was with family. What a blessing and a privilege.

The day is off to the races already, but there are pictures and further thoughts at CNS, which is linked just to the side of this posting.

Blessings and G'Day!

2008-07-14T10:12:00.005+10:00

Life is in full swing at WYD. Salt and Light has arrived and I spent the day getting everyone settled. Here are a few images of the cathedral, inside and outside.

Tonight, Fr. Tom will be giving his address on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati at the Cathedral. It is surely expected to pack the house as everyone has been talking about this event for weeks!

That's it for now, but there will be more to come, rest assured!

In the Company of the Saints

2008-07-11T20:02:00.003+10:00

The first major event of WYD began today! The Pilgrimage to the Cathedral opened today, highlighted by the unveiling of a commissioned painting of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians. Since the renovations and cleaning of the Cathedral was completed just the other day, this was the first time I have been to the cathedral as it will be seen by thousands of pilgrims. The cathedral is worth a trip in its own right, but there several other reasons why pilgrims will want to spend time in this quiet place of prayer. In addition to the painting of Our Lady, the relics of Blessed Mary MacKillop and the body of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati are present there surrounded by wonderful displays that tell the stories of their lives. In the crypt below, a series of icons surround the Eucharist exposed for Adoration. Across the street, reconciliation is offered to all who desire the sacrament.

The opening of the Pilgrimage was well attended by the media and many young people, both from Sydney and fresh off the plane from their home countries. In fact, all day today, new arrivals huddled in conversation along the Sydney waterfront. In every group, I saw the words of St. Benedict (whose feast day is today) present: Jesus is to be the center of our lives. This idea, which he lived so well, are so clearly evident in the parks and public spaces around the city center now that the pilgrims have arrived. My own excitement is now building for the experience it will be for them . . . and for me.

St. Benedict, Blessed MacKillop, Blessed Frassati, and Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians – pray for us!

Double-time

2008-07-10T21:49:00.003+10:00

You could take this title a couple of ways at this point. . .

However, this is just a little note to say that during WYD, I will be writing for Catholic News Service as well as for this blog (all of this in addition to my various responsibilities at WYD). So, should things get a bit slow here, I encourage you to go to http://cnswyd.wordpress.com/ where you will find me writing along with a team of bloggers and journalists during the week.

Blessings and G'Day!

Why Priesthood?

2008-07-10T14:44:00.002+10:00

As many of you know, I am one of the managers of the Vocations Expo at WYD. The expo began in Toronto, offering pilgrims an opportunity to explore the various "vehicles" or means by which they can live their recently renewed faith. It is a wonderful part of WYD -- showcasing some of the very best aspects of ministry in the Church. While there are volunteer organizations present for married and single folks, the focus is on the priesthood and religious life.

As a result of my role with the Expo, I have been asked on a few occasions (and I am sure there will be more), why I joined a religious community and what called me to be a priest? So I thought I would briefly share my thoughts to this answer:

I think anyone who asks this question must first answer another question: "by what means can we as society address the suffering in the world today?" Of course, there are as many answers to this question as there are afflictions; however, I believe the fundamental answer to this question is actually quite difficult. Anyone who as been in the service of others understands that at some point, it is up to the person in need to make a choice to accept help or not. I learned this teaching in inner city schools in the US. There comes a point where I did everything I could do, leaving the ability to overcome/succeed (or not) in the mind of the student. Ultimately, an obstacle or suffering requires a conscious decision to move beyond it.

What I learned through my own experiences is that the decision to overcome our pain is usually too difficult without a belief that there is something bigger than ourselves who will be there to bear the burden when we cannot. Quite simply, this is why I decided to become a priest -- to bear witness to God -- that there is someone big enough to bear all of our burdens. The priesthood provides my life and witness with a context; with an environment that allows God to be heard. Over the years, I have found that we people most often need in this world is hope. Yes, there are many temporal needs, and the Church and many other organizations do amazing work tending to those needs; but it is the unseen needs of people that must also be addressed. In my students, I saw many needs that could be met by so many groups, but their real needs concerned meaning, love, belonging, hope -- all the things that can be addressed only when we recognize that all these things are of God and received by us as a gift.

The priesthood is not for the faint-hearted. I have been exposed to some of the very hardest aspects of society, but I have also witnessed some of the greatest joys. In the average day, I span the range of human emotions and of life -- baptisms to death; marriage to illness and everything in between. It is a life based in relationship, which is one of the reasons I choose to live my priesthood through the Basilian Fathers. Quite simply, my confreres keep me accountable to myself and to God. They provide me the support I need to do what God is calling me to do. They also challenge and encourage me to step out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow with God and with the people I serve. In short, they are family and I am supremely grateful for their presence in my life.

At the end of the day, I have been blessed with opportuties to live and serve in places and with people I never dreamed possible. Through my priesthood with the Basilians, I have found joy and serenity, among so many other gifts. Of course, I believe this is what happens when any of us respond authentically to our call in life --whether it be priesthood or any other form of life. Let us pray for everyone who comes to WYD -- that they may not only experience the power of the Holy Spirit, but also that their path in life be illuminated according to God's will.

Blessings and G'Day!

A bit of relaxation

2008-07-09T17:22:00.004+10:00

Last weekend, we were invited to a friend's house for an authentic Croatian fish dinner. Marijana and I have worked on a very long document for post WYD that will go out to the Australian Church. After a lot of work, we finally sent it to the printers -- so it was time to celebrate. Dinner was amazing and the company even better since a few of the other volunteers and staff joined us.

Now that it is winter, and since Sydney-siders don't believe in indoor heating, layers and slippers are a must. The only question left is whether or not you can match the feet with the person? (without looking too closely as the picture below!)

. . . and yes, I look forward to the next time I get to relax -- probably July 21st!

Blessings and G'Day!

Perspective

2008-07-07T21:04:00.002+10:00

We are now one week away from WYD! This morning on my way to the office, the signs of WYD are all around -- literally. The banners have gone up over the weekend, the event tents are now filling the parks, road closure signs have started to pop up on the streets and pilgrims have started to arrive (big backpacks and confused looks are a good giveaway). Even in the office, despite our exhaustion, the excitement is building (perhaps because the arrival of WYD is soon to be followed by a bit of hibernation!)

My weekend was spent in the same manner as the previous two weekends -- in the office. However, I was not alone as just about everyone in the WYD office is working overtime at the moment -- just what you would expect before such an event. The difficulty, of course, is maintaining a level of joy about something that causes so much work. (my prayer lately has been for joy and sanity -- everyone seems to appreciate this one) At the office, I joke with people asking them if they will still be Catholic after working on WYD. It is always gets a good laugh and a reassurance that they will; however, in my prayers, I ask God to be merciful if they decide to miss a mass or two in the wake of it all.

But as the pilgrims start to arrive, our spirits are lifted a bit. WYD makes no sense without them and for too long now, our work has been fueled by faith -- now our belief is beginning to manifest itself. As I have walked around the last few days, my heart has begun to realize the gift that this all is -- and how privileged I am to be part of such an event. "Everything is gift," my novice director told us -- how right he was. As I stand before such a monumental event, I am forced to recognize that no effort of mine can make this succeed or fail. WYD is a moment of grace -- a gift from God to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. My biggest job now is to trust that God will cultivate the work that has been done, and get out of the light so this field may grow in God's light.

The lead-up to WYD has reminded me that I am called to be a servant. It has also reminded me of how much I need God's grace to live the life I have been called to live -- there is nothing like something as big as WYD to remind you of your place on this earth. As I write, I think this is what the press and various critics seem to miss -- that we need events in our world that are big enough to capture our imagination and at the same time remind us of our limitations -- and of our potential. I am neither as big or as small as I may let myself believe. So my prayer for those pilgrims en route to Sydney is that they encounter the world here -- the universal Church here -- so that their senses can capture sights, sounds, and feelings big enough to hold their understanding of God, and at the same time recognize the ability to nurture that understanding often occurs in the simplest acts of charity to those around us.

Let us pray for this and for so many intentions that are brought to Sydney over the next week. Until next time, many blessings and G'Day!

Rehearsing with the Pope

2008-07-04T22:04:00.007+10:00

Okay, so we weren't actually with the Pope, but we did have a look-a-alike for this morning's very early rehearsal of the harbour cruise and motorcade. It was cold and wet, but also a huge success! All the timings worked out perfectly and everyone from security to media to operations are happy. Here are a few pictures for you:

Above is the Papal boat, which can hold up to 700 people, though it won't have quite than many on the day. It is an amazing boat -- the first one I have ever seen come up to a dock sideways (no forward or backward movement at all)

This mimics the Popemobile route to the altar -- nothing fancy, but it was still cool!

Here is the stage for the Papal welcome at Barangaroo. In the background is Sydney Harbour, and at this point the Papal boat is just to the left of the altar. For those of us on the boat, we will have a great opportunity to see the roughly 150,000 pilgrims waiting to see the Pope.

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

Blessed Frassati, Pray for Us!

2008-07-03T21:47:00.005+10:00

Yesterday, I joined a few members of the WYD staff, along with just about every Australian media company in Sydney, to receive the body of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to St. Benedict's before he is moved the the Cathedral for WYD. Frassati, as many of you know, is a saint near and dear to my heart because of his patronage to the Basilian Scholasticate and also because of the role model he is for me. He lived to the young age of 24 in Turin, Italy, suffering terribly before his tragic death. Yet is it not his death, rather his life that is so extraordinary -- he lived it fully, running, mountain climbing and enjoying the company of friends, food and drink. Most striking of all, was his deep love for the poor and the Eucharist, which earned him the title, "Man of the Beatitudes."

Long before he was ever recognized in 1990 by JPII, he has been an inspiration for many young men to live more authentic lives according the Gospel. Just this past Christmas, I was in Calgary with approximately 75 young men who live in Frassati Houses across the country. We all have our heros -- for many who know -- Frassati is a hero worthy of emulating.

I wish I had a camera when he arrived. The hearse was there, they opened the doors and pulled out the casket. There was incense, candles, and being a Dominican parish, the Dominicans were in their whites and black copes. Litanies were sung and many prayers prayed. Very soon after, the media director for WYD came over and whispered that he had never seen the media so reverent -- they were awestruck by what was happening. I also, admitting that I am usually not so moved by such an event, had goosebumps. You just had to be there -- it was quite powerful.

Tonight, Morgan and I, along with one other volunteer went down to the church "after hours." There was hardly anyone in the church, which is exactly what we wanted. It was a chance to be with WYD; with Frassati, before it all actually gets going. The three of us just sat beside him in silence for about a half hour. There were a few others after us -- one of them being the young boy in the picture above. Knowing that I am nearing two weeks with probably very little stillness and silence, I think I could have stayed there the night. There were many prayers to be said -- for WYD and all involved, for the Basilians, and for so many friends and family. Not to be left out, a few prayers for myself -- that as I quickly approach my own final vows and ordination -- I might be able to live up to my calling; to live much like Frassati did -- in the service of others, out of love for God.

Blessed Frassati, pray for us!

Prayers that Lead to Teachable Moments

2008-07-03T09:04:00.001+10:00

Well, it is official folks -- WYD is now in operational mode. We had the blessing and dedication of WYDMOC (WYD Main Operations Centre) tonight followed by a social afterwards. Many people are now working around the clock, so despite the occasion occurring at the "end of the day", it was really just a brief break before returning to work. Nevertheless, we all know this is part of the process and people are generally in good spirits, though noticeably tired. Despite the exhaustion, it is also getting exciting as pilgrims are starting to arrive on the streets and in our offices. The volunteer pool is growing rapidly with every passing day and their energy is a welcome relief.

What has struck me in all this is the role of the Religious and clergy on staff. I spent most of my night tonight giving hugs, offering blessings, telling jokes and doing a lot of listening. In fact, I find much of my day flows in the same manner. Email is now used as much for official business as it is to send a brief hello and reminder of prayer to a particular person. In every instance so far, I receive a reply with a heart-felt thank you. Many of the staff have commented during these conversations how much they appreciate working with so many Religious and clergy. For some, it is their first experience (some in fact, are not Catholic at all) and so there are lots of questions and needs for explanations. Though none of this is on my task list for the day, I believe it is the most important work I can do here.

In the end, I think this will be a big learning for me. Just over a year ago, I interviewed Andrew, Glenn and José just before their final vows. I asked them what they learned during their years of formation. Andrew's comment was one I have not forgotten: "that people really demand very little; that they ask for very little." Working at WYD has confirmed that statement for me. Even with so many pressures, needs and deadlines -- the true needs of the staff here are very few. The needs to do have are, in fact, quite simple, though oh so important. There is no doubt that WYD is a teachable moment -- not just for the pilgrims, but for all of us.

I ask that you please keep all of us in your prayers -- it is getting pretty crazy around here! Blessings and G'Day.

Happy Canada Day!

2008-07-02T20:12:00.002+10:00

Yes, we know -- we are not really Canadian, but over the years, Canada has been home and so it wouldn't seem right to let July 1st go by without a bit of celebration. Perhaps some of the first in the world to celebrate Canada Day (nothing like being 15 or so hours ahead of many parts of Canada to give you a head start), we were joined by the David and Gillian Kantor for an evening of good times just off the Sydney Harbour.

How do you celebrate such a momentous day, you ask? With pancakes and maple syrup, of course! Granted, the Aussies haven't quite got the whole maple syrup thing down too well, it was still quite good. Nevertheless, The Pancake House in the Rocks does score high marks for North American portions and prices -- should you ever get hungry in Sydney, order pancakes. You even have your option of butter, cream, or ice cream in addition to the syrup. . . . and we wonder why Australia has just been labeled the most obese country in the world!

However, as it is not a holiday here and in just a few short days, we welcome the world to Sydney, the evening was but a brief reprieve before going back to grind. No worries, though -- it is what you expect at this stage!

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

Liturgy Directorate

2008-06-29T12:51:00.002+10:00

Over a month ago, I posted a bit about my work in the Liturgy Directorate. I did not have a photo to post at the time, but I do now. A few more people have been added since this photo was taken, but I thought it would be good to show at least some of my coworkers.

Front Row (L to R): Sister Anna, OP (International Liturgy Group Coordinator with whom I work very closely); Brendon (Stations of the Cross and Liturgy Support Officer to make sure we are all on track); Bernard (Sacristy Manager)

Back Row: Yours truly; Fr Peter Williams (Director of Liturgy); David (Music Officer); Fr Franco (Stations of the Cross Coordinator); John (Music Support Officer); James (Stations of the Cross and Operations Assistant); Louise (Fr Peter’s PA)

As I mentioned before, I am fortunate to be in a great team. It is an honour to help plan what will be some beautiful liturgies. Only two weeks to go!

Australian word of the day: “Way Out” = “Exit”

Opportunities to Serve

2008-06-27T09:34:00.003+10:00

Last night, the parish hosting us confirmed 120 young people between two of the four churches that make up the "parish." After the confirmations, the parish organizers came to the house for dinner to discuss the past year and think about what needs to be done for next year. It was a great opportunity for Morgan and I to learn about the sacramental preparation that occurs in the parishes here. For example, the Confirmation preparation that occurs for these 12 year olds occurs over four weeks, meeting, at most, two times per week.

The overwhelming concern for everyone present was the inability to find enough people to help teach and prepare the lessons. The parents who are willing, do so because it is their own children going through the program; thus, there is a high turn-over rate and very little ability to form any kind of team or consistency in the program.

After absorbing the conversation for a while, I finally asked if they had ever considered involving the youth who have recently gone through the program? To my surprise (and in fact their own), they had never considered the option.

Fast forward to the next morning at the office: I was speaking with one of my colleagues at the office about a number of things -- mostly the usual coffee-pot morning topics of discussion. The opportunity arose for me to ask her about her own hopes for WYD. Among the many she mentioned, more involvement from young people in the life of the parish was a big one. In Sydney at least, the reality of most parishes is that there are no young people in any kind of leadership role. Even the altar servers are retired gentlemen. Not surprising in such an environment, there are no youth ministry programs of any kind, nor are there any communities or movements that offer youth a place in the life of the Church.

During both conversations, I asked why young people are not considered for ministry in the parish. In both conversations, there was no response, just a bewildered look. As I would imagine, it is not intentional -- it just never occurred to them. So the real question will be what happens post WYD?

Many, many of my discussions about my WYD experience has stressed the importance of cultivation in the parishes, stating how important it is for the parishes to offer opportunities for ministry and a means to share their new found joy and excitement. Let us pray for that.

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Chocies", that is chocolate. It is a common thing here in Australia to ad "-ies" to things in shortened form. "Sunnies" is another example, which are sunglasses. Nor is it just being cute, but the way they call things here.

Blessings and G'Day!

Habit Version 4.0

2008-06-25T10:34:00.004+10:00

Summers have always been an “experiment” for Basilian seminarians. Much like the Jesuit formation program, Basilian seminarians are asked to immerse themselves in a different location to work and live during the summer months. During this “experiment”, the manipulated variable is the seminarian, rather than the external circumstances, because it is the seminarian who must learn to adapt, meet the challenges and grow from the encounter.

Over the last couple of years, my summer experiments have been very different and filled with many, many unexpected challenges and graces; however, each has resulted in a wider understanding of the God, Church, people, and myself. Perhaps one of the only constants during the last three years is what I have packed. I travel light – a laptop computer, running shoes and the typical four days worth of clothes are all I need to provide for myself and remain happy and productive. For the last three years, I have worn the off-white, long-sleeve shirt and cross that the scholastics have called a “habit”. Though not a habit in the most traditional sense, this shirt and cross is distinctive and when worn everyday. Together, they are both identifiable and make for easy travel in just about every circumstance.

However, I am not writing about clothes as travel recommendations, but for the experiment they have been. Over the last three years, I have listened to many comments about “the habit” from in and outside the community. Many have been positive and some have been negative. However, it is during the summer experiments, that I have realized the truth of their meaning. Whether I be in New York, Sydney or somewhere else, I am recognized instantly as a member of a religious community. Especially when worn in the presence of others who are wearing it, this white shirt and cross has been a useful tool in my ministry and survival in places far away from the comforts of Basilian institutions. It has also held me to a higher standard of performance, prayer, leisure and interpersonal relations.

I know that for some of you this is yet another edition of what seems to be my yearly ramble on the "habit." Some of you make shake your head laughing, but nevertheless I am bringing it up again. However, it is important to note that I do so not simply because I believe it to be worthy of discussion (that is blogworthy), but because other people believe so as well. I have been struck time and time again during our summers away, by how many people have approached me (or another Basilian seminarian) asking what community we belonged to, or about our charism, founder, or any other question along those lines. This does not happen every now and then, but quite often – in fact, almost daily. Here in Sydney, I believe this is, in part, because most of the Religious here wear a habit. In fact, I think it is fair to say that not doing so would create a negative impression.

Make no mistake, the youth of today do not view a religious habit through the same lenses as those before them. The issues of the past were important and I understand the reason for the decisions made at the time; however, those issues are not the issues of the present -- that has become very clear during our time here.

For whatever reason, I admit that I am not encountered by the same questions about the "habit" in Toronto, perhaps because people already know the Basilians or our routines are relatively set and we do not encounter many who do not know us. In contrast, summer ministry away is always filled with many new encounters and I am always happy to be wearing something that speaks to who I am and what I am about. It simply makes everything much easier and much more engaging, and for that I am thankful.

I realize that these conclusions may not be universally applicable, and for that reason, I do not mean to impose them on anyone. You see I understand the purpose of the blog to be an opportunity for all of us to learn from the experience, because it is all of us who have made this experience possible – in any number of capacities. So my hope is that this is seen, simply, as one of the lessons learned from the "experiment".

In the end, who knows what will happen with this experiment? It is quite possible the habit will fade away into the horizon of lessons learned or it may take on a new form. In the meantime, I continue to be thankful for the witness it provides to others and to myself. Lord knows, I need all the help I can get!

Blessings and G’Day!

Taking a little boat ride in the Harbour

2008-06-24T14:26:00.004+10:00

Don't ask me how I find myself in these positions, but some how I find myself coordinating much of the Pope's voyage across Sydney Harbour. Of course, there are lots of people working on this, but what people do when they are on the boat is now my responsibility. I have known this for about a week, but as soon as it got confirmed, the first order of business was to go see the boat. So here it is, four levels of boat and soon to be ten levels of security.

As for this spot -- you guessed, the Pope will be right here.

The funny thing about all of this is it was another Basilian who coordinated the Papal voyage in Cologne. Add that to JPII's trip to Strawberry Island and you build a pretty impressive collection of Pope's, Basilians, and boats!

As for the Australian word of the Day: "Oz", which is Australia. This one took me forever to find out. You see it on many signs and ads, but since people don't talk about their own country by a name, it took a while. Just think of the advertising WYD could do with this one!

Blessings and G'Day!

Tipping the Scales

2008-06-20T21:37:00.003+10:00

Well, its official -- we just heard that Australia has passed the United States as the most obese country in the world. Seemingly this information, though interesting, has little impact on Morgan and I; however, we feel a certain responsibility for it all. You see, when we lived in Houston -- it was the fattest city; then we moved to Detroit and it took the dubious title; then we moved back to Houston/Sugar Land -- you guessed it -- Houston took the title back. So it would seem Morgan and I tip the scales. Personally, I think it is really just Morgan's fault. . . .

The Dangers of Multi-Tasking

2008-06-19T20:09:00.004+10:00

Despite what most people think, I am not all that good at multi-tasking. Most people seem to think I am, and I can see why (just read a recent post about the day's activities, but my brain can only handle one thing at a time -- though I do admit to moving from one thing to the other faster than most. The events of a few days ago proves my point, and though the story about to be told is embarrassing, it has provided laughter for many people in the office for a few days now, making it officially "blog-worthy".

It was one of the days I described in detail earlier -- the type of day when everything is urgent and last-minute. Admittedly, I did it to myself -- and I should know better. Typing an email and editing/rendering a movie added to the phone call I took for some reason is a bit much. On the other end of the phone was my supervisor, in a meeting, in need of a screen shot of the latest playlist I had created at that very moment so he could discuss it. Fine, no problem. A click here, there, capture, open new email, copy, paste, and send. Done. Excellent -- now back to what I was doing.

A few minutes pass by and the sequence of events replays in my head. Did I? Noooo, I couldn't have. . . . Maybe. . . better check. . . . darn it, I did.

I have never done this. Rather than start a new email, I hit the button beside it to forward an existing email. In other words, I sent the requested information as part of an existing email already in my inbox. Upon realizing my mistake, I quickly send an email to my supervisor with the information resent in a clean email, asking him to delete the previous one. However, it was about that time that I receive a phone call from one of my colleagues who was laughing and teasing me mercilessly. I then realize that my supervisor, being as busy as I was, simply opened it, saw the information, and forwarded to the department -- without scrolling down.

So what was forwarded? Well, I have already mentioned that I have been asked to write for various sources during World Youth Day, which requires a short bio and a few pictures that bring out my personality. One of which is here and the others are equally as "fun". None are even remotely scandalous, but then again no one expects to get a series of photos (unsolicited) of a guy in their office email either. So all the ladies in the office have been teasing me about it for days -- all in good fun of course.

I now think of it a an opportunity to build a bit of community in the workplace and a lesson to be learned about the dangers of multi-tasking. We all need the laughs, most especially as things get stressed, and if a little embarrassment on my part can help the day move along for others -- so be it.

Blessings and G'Day!

Remembering the Congress

2008-06-19T11:39:00.002+10:00

On the other side of the world, in our "home" country of Canada, the Eucharistic Congress is occurring in Quebec City. Two summers ago, Morgan worked on the staff on the Congress and right now, Salt and Light Television is providing much of the media coverage. It is also the last international event of the Church before World Youth Day, so you could say that in many ways, the Eucharistic Congress sets the stage for WYD in the minds of many Catholics around the world. Please remember to pray for all those participating in the Congress and for those ensuring that it is a success. You are also encouraged to read the blog from Salt and Light here. Come Holy Spirit, come!

Blessings and G'Day!

A Day in the Life of a WYD Volunteer

2008-06-19T11:08:00.003+10:00

I am sure you have all noticed that we are not blogging at quite the same rate as we were before. It is not hard to imagine that with 26 days to go before WYD and only two weeks before our various groups begin to arrive, everything now happens at once, and deadlines range from 5 minutes to the "end of the day", which can be quite late. However, my prayers this morning left me renewed with a sense of perspective and so I thought I would take the moment to up date the blog and share with you a bit of what my day looks like, using yesterday as an example:

4:50 am: Rise and (think about) shining; eat breakfast; prep for the day
5:30 am: Out the door and walk to bus stop
5:50 am: Catch the bus
6:10 am: Depart bus, walk 20 minutes to office
6:30 am: Went for a run as it was a beautiful morning (that is, until I passed the WYD countdown sign: 27 days to go)
8:00 am: At the office, Morgan and I gather for morning prayer

After that, everything is a blur, but here are the highlights:

Finalize playlist and burn a CD containing the soundtrack to be played throughout High Park during the Pilgrimage to the Cathedral.
Make final changes the two movies I had to create for the big screens around the city and burn them to DVD for proofing by the communications department -- one is a series of advertisements for various events, the second is a video highlighting the ten patron saints of WYD. Both are five minutes long.
Finish my part of the final draft for Activ8 the Parish, which is the 64 page document that will be sent to all the parishes in Australia post WYD. We received the Bishop's edits the day before and it has to go to the printer by the end of the day -- thank goodness, the changes were minimal (thank you to all my professors at the Faculty of Theology).
Write my bio for the media correspondence I will be doing during WYD week.
Confirm all groups of people who will be on board the Papal boat during his welcome to the city. Set up a site visit and prep the program runsheet for a meeting with the Bishop later in the day.
Called into meeting regarding the Papal Flotilla, of which I am one of the managers.
12:30: Mass
1:00: Lunch (which last 8 minutes because I was called into another meeting) On the way there in the lift, I was approached by the promoter of a band how they could get into the WYD line up.
1:30: Scheduled departmental meeting
2:00: Run through final draft of Activ8 with my supervisor, who approved it with minor changes
2:00 - 5:00: WYDMOC (WYD Master Operations Control), or the command center meetings. I was just informed that I will be in the command center at various points in the week to provide the evangelization and catechesis point of view. However, I never made it to the meeting.
Revised and finalized two videos for Communications
Reviewed the latest applications for the vocations expo
Met with the Sisters of Life who just arrived in town.
Sent emails following up on various issues regarding the Activ8, Xt3, Vocations Expo and the Papal Flotilla
Communicated with Salt and Light Television as they are providing content to be shown on the big screens between events.
Responded to various emails and phone messages as I wrote up the to-do list for tomorrow.
6:10: Morgan and I gathered for evening prayer
6:25: Caught the train to the ferry station because we didn't have time to walk
6:35: Have 10 minutes, so we decided for a brief walk towards the Opera House on a beautiful evening along the Harbour.
6:45: 10 min. Ferry ride to the other side of the Harbour, where we have a 5 min bus ride home.
7:00: Come home ready for a quiet night only to find the dining room formally set with a note telling us there would be guests.
7:30: Guests arrived and dinner started. It did not end until 11:30.
11:45: Literally fell into bed and set the alarm for 4:50 am so it can start all over again.

So there you have it. I am sure I missed things (which is sad to say given the length of this list), but it gives you an idea. Please keep us in your prayers as the days get longer and demands increase. We certainly keep everyone at home in our prayers as well.

Blessings and G'Day!

Frassati is Coming to WYD!

2008-06-15T21:04:00.002+10:00

From the Presses:

Vatican City, Jun 13, 2008 / 09:23 am (CNA). Today the Vatican announced that the relics of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a student and member of the Dominican Third Order, will be taken to Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day next month.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who was beatified by John Paul II in 1990, will be one of the 10 official patrons of World Youth Day (WYD). A release from the Pontifical Council from the Laity noted that the blessed is widely venerated in Australia and that the presence of his relic will be one of the central features of WYD.

Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy, on April 6, 1901 and was raised in a very rich Catholic family. During his adolescence he cultivated a profound spiritual life and became an active member of Catholic Action, the apostolate of prayer, the Eucharistic League and the Association of University Student Adorers. He lived an austere live and gave a large portion of his money to the poor. He was an intrepid athlete, skier and mountain climber. When he turned 24, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness which claimed his life in only one week. He died on July 4, 1925 and was buried at the cathedral of Turin.

His relic will be transported to Sydney on June 19 and will be placed in the church of St. Benedict. From July 11-22, the casket of the blessed will be on display in Sydney cathedral where participants in WYD will be able to come and pay homage. Hanging near his casket will be ten panels illustrating Pier Giorgio Frassati's life and thought. In addition, an exhibition dedicated to Pier Giorgio Frassati's life will be held in Sydney Exhibition Hall July 15-18.

Off to the Races!

2008-06-15T20:57:00.002+10:00

I am a runner. Most of you who know me know that running is how I clear my head, and relax. Depending on the day and route, it is also my time to pray or socialize. Whenever I find myself some where new, it is not long before I am out on the streets, purposely lost, making all kinds of discoveries many who have lived there for years never make.

It should be no surprise that I am running quite a bit in Sydney. The coastlands, beaches and cliffs make for beautiful scenery and very good training. In fact, the training has been so good, that I crushed my personal best in the 10K Mini-Mos Marathon race this morning. Though the time was only about six minutes faster than my previous best, the route was up and down hills with very little level roads, which I figure counts for at least another 10 minutes. (You can view the map here)

You might ask why I feel the need to run a race when life presents the need to race every where during the week? It is a fair question, one I asked as I was waiting for the race to begin. As I watched runners take care of their bags, numbers, last minute bathroom duties, and stretches -- each of these done with a bit of anxiety, I think how crazy are all of us? Then the race begins, and I remember how much fun it is; in fact, how much of a blessing it is, to run the race at all. This morning I pushed myself a bit harder than usual, digging deep within to keep a steady pace no matter how big the hill was in front of me. It is no wonder why St. Paul uses the metaphor of the race to describe the Christian life. And when you cross the finish line, knowing that you are completely spent, that you gave it everything you had (even a bit you didn't think you had) -- it is a feeling that knows few equals.

. . . but if that doesn't do it for ya -- remember my core value concerning running (and this is important) -- guilt-free eating.

As for the Australian word of the day, “Rubber”, which is an eraser. And yes, some one asked me if I had one on me this morning. Thank goodness they quickly explained -- I guess the look on my face gave me away as new to Australia!

XT3 Live!

2008-06-12T20:44:00.004+10:00

Today's big news was the official launch of XT3. I have attached sections of the press release below. It is a project near and dear to my heart, which is ironic because (despite my love of technology) I usually stay far away from social network sites. (Like I need one more thing to keep me at the computer. . .)

My role with XT3 is in the next stage to be launched which will include online resources, much of which is in its final approval stages at this very moment. These resources will combine with the networking capability already function to make XT3 a truly global classroom. For more information, read below:

In a first for any World Youth Day, an online social networking site - www.Xt3.com - was launched today by His Eminence Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney and Bishop Anthony Fisher, Coordinator of WYD08.

Hosted by Telstra, Xt3.com is the exclusive online social network for World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) and will connect pilgrims with the Catholic Church and "virtual pilgrims" around the globe.

"The name 'Xt3' was inspired by Pope John Paul II and stands for Christ in the Third Millenium. Pope John Paul II spoke of young people's special task to bring the message of Christ to the world in the third Millennium.

"It is hoped that Xt3 users will continue to connect after World Youth Day in July, to build upon friendships made and continue dialogue about what it means to be a young person of faith," he said.

Xt3.com is the brainchild of two English brothers, John and Robert Toone and Chris Purslow who will continue to promote the site with the Archdiocese of Sydney after World Youth Day.

"This site has been launched in time for the Sydney event, but it is a legacy piece for the Catholic Church in Australia and the world," said Robert Toone, Co-founder Xt3.com.

"It is an online platform to enable pilgrims to connect with millions, share the experience and build a better world," he said.

Unique to the Xt3 social networking site will be faith connection features such as 'Ask a Priest' and 'Prayer Intentions' as well as the ability to create discussion groups and debates on contemporary issues.

Xt3 will also provide pilgrims with the ability to join official WYD08 groups, charity action groups and create their own interactive profiles.

Further features include private messaging; event calendars; the ability to embed other websites such as parish websites onto Xt3; and a video and multiple photo uploading facility.

Another important dimension to Xt3 is its capacity to coordinate and organize young people to do something to build a better world.

"It's not enough just to talk," said John Toone.

Xt3 wants its members to use the site to create initiatives in areas such as social justice, charitable activities, and spreading the Christian message in a secularized world. It will also be a way to link together Church agencies and existing groups to share resources and help each other.

More than 2,000 users joined the 'alpha' test site since February 2008 to provide testing, feedback, and to enhance the site in time for its worldwide launch.

"This will be the most interactive World Youth Day event to date with Xt3.com, Papal SMS's and Digital Prayer Walls keeping pilgrims involved before, during and after the event, said Michael Rocca, Group Managing Director, Telstra Networks and Services.

WYD08 now invites everyone - including all WYD08 registered pilgrims - to join Xt3 at www.Xt3.com .

The site will prove invaluable for sharing information - whether it be pilgrims planning their trip to WYD08, or administrators of religious educations programs hoping to create interactive forums for students and young adults.

A group of trained administrators will oversee Xt3 on a 24-hour basis to ensure that images, videos, comments and discussions are appropriate.

State of Origin

2008-06-12T16:27:00.002+10:00

In case you didn't know - rugby, or "footie" as it is called here, is a BIG deal in Australia. Even by Texas standards, Australians take sports to a new level. The highlight of the year is the "State of Origin" series between New South Wales and Queensland. Three games are played over a period of two months between two all-star teams from each state.

Last night was the second game in the series and several of the priests in the deanery came over for dinner and to watch the game. While it was fun, New South Wales was shut out -- which doesn't make for a happy room. However, it was a good chance for Morgan and I to meet many of the priests in the area and ask a few questions about footie rules that have stumped us until now.

I must confess that I enjoy watching the sport -- it is fast-paced, simple to follow and relatively short (approx. 1.5 hours for a game). NRL (National Rugby League) I enjoy more than AFL (Australian Rules), which seems much less organized and too hard to follow.

I am amazed at the beating these blokes take and equally amazed that the game is rarely stopped for injuries, and that they do not pull a bloke off the field even if he is bleading significantly. Yet, while it is a serious game, the Australians demonstrate their relaxed nature in that the game is not stopped because of poor calls and people do not seem to get terribly upset about it; rather, it is accepted as part of the game. All of us strikes me as quite different from North American sports.

As for the Australian word of the day: "mad" or "maddness", which is awesome. You can just imagine the confusion this causes.

Blessings and G'Day!

A Series of Firsts

2008-06-10T21:46:00.001+10:00

Last weekend, some of the long-term volunteers took advantage of the long weekend due to Monday’s celebration of the Queen’s birthday. On Sunday, we headed south to Jervis Bay, about two hours south of Sydney. The trip was a series of firsts for me: my first time to drive in Australia, to see humpback whales in the wild, and to eat a lamington.

Since fifteen of us made the trip, we needed two 8-passenger vans, one of which I happily drove. Part of the enjoyment came from the type of vans—two Mercedes Vitos with diesel engines. A Mercedes diesel—can anything be any better?! I was lovin’ it. It caused me to be nostalgic for my tank-like ’85 Turbodiesel Mercedes (probably my favourite of the cars I owned) that purred like a loud kitten. To be adequately prepared for the trip and to better appreciate the fine German engineering, I read the owners manual on Saturday. I was pleased to learn that Mercedes had remained pleasantly consistent with respect to the interior workings. There was even a dashboard full of nice large buttons, of which I tried to take advantage. I guess it takes an engineer to appreciate those sorts of things!

Driving on the highway was fairly simple. As long as I did not have to make many turns across traffic, I was fine. Australia is full of roundabouts, which can be quite fun but not really if you are in a large vehicle like a van. What I find most impressive about driving in Australia is the courtesy of the other drivers. There were a few instances when I found myself in the wrong lane. Upon discovering my mistake, I simply signalled, and cars would stop to allow me to merge in front of them. Never did I receive a honk. In fact, very rarely have I heard any honking in the city.

Another first was seeing humpback whales in the wild. We went out on a boat, which caught up to three whales. They were making their way to the warmer waters of Queensland for the winter. We also found some bottlenose dolphins, which seemed to impress folks more than the whales.

The final first of the trip to Jervis Bay was eating a lamington during afternoon tea after whale watching. Anzac biscuits, which we Americans would call oatmeal coconut cookies, and lamingtons are two very typical Australian desserts. Lamingtons are small white sponge cakes covered in chocolate and white shredded coconut. Sometimes they have an internal layer of jelly, but mine did not. They are as tasty as they sound!

Australian word of the day: trackie dacks = sweatpants.

Happy Birthday Your Majesty

2008-06-09T16:51:00.003+10:00

Today is a public holiday in Australia to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Not quite sure what to do in the Queen's honor, we decided to do what comes natural -- ignore it all together and invite some friends over for lunch. However, not just any friends, but the wonderful Sisters from the Nashville Dominicans. We had a delightful leisurely lunch and discussed everything from our individual entrances into our communities to what we have learned about the Church in Australia so far. And while there have been many things, we have all been struck by the openness people have towards what comes out of WYD -- and their understanding that it will all take time for an impact to occur. We have also been struck by the absence of visible religious life in Sydney and how many misperceptions their are about it. Bottom line -- there are great seeds of hope being sown here and we are all thrilled to be here to witness it.

As for the Australian word of the day: "Capiscum" that is red bell pepper. Maybe they are called this elsewhere, but it took me a while to figure out what my recipe was calling for.

Rain + Busses = Wet Pedestrians

2008-06-05T20:56:00.004+10:00

One month into our stay here in Sydney and we finally see what everyone has been talking about -- rain. Seriously, start praying now that it does not rain for WYD week because when it rains -- it rains for a week! We are not just talking about a little shower either, we are talking about change-of-clothes-is-necessary-when-you-get-to-the-office rainstorms. Being that I am from Texas -- that is saying something!

Of course, I learned all this the hard way (as usual). Yesterday, I left the house in the usual darkness and noticed it was raining a bit. No big deal, my shoes are waterproof and my clothes will dry (little did I know it would take most of the day) Keeping in mind that I do have a bit of a walk on either side of the bus ride, I did get a bit wet. However, it was not until George Street (which is much like Bloor or Westheimer) that I ran into real trouble. Buses: Terrible. Impolite. Just awful.

Note to anyone coming to Sydney: Never walk down George Street in a rain storm. Not knowing any better, I walked down George Street because it is covered all the way to the office (as are most of the streets in Sydney, which is very nice -- George is just wider). I knew that it was a major bus route, but what I did not realize is that they do not move over for the massive flow of water coming down the side of the road (which is channeled, so it really is a lot of water). Keeping my head down, I heard the bus coming before I saw the tidal wave roaring along side it. When I looked up, I quickly realized my plight and looked for an escape -- nothing. I flattened myself against the wall like a kid who just got caught misbehaving - but there was no dodging the water that came rushing across the sidewalk and battering the walls of the buildings. I hunkered underneath my umbrella and managed to keep 3/4 of me dry. In disbelief, I stood there stunned and noticed some poor bloke was in much worse shape than me as he had no umbrella.

I continued my walk until I was alerted by another fateful sound -- yes, another bus carrying with it another tidal wave. My mind was screaming while my eyes are desperately looked for a place of hopeful refuge. I quickly found a little doorway to hide in -- thank goodness. I stepped out to find the same poor bloke in front of me - once again soaked to the bone. If I were him, I would have turned around and gone right back to bed. No good can come from a day that starts like that.

I finally made it to the office relatively dry. The rain continues, and so do the busses.

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Rock up", which means to show up some where un-announced or just casually stopping by. It happens a lot at the office.

Blessings and G'Day!

Got Reservations?

2008-06-05T18:04:00.004+10:00

Here is the latest announcement from the press room:

Strong demand for airline seats into Australia for World Youth Day Sydney
2008 (WYD08) has led to at least 36 extra flights being scheduled next
month. Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd has confirmed that 35 new airline
flights and one dedicated charter have been booked to bring passengers into
Sydney in the lead-up to WYD08.

"World Youth Day is bringing international visitors into Sydney in
droves," said Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey. "Our information is
that almost every flight into Sydney is fully booked in the lead-up to the event
and 36 more flights have had to be added so far. " Sydney is going to come
alive this winter with 125,000 young people from more than 170 nations arriving
here to celebrate their faith with 100,000 young people from all over Australia
."

In Search of Youth: The Challenge and the Church

2008-06-03T09:51:00.007+10:00

Two students involved with WYD hosted a radio show the other night. It is a bit long (45 min), but worth the listen. However, I have also included highlights from the transcript below.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/

Ruth Powell: The funny thing that's happening in the Australian church at the moment is that it's going through this massive transition period. What you have in some churches is the pain and grief of older attenders saying what happened, where did the young people go, how do we continue, what's our future, when we don't have any young people - there's that pain of that - and at the same time you've got these growing churches characterised by having heaps of young people in them and young people who not only are there but having chosen to come to church, because these days you don't go because you were born a Anglican, a Catholic, whatever, you choose whether you're going to have faith, you choose whether you're going to go to church...So young people who are going to church are actually intentionally going and finding places that fit with their hopes and their needs and finding a form of spirituality that connects with them. So they are some of the most enthusiastic, keen, motivated, committed attenders around.

Guy Mason: Yeh well I think we've got you know truth, and we don't want to negotiate on truth and what the bible says and who Jesus was, but I think how we do church and what church looks like can be a little bit moveable and so we want to use things from our culture like media, like music, like drama, like preaching that engages where people are at, things like that. We don't want to negotiate on truth but we want to connect with people where they're at.

Ruth Powell: We know from our research on healthy churches across Australia, but also the US, New Zealand and the UK, one of the most powerful predictor of a healthy church is whether the church has a clear and owned vision for the future. So if the people say I know why I'm here, I know what we're about and I know what we're trying to achieve, that is a powerful thing and I think churches that can pull that off, they can be any faith tradition, any size, any context. If you can say we know why we're here, that is a very attractive church and that is as I said a predictor of growth, newcomers, belonging, growing faith, all sorts of things.

Tom McIlroy: Young people respond really well when they're given a challenge, certainly our experience here in the school is that social justice is one of the best ways to get young people involved in their faith. Give them a good cause to raise money for or an event to put on or whatever and they'll really respond. Drawing the connection between that and their responsibility as Catholics and as Christians is important and we try and do that a lot. Parishes are getting really good at that. Parishes that have vibrant and active youth groups are giving them good projects and giving them leadership roles. The other way of course is music and music ministry within the church, within the mass on the weekends having young people play their instruments and putting their own kinds of music into the old institutions of the church is great it means they have a seat at the table.

Paul Culliver: World Youth Day. A phenomenal, life changing experience where the young Catholics of the world unite and discover they are not alone. They are reinvigorated with a passion for their faith and their beliefs. That's the vision. So, what happens though when the bubble bursts, when World Youth Day ends and all the pilgrims head back to the same local Parish they've been attending all their lives, only to find it at status quo?

Luke Van Grieken: You come back becoming increasingly frustrated with your Parish, or at least I did personally. You go over there; I had some of the best liturgical experiences of my life. You'll have a room of 2000 people with probably ten, fifteen different nationalities represented in that congregation everyone is is singing along to the same hymns at the top of their lungs these really modern progressive songs and all the feelings and emotion and the depth of faith is very clear to everyone there and everyone sharing in it.

And then you come back to mass in Melbourne and often it's comparatively more dreary and the sermons aren't inspiring and the liturgy itself is not exuberant and the people come almost out of obligation and that's disappointing. And because you have that memory of such wonderful liturgy you really want that, you really expect that every week. Maybe it's unrealistic but you certainly have a different, perhaps increased expectation.

Paul Culliver: What happens when the bubble bursts?

Bishop Anthony Fisher: That's a very reasonable fear. And I have been saying to priests all around the country and to bishops that it would be a terrible let down for young people if they come home excited about their faith, wanting to learn more about it, wanting to lead and to serve to be more actively engaged and they come home to a dead parish or to people that just aren't interested in them or who say to them look we'll let you speak for a minute after communion to tell people about your experience but then we want to get back to normal please. That would be deadly, and we really have to get across to people that we're not going to go back to normal, as it were, after World Youth Day.

So there are a number of programs of preparation for young people and also for the rest of the Church, suggesting to them how to get ready for a post World Youth Day Church. There's a program called Activate For Witness which will be coming out next month and going to all the parishes in Australia, which will challenge them to look at have you got youth groups, youth masses, places for young people perhaps to be on your parish council to give a lead, ways for them to deepen their faith, opportunities for them to tell you as a local parish or community what they'd like to see happening rather than just being giving the menu that older people have written and told to fit into it? Again I'm not naïve. I think there'll be places that just stay much the same and then young people will gravitate to places where there is more life or more opportunity to express
themselves spiritually and to lead and to serve.

Marketing the Gospel

2008-06-01T16:07:00.006+10:00

I had a bit of time to write some of my own thoughts this weekend, in light of our work here. They are (as always) working conclusions, and simply represent my own view, but I thought I would share some of the more pertinent snippets. If you have any thoughts, I would love to hear them.

"In light of WYD, I would like to narrow the question and the scope. How to we get as many people as possible to participate in the event? No doubt, the first visit of Pope Benedict to Australia is a major draw, as he is respected among the churched and non-churched alike. Not surprisingly, much of the marketing has seemingly followed this idea; but I question such a focus.

It seems the advertising have arrived at a consensus that the un-churched and non-Catholic will not be able to relate to ideas and images of the Holy Spirit as much as they might relate to the Pope, youth, fun, or any other idea that speaks to the dynamics of WYD. Certainly, these are important components of WYD and the marketing campaign, but I believe there is a very fine line which must not be crossed concerning the focus of any church-related campaign.

My personal conclusion (in progress), is that people are attracted to anything that is bigger than reality. Major events, concerts, movies, theme parks, and the alike, all share a similar attraction – they allow our imagination room to expand. If this conclusion is accepted, it would seem that the Church, which represents the creator of universe, as the greatest “attraction” of all.

Make no mistake, the Gospel as told through the lens of the Catholic Church has been the most enduring, successful message ever communicated. It has captured the imaginations of artists, politicians and thinkers for almost as long as human history has been recorded. It is not that the message isn’t relevant; rather that too many people rarely given the opportunity to see the Church and the Gospel communicated without distractions that dilute their message.

In the end, the only truth in advertising is the product itself -- and people know this. As the Church continues to embrace communications and marketing strategies (as it should, for the very essence of the Church is evangelization or marketing) we must be true to what we represent. The very best marketing campaigns center around simplicity and curiosity.

If we are to be effective promoters of the Gospel, we must stay true to the simple ideas and images it contains, resisting any temptation to camouflage the Word of God with inevitably shallow appeals. As we move forward in this new millennium, we must be reassured that the message of the Gospel is attractive enough if we allow people to see and hear the real thing – untainted, unembellished, and uncensored. The world is longing to see what is authentic; longing to understand the subconscious feelings that tell them there is something bigger than what they have experienced. This is what we are to present – the big picture in all its glory and its appeal. "

Happy Birthday Morgan!

2008-06-01T15:19:00.011+10:00

Morgan's birthday is once again upon us. . . and once again, he is celebrating it in another exotic part of the world! And as only Morgan would have it, his birthday fell on the same day the long-term volunteers were invited to Bishop Anthony's house in Watson's Bay for a BBQ.

You can see that Watson's Bay is a very scenic place, but be warned, if you have to be there for 9 am mass (as we did), the buses out there are limited. This was especially frustrating for us since we live on the opposite side of the bay -- that would be 10 minutes by boat and an hour and a half by bus!

Nevertheless, it was worth it as we never miss the opportunity to spend time in prayer and in a meal with many good friends. Of course, some friends we know better than others -- yes, it is our fellow Canadians, the Kantors, with Bishop Anthony -- coming to a Salt and Light bulletin board near you.

And pictured is Sr. Anna, the other half of the International Liturgy Group, who works with Morgan.

As for the Australian Word of the Day, Indigenous -- not that it is a word unfamiliar to North Americans, but because the situation of the Indigenous is particularly difficult here. I spent a bit of time speaking with Fr. Matt who works with us and has spent a great deal of time working with them in Northern Australia. It is a situation that commands great sensitivity with the Church here, perhaps because the situation is still quite fresh. The Indigenous are the fastest growing population in Australia, yet they were only given citizen's rights in 1972. Not until the late 1960's did the country ever recognize them as "people" Many come from families with multiple generations of no formal education of any kind and the problem continues to persist. Of course, this little narration hardly tells the full story, but it does give you the idea.

Not to leave the day on a down note, we took the ferry home (so much better) just before the rain came. As you can see, God has blessed Morgan on his happy day!

Blessings and G'Day!

Wandering the Sydney Outback

2008-06-01T06:16:00.009+10:00

During another beautiful Saturday afternoon, Morgan and I joined up with some of the other long-term volunteers for an excursion around Manley Beach and North Sydney. Though there were some trails, we found ourselves exploring up around the cliffs that are some of the highest in the Sydney area!

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Though you cannot see them in this picture, the humpback whales have started their migration North along this route.
Oops! A wrong turn. At this point we were off the trail wandering our way through the bush-country and came across a strange wall. We followed it and determined that we could go no further! As it turns out, this was probably all part of a defense structure, as we would later stumble onto command posts and gun pits.

We had been told that North Sydney, being the piece of land that extends the furthest into the Pacific was a defensive position during WWII -- we just didn't think we would see so much evidence!

Morgan and I are joined by Paul, from France, and Alana, from (can you believe it) Austin, Texas!

Hmmm. . . is this a premonition?!?!

Stay tuned for more of the weekend's adventures -- coming soon!

Divine Intervention?

2008-05-31T00:11:00.002+10:00

As Chris mentioned, I got into work early enough to actually access Outlook and my files, thus enabling me to have quite a productive day. I had no internet or email access, so much of the day’s work was carried out face-to-face. The feeling in the office was like Sister Anna described—much like a snow day when things move a bit more slowly. People were limited in what they could do. Some people could not log on to their computers; others could not print. Despite these obstacles, most people were surprisingly relaxed. (Probably not the IT folks!)

Could the computer problems of today have been a result of divine intervention? Could it have been a way to force us to take a break? Whether or not it was, people were given a chance to breathe and collect themselves. From what I saw, most took advantage of the gift that resulted from a sort of helplessness. Perhaps we learned an important lesson in humility. With only 46 days to go, we shall need to keep that lesson in mind so that we rely less on what we can do by ourselves and more on what the Holy Spirit can do with our cooperation. Come Holy Spirit!

Australian word of the day: savoury. Yes, it sounds quite ordinary, but the Aussie definition is much different than the common North American one. This definition from merriam-webster.com captures the Aussie meaning: “pungently flavorful without sweetness.” For example, biscuits (that is, cookies) can be either of the sweet type or the savoury type.

Thank God for Laptops!

2008-05-30T17:22:00.003+10:00

We all know things are getting busier at the office, but today it all came to standstill when the server went down just before everyone arrived at work. I hung around until lunch as there was quite a bit of reading that needed my attention, but when lunch had passed and the server was still down, I looked out my window at the beautiful Friday afternoon and decided I had spent enough time in the office.

I mean seriously, this is what laptops are for! So I packed up my computer and found myself a shady spot on the beach. I managed to get some good writing in and even had a little company here and there (see above).

And just in case your wondering, Morgan got in before the server crashed so he was able to work productively at the office . . .

Blessings and G'(Fri)day!

Movies with Class

2008-05-28T09:17:00.008+10:00

Last night was cheap night at the movie theatre, and since Morgan and I highly object to paying full price ($17.50) for a movie, this was our chance to see Indiana Jones (for a much more reasonable $11). There is a cool little theatre down the street from our house called the Orpheum. If you recall, Morgan and I live in a ritzy part of Sydney -- little did we know. . .

Now the movies are expensive everywhere in Sydney, but if your gonna pay for it, you might as well watch a movie with class!

The amazing thing about Sydney, and maybe all of Australia, is that despite the commonly large size of people here (not overwieght necessarily, but the average build of people here compared with other areas, is just bigger), there is very little leg room anywhere. For Morgan and I, everywhere is just about a perfect fit -- theatres, buses, trains, church pews, etc. . . However, we keep wondering why they just don't add a bit of leg room?

As for the movie -- we both give it two thumbs up! It was one of the most enjoyable movies either of us have seen in some time. . . and you better believe our next movie experience will be at the Orpheum once again!

Blessings and G'Day!

Snippets of Americana

2008-05-26T20:54:00.000+10:00

Allow for me to paint you a little picture – which is necessary because I don’t have any photos for this (but it is too good to not write about).

Last night, all the long-term volunteers through a surprise birthday party for one of the Americans who was celebrating her 21st birthday. It turns out, there are some standard traditions here about birthdays, and since the drinking age is 18 here, the usual American traditions are not all that important anyway. First, parties are often themed. In this case, it was “All Things American,” which I must say was a bit disturbing. Now they know that we Americans are much like everyone else, but when it comes to stereotypical American – these are things costumes, songs and ideas that depicted the USA: cowboys and Indians, boots, cowboy hats, bolo ties, the Beach Boys, American flags, Lee Greenwood, Delta Delta Delta, country music, Chicago Cubs, basketball, baseball, NASA, smores, chili, milkshakes and of course, George W.

It was all pretty scary.

And in lieu of the Australian Word of the Day, I would like to share with you some of the other Australian Birthday traditions: The birthday boy/girl is asked to make a speech, which is followed by a roasting of him/her by all of her closest friends. They have their own version of a birthday song, which I never quite got and at least in this case, there were letters sent by friends and family (even a video actually). All in all, a good time had by all.

Blessings and G’Day!

In the Streets of Sydney

2008-05-26T20:17:00.008+10:00

As we all know, this past Sunday marks the feast of Corpus Christi, which often includes a Eucharistic procession. It is no secret that the Church loves processions – we have them all the time, but the Feast of Corpus Christi, which celebrates the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist as the Bread of Life, is often the largest procession of the year. There are several reasons for the procession, but perhaps the simplest explanation is to remember that we cannot live on bread (or any material items) alone; rather, everything that sustains us has a connection to God. As the bread from Heaven, the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith and so it leads our procession through the daily activities of our lives.

Depending on where you are, the procession of Corpus Christi may be as simple as a walk around the Church, but if you live in Sydney, 10,000+ flood the streets of the urban center in a witness of prayer, song and life. It was the largest procession Morgan and I had ever participated in and we were quite impressed. Yet again, the people here demonstrate such great hope for what will come from WYD – the anticipation characterizes everything the Church does at this point.

Of course, any event like this is not without its comical moments – something Morgan and I experienced first hand. Now, you have to understand, we didn’t know what to expect, so we came prepared for a journey, with a backpack containing a few things, walking shoes and pants along with our usual white shirt and cross. We arrived just prior to the procession, near the entrance of the church from where the procession would begin. Very quickly we were noticed by the volunteers as Basilian seminarians who then opened the barriers and instructed inside the church with all the other seminarians, priests and religious. Before we knew it, we were leading the procession, despite our attempts to duck out into the back somewhere. Keep in mind, we dressed for a walk and in no way fit in with the other religious folk who where wearing albs, cassocks or suits. No, no, we were in jeans and running shoes!

As it turns out, we managed to break back through the barrier so we could walk with everyone else; thus, saving ourselves from the anxiety and embarrassment of being unprepared. However, we learned a few things from this: As Religious seminarians so closely connected with the diocese, people want us to be seen and heard. We never considered participating in the procession as anyone other than Chris and Morgan, but the truth is people don’t just want us to be Chris and Morgan, but also be Basilian seminarians, which we are learning, demands much more awareness and humility. You would think we would realize that by now. . . and in a sense we do -- we know it, but we just didn’t realize how important it is for other people for them to see that we know it.

If the purpose of the Eucharistic procession is to remind people of the connection between all of life and God, then the priest, who is the primary minister of the Eucharist, must be the first one to witness our need for the Eucharist. As we are learning more and more, this witness isn’t just about knowing it, but about being seen as knowing it. Only when seen, will we be able to help others be a witness with their own lives.

Animated Saturdays

2008-05-25T10:46:00.005+10:00

Yesterday, we were asked to help out with one of the "animation" seminars at a local parish. In case you are not familiar with animation teams, they are the "MC's" for the catechesis sites all over Sydney during WYD. There are approx. 260 sites where the bishops will lead catechesis sessions for all of the pilgrims. Each site ranges from 200 to 20,000 attendants and will be available in the four official languages of WYD08. The bishops are the teachers, but the animation team ensures that the bishop is comfortable; assist with crowd control, lead the prayer portion, coordinate musicians, etc. . .

Needless to say, these volunteers have a variety of experience, but such an undertaking certainly a bit of training. Yesterday was the last available training in Sydney, while the rest will happen in other cities across the country.

As it turns out, some of the usual trainers became ill so I was asked to fill in. A little flexibility and some good improvisation carried the day and all left very happy and feeling quite good about what they are supposed to do. Of course, the group was wonderful and I must say -- very talented and spirit-filled. Both Morgan and I have been quite amazed at the talent we have seen here - especially in regards to music. There is no doubt, the pilgrims coming to Sydney will be in very good hands!

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Sambo" which is a grilled or just a plain cheese sandwich. We are not sure where that name comes from, but it is very popular, and if you asked for a grilled cheese sandwich -- they haven't a clue!

Blessings and G'Day!

Parties and Prayers at Punchbowl!

2008-05-22T16:04:00.003+10:00

Good times were had by all last night in the grand suburb of Punchbowl -- yes, that is the actual name! (but that is not nearly as crazy as Wagga Wagga or Woolloomooloo) Punchbowl is the home of all the international volunteers who every Wednesday host a cultural dinner and evening of prayer, which we attended last night.

There was quite a crowd beign that it was Italian night (cooked by Italians, of course). In addition to the first-time presence of the Basilians, the Nashville Dominicans were also first-time attendees -- adding the laughter and stories.

For many, it was the first time they had time to ask about the Basilians, so Morgan and I spent time talking about our founders, charism and general history. Many were quite curious about the shirt and cross we wear here (and which all like) and how Morgan and I could be so different and yet from the same community. We simply replied it is a question many have asked, and that the continued existence of the Basilian Way of Life, in general, is a testimony to the grace of the Holy Spirit!

Safe to say, both natives and foreigners alike, believe the Basilians should have a stronger presence in Sydney. We, of course, think that is a great idea!

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Arcade", which is a shopping area, not a place where you play games. (consequently, I don't know what you call a place where you play games here). Arcades are everywhere and prove to be great places to find anything, like a last minute bottle of wine (which you find in Bottle Shops specifically). Speaking of which, most restaurants do not serve wine in Sydney, you purchase it at a Bottle Shop and bring it with you. And when you do go out to eat: there is NO tipping anywhere. It is included in the price, as is tax. So when they print a $15 lunch -- it really is $15! Amazing.

Latest from the Office

2008-05-20T15:49:00.002+10:00

Here is the latest big news release from the media office:

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will visit the shrine of Australia's saint-in-waiting, Blessed Mary MacKillop, during his visit to Sydney in July.

The visit was confirmed by Vatican officials, in Sydney this week to inspect planning and preparations for World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).

Papal Trips Organiser, Alberto Gasbarri, and Protocol Officer from the Papal Office, Paolo Corvini, arrived yesterday to approve the final stages of WYD08 preparations and approve elements of the Holy Father's itinerary.

"Today we can confirm that the Holy Father will visit the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop, one of WYD08's 10 patrons," said WYD08 Coordinator Bishop Fisher OP.

"Mary MacKillop's story of serving the poor and the uneducated is inspiring to all Australians and we hope she will also inspire the youth of the world."

The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, confirmed the Holy Father will pray at Mary MacKillop's tomb in North Sydney during his stay.

"The Holy Father will be one of the thousands of pilgrims who will visit her shrine in July," Archbishop Lazzarotto said. "He will pray for Australia and the young pilgrims of the world so that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit and be witnesses to Christ."

Pope Benedict will spend eight days in Australia, including three days of private rest and reflection prior to his official arrival on Sydney Harbour on 17 July. Australia will become only the third nation (after Turkey and the United States) to have been visited by each of the three 'travelling' Popes - Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI.

Weekends by the Water

2008-05-18T20:36:00.003+10:00

Another weekend has come and gone – this one however, was not quite as adventurous as the previous two. It seems the pace of the office has caught up with us as we enjoyed staying near and around the house, doing a bit of cooking, reading and writing. Nevertheless, we made our way CBD (Central Business District or “downtown) a couple of times on our new favorite way in – the ferry. Not only is it more scenic, but it turns out it is also faster -- so you guessed it, this is our new daily commute!

We did make our way to the little café around the corner – yes, this is our neighborhood!

But for the most part, we each did our own thing – Morgan went to the Powerhouse Museum which is much like a science and history museum focusing on Australian objects. I learned a bit more about Australia by sitting harbourside with a new book written by an Australian author, a beer, and a live jazz band in the background, all the while soaking in a bit of sun. Indeed, there is a little Australia for everyone! We left home as we arrived – with one heck of a view!

As for Australian word of the day: “Arvo”, which afternoon. It is hard to replace G’Day, but we see arvo written all over the place.

Until next time, blessings and G’Day!

Morgan's Debut

2008-05-17T21:37:00.005+10:00

Chris probably cannot believe it, but I am finally contributing to the blog, which has consisted of his entries up until now. Since Chris has chronicled some of what we have both experienced here in Sydney, I shall use this entry to explain a bit about my role at the World Youth Day (WYD08) office.

I have the pleasure to be working in the “Liturgy Directorate,” which is responsible for the planning and execution of all liturgies during the week. Music, vestments, sacred vessels, liturgy texts, etc. fall under the Liturgy Directorate. With so many details to be covered, I am grateful to be working with a team that is both very capable and cohesive.

Within the Liturgy Directorate is the International Liturgy Group (ILG) with which I work specifically. The ILG consists of approximately 140 young men and women who have been nominated by their respective bishops’ conferences. They come from around the world, thus representing the universality of the Catholic Church. These pilgrims have a very special part to play in the WYD08 events because they are the ones who will perform many of the liturgical functions (for example, lectors, gift bearers, and readers of the Prayer of the Faithful) throughout the week.

Sister Anna, a Dominican from Nashville, has been organizing the ILG for the past several months. She and I form part of the ILG “team,” which has the task of coordinating the members of the ILG with respect to the various liturgical events throughout the week. We also will serve as group leaders for the ILG pilgrims once they arrive in July. So far, I have enjoyed what I have done—I have even had a chance to do a bit of “Morganizing”!

Please keep us and all those preparing for WYD08 in your prayers!

Australians have a different way of asking how you are doing. This leads me to the Australian phrase of the day: "How's are you going?" Proper answer: "I am going fine."

Ambassadors Named

2008-05-17T17:48:00.002+10:00

We were at a press conference yesterday with Cardinal Pell and Bishop Fisher as they announced the WYD Ambassadors. The Daily Telegraph printed a rather good story on one of the ambassadors in particular. You can read about Sophie's story here and the impact of Blessed Mary McKillop on her life - which we found rather amazing.

Latin America Down Under

2008-05-16T21:47:00.003+10:00

Before we ever left Canada, Morgan and I came up with a "to-do" list -- that would be fun stuff, not work stuff. Living in Australia for four months is something we are not likely going to have the opportunity to do again, so we are making the most of it!

The challenge is that work makes our to-do list rather difficult to complete. Our weekends are quickly filling up with WYD activities, and we know it is just going to get worse. This means the more we can see earlier is much better than later.

All that being said, you cannot come to Sydney without attending a performance at the Opera House. After finding the best possible deal, we made spent last night listening to the melodic beats and grooves of the Sydney Orchestra playing Latin American tunes . (We are from Texas, after all and it was fabulous!) Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would be able to do such a thing. Thanks be to God for such a gift.

The Time of Your Eternal Life

2008-05-16T21:41:00.002+10:00

Here is the latest WYD08 commercial to be shared with all your closest friends. . .

Just in case you thought it was all fun and games. . .

2008-05-14T21:15:00.003+10:00

We have all experienced that wonderful period when you start a new job and no one really knows who you are -- or what you are capable of. . .

Well, those days are long gone!

Safe to say, weekdays should really be called weeknights. Especially since it is winter here, we arrive and leave the office in the dark. We have adjusted our prayer routine so that it occurs at the office and we can pray outside on the deck overlooking the city. Combined with lunch, it is our chance to soak up a few sun rays before going back inside to a computer and LOTS of meetings.

Specifically, I have been assigned to the Evangelization and Catechesis Team where I have three roles at the moment: Vocations Expo, Active8, and Screen Content. Along with two other priests working on the vocations expo, I am basically responsible for all exhibitors before and during WYD. So far much of that work has consisted of solidifying the final numbers of exhibitors and ensuring we all know what to expect from each other. The great benefit for me is that I get to learn about the religious congregations and organizations all across the world.

My second role, Activ8, is one I just started this week. In short, Activ8 is the curriculum the Australian dioceses will use to engage or activate the pilgrims once they return to their local communities. There has been a great deal done on this already, but the bishops have asked for a stronger theological component to the program, which is where I come in. Basically, it is just like school, but with a much more immediate and far-reaching impact.

The last role, screen content, has just been assigned to me. All over Sydney are large jumbo screens that will be strategically placed at venues during WYD to covey various messages. Basic directional, promotional and sponsorship videos are already set, but we also want to use these screens to convey spiritual and pastoral content at the proper moments. My job is simply to identify the right materials and make sure they are on screen when they are supposed to be.

So now you know. Morgan has promised a description of what he is doing as well. In short, he serves on the International Liturgy Group. He also has lots of meetings, but other than that, you will have to wait for him to provide the update.

Please keep both of us, the many other preparing WYD as well as all the pilgrims in your prayers.

As for the Australian word/phrase of the day: "Tomato Sauce", which is ketchup. They don't know what ketchup is over here, and this can be very upsetting when you need a quick lunch with some chips (that would be fries).

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

WYD Embracing Technology

2008-05-14T20:57:00.001+10:00

This WYD promises to be one of the technological yet. In addition to what the Cardinal is speaking about, we have heard that Pope Benedict XVI will be sending a text message to all the pilgrims. You can read more about it here.

Papal Impact

2008-05-11T15:46:00.003+10:00

Just about every day, there is something in the local papers about World Youth Day. The press has been rather critical, but Saturday’s edition of the Sydney Morning Herald ran an article from John Allen that is worth reading here.

Contrary to the local news, the various international sources writing about WYD, especially in light of the most recent Papal visit to the U.S., have been overwhelmingly positive.

Two such examples come from H2O News (a quick three minute video clip entitled, Pope’s Visit to US a success found here) and the Brian Lehrer Show of WNYC in New York (a 23 minute audio clip entitled, Message of Hope found here). All three provide answers to some of the criticism and speak of the importance of these visits. God be praised.

As for the local situation here, we asked a few parishioners after mass today how the lead-up to WYD compares to the lead-up to the Olympics. It is as we thought – the press was just as hard on the Olympics before hand, but when everyone arrived, there was not enough praise for what took place. According to parishioners, there is even very little difference in the topics of criticism – cost, logistics and inconveniences all seem to be the only story worth printing. As for the numbers of people at the Olympics: roughly 120,000. Compare that to approximately 400,000 Holy Spirit-filled youth and you get a city that is about to experience the event of their history!

Come Holy Spirit, Come

2008-05-11T15:44:00.002+10:00

We spent the eve of Pentecost as only one can when preparing to invite the world to receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) – at a vigil service with youth and the young-at-heart. Sponsored by the Emmanuel Community and hosted at St. Benedict’s parish downtown, the three-hour service was filled with prayerful song, adoration, reconciliation and an address by Bishop Julian, auxiliary of the Archdiocese.

Amidst all my prayers, both personal and as part of what is occurring here, I was struck by two themes. The first is the idea of holy waiting, hope and expectation. Without a doubt, this captures the mood of Catholics here. Like the apostles in the upper room, the Church here is not only hard at work, but hard at prayer – longing for the Spirit to renew their efforts and their land. For the city outside, life moves about as it always does, but for the people we have met here who are preparing for World Youth Day, you can see the flame ever-growing in anticipation of the fruits that will come from their efforts and with the grace of God.

The second theme is renewal. I have never been in a place where a “spring-time” is so clearly seen. Living and serving where I have, I have benefited from the catalysts that have come before me. Yes, things could be better, but the Church in North and South America is alive. Renewal is needed in every aspect of the Church here – liturgy, social justice, homilies, youth ministry, care for the disadvantaged, family ministry, catechesis, praise and worship and the list goes on. . . But, you can literally feel the tide turning in this “upper room” in which we pray. You can feel courage swelling, purpose manifesting and excitement building – particularly from the youth and lay ministers.

One thing I have realized here, is how skeptical clergy can be. In just one week, I have noticed it in others and seen it in myself. I am not sure how it happens, but it does, and it is now my prayer for Pentecost:

Renew in us the faith of children. Let us be wise, but keep us simple. Help us live with purpose, and with joy. Guide us with prudence, but help us be bold. Open our hearts to learn from others and not cling too closely to what we think we know. Come Holy Sprit, come. Come Holy Spirit, come.

Thank God for the Weekends!

2008-05-11T07:57:00.012+10:00

I know what your thinking -- are we actually working in Sydney, or just lounging around, basking in the sun? Rest assured, with under 70 days to go before WYD , the pace at the office is quite furious and I will update everyone soon enough.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the few weekends we have before they include time at the office (which we know is coming). Saturday's trip was just a short walk down the street to the zoo, which is about 100 years old and just spectacular. Of course, I took plenty of pictures, but not just of what was in cages, but of what was in the surrounding environment as the sights and sounds of the Australian habitat are unlike any I have seen.

The local birds are quite bold -- not just in color, but in attitude. These two guys were trying to steal our lunch.

We have spiders too. BIG ones, and they are everywhere, and we are told (like everything here), poisonous. In fact, in the Australian exhibits, there is usually a line that reads something like "one of the deadliest in the world."

Morgan loves birds, so a must-see what the bird show, which I have to say, was worth the wait. Everything was timed as birds flew in on cue in the exact direction they were told. Amazing. Parrots, owls, eagles and others flew right over our heads (like inches over) and even perched themselves on folks in the crowd. Quite fitting, we thought, for the eve of Pentecost!

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

Movin' on up!

2008-05-10T17:45:00.014+10:00

We finally moved to our new home yesterday, after a wonderful week at Good Shepherd Seminary in Homebush (see here).

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the future priests (and some current priests) of the Archdiocese, but it wasn't meant to last.

Now over the years, I have lived in some, shall we say, "interesting" places as a Basilian. Strawberry Island had bats (everywhere) and New York had rats. But, you accept what you are given, knowing that, if anything, it will make for a good story later. Indeed, I can say that I look back on every experience with great fondness and happy memories. As for our new home -- I can look on it now with great fondness!

No, we didn't petition for this, we just went where we were told. We living in the presbytery (or rectory) of a church on the North Shore of Sydney.

We are just up the street from the zoo and when you walk down 10 minutes to the end of the street, this is our view:

We live with the pastor and the associate pastor (who is also my supervisor at the office) who lives in a semi-attached apartment, so we are in good hands.

Of course, as I do when I am anywhere new, I went for a run this morning. For those of you who read Runner's World, it was a "Rave Run." I joined up with a group (that was quite speedly) and we ran our way across the "heads" of the North Shore, along the beaches and up and down the cliffs. Just fabulous.

Afterwards, Morgan and I decided we would go out to the little cafe down the street. Complete with a flower in our muffin, this is how you know you have moved uptown! Thanks be to God, we are finally home -- if only for four months.

Happy Mum's Day!

2008-05-10T17:34:00.003+10:00

Well here we are on the other side of the world from our mothers; however, that doesn't mean you aren't loved. In fact we have been thinking about you all day! (Actually all day, plus last Sunday when we realized that we better get cards in the mail ASAP!)

So happy mother's day to all the mom's out there. Thank you for all that you do: rising to our defense, listening to us ramble, keeping us well fed, and making sure we stay true to who we are.

Many blessings on your (official) special day. If we could get flowers out of the country, these would be the ones -- Birds of Paradise grow everywhere around here.

(And just in case the rest of you are curious, our cards made it on time -- complete with kangaroo stamp and "Happy Mum's Day" on the title)

One of the Best Things about Australia

2008-05-10T17:15:00.002+10:00

I have already raved about the greatness of Sydney, but there has been a little bit of Heaven that has been overlooked until now:

Apples. Not just any apples, mind you -- Pink Lady Apples.

Now I grew up in Texas, and my parents, God bless them, did as well. So as a kid, all I ever knew was Washington Red Delicious Apples. If you ever want your children to grow up not liking apples -- feed them Washington Red Delicious Apples. They are terrible -- mealy and tasting like cardboard, with an even worse after-taste.

However, when I moved to Detroit, and later to Toronto, I began to understand why the apple is the king of fruit. Crisp and sweet, the really are hard to beat, and there is such a HUGE variety. Now local apples in season top the list, no matter where I am, but on a regular basis the apple of choice is Pink Lady.

In North America, they can be hard to come by and often rather expensive, but here in Australia, they are the local apple. Yup, grown right here in Australia and New Zealand, I can have one or two a day! Life is good! (it really is the little things, isn't it?)

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Spot On" meaning a variety of things -- right on! Perfect! Hits the mark! Or some thing of the sort. It is a very common term here.

As promised. . .

2008-05-08T08:23:00.005+10:00

As promised, Sydney along my running route. There will probably be more of these as this city is just amazing when the sun is on the horizon. And while many out there think I am nuts for such an activity, there is a small group in the office that is motivated enough to join me during the lunch hour twice a week. Yesterday was the first trip out and it was great. Here is a little view of our route during the day -- High Park which runs along side the Cathedral.
As for the Australian word of the day: "Solicitor" which is the Australian term for a lawyer. In turn, solicitors as termed in North America are called Hawkers. So if you get a call from a solicitor around here, don't be too quick to hang up.

Lest We Forget . . .

2008-05-07T09:22:00.002+10:00

At a general staff meeting, we received an update from the staff who just returned from Oceania. This would include Fuji and the Solomon Islands. Granted, life is quite different in these "poor" countries; however, the update left me with a bit of perspective.

These people are literally selling off land in order to pay the airfare needed to send their youth to WYD. The prime minister sings the WYD theme song just about every day, as do all the students in the schools. Our staff was greeted by dancers every where they went. And everyone is contributing to make the trip possible -- even in the smallest villages, they are collecting rubbish for money.

For these people, WYD not only brings a renewal of faith and spirit, it brings the excitement of belonging to a world centered around Christ. It is a good reminder for those of us who take things like this for granted -- it is not just work for a series of days, but for a lifetime.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

Does this stuff ever happen to anyone else, or just me?

2008-05-06T08:09:00.003+10:00

We have been in Sydney almost one week now, and I decided it was time to get into some sort of routine. The daily fight for "real estate" on the commuter train stresses me out and I have not been able to find the quiet time I usually enjoy. (no, I am not talking about chapel time -- we actually have quiet a bit of that, I am talking about running).

So I decided I would get up early, find a comfortable seat on the train and use the 20 minutes for prayer and thought before getting to the office. We have showers here, so once I am downtown, it is light enough but still too early for the city to be bustling with activity -- perfect for a morning run.

However. . .

No one told me that our building has an alarm. Yes, you guessed it -- I set it off. I managed to make my way up to the floor and through two doors before my card stopped working. Since we all use electronic keys to get into everything, it was about that time that the security guards caught up with me and very politely asked who I was and what I was doing here. After a bit of clarification and proof of my identity, we worked it out. They now know to expect me early in the mornings and I know to check with them at the office marked "inquires" (ie. security) when I arrive.

As for the run. . . glorious -- along the shoreline watching the sunrise over the harbour illuminating the opera house in a golden glow. (Next time, I will bring my camera)

And for an extra feature of the Australian word of the day: "bloke", that would be a man, male, but different from a "mate" which is a good friend. So the security guards from the "inquiry" desk were simply being good blokes this morning.

Advancing the Argument

2008-05-06T07:58:00.003+10:00

Our dear friends from Nashville were the guest presenters at Theology on Tap Monday night, speaking on the evangelical counsels. Theology on Tap is a new thing in Australia and the youth are coming out in some very exciting numbers in response to the speakers and topics (I am sure the location doesn’t hurt either).

The three Nashville Dominicans are all on staff at WYD and spoke with the upcoming event in mind. The often misguided ideas of happiness, pleasure and freedom were the words associated with poverty, chastity and obedience throughout their presentation. As one can imagine the Sisters did a wonderful job, but it left Morgan and I with a lot to talk about on the way home. We are left wondering how we advance the argument? I imagine most the audience has a pretty good sense of what the Gospel is demanding, and are in good company in failing to live up to its demands. . . leaving us to wonder why? How do we get around saying the same thing over and over again?

Believe it or not, I have a working hypothesis -- though it is probably overly simplistic and certainly not original, but worth pondering nevertheless.

During the Q&A, every single question concerned some form of pluralism: how do I share my faith with my friends of other faiths without condemning their beliefs? What do I say to friends who see no need for God? How do I discern what message I am supposed to listen to, and act on? These are the questions they need addressed. Ministers are very good at speaking about poverty, chastity and obedience – be they under vows or not, but how often do the youth today hear how they can live these values in the pluralistic contexts of their lives?

Many have told me this is an issue that has been around for a long time, but we have never had so much information coming to us that requires so much discernment; never had such open communication with faiths from around the world; never been so stretched for time and so on. . .

It was quite clear to me that these youth know and want to live the Gospel in a radical way, they are just lacking the resources and knowledge as to how they can live this life in harmony with their friends and neighbors without compromising their values – which most would agree, is what was previously done.

So the answer to my question about advancing the argument comes down to really solid catechesis. Young Catholics today are so hungry to learn more about their faith they are even gonig to the bars – not to drink, but in hope that they may learn something about how to live an authentic life with conviction. Dummed down theology has no place here – the people present last night don’t have the time or energy for it. As one young woman said tonight, “tell me straight up – I can take it, and if not, I’ll pray about until I can!”

As for the Australian word of the day: "diary", that would be your schedule or calendar. We were quite amazed for a while when everyone we ran into had a diary. Alas, now Australians are not nearly so impressive.

Praying in so many ways. . .

2008-05-04T19:12:00.013+10:00

The guys take things pretty seriously at the seminary -- I mean we all do, but these guys really show it. Sundays mean extended liturgies, beautiful choral sets and chants. It also means that it was a very good thing that Morgan and I packed our cassocks.

Last time, we had a picture taken like this, it was just before our first vows. My, how we've grown (you can fill in any number of words here: up, out, wise, holy, or grey -- to name a few)

Speaking of first vows, when we were in the novitiate, one of the Dominican novice masters spoke of the importance of praying in church, but he said, "too much time in church is not so good. Learn to pray everywhere." I always loved that advice, and today we lived up to it. Be it that it is supposed to be a slower day, Morgan and I went to the beach. You may recall that the beach is a place both of us love, so much so that in last year's blog we had a contest to see who could take the better beach picture.

This year, I think we both win.

I suspect that Morgan spent much of his day reflecting about the goodness of God as we took in the sights -- perhaps.

I, on the other hand, remember quite clearly what I was thinking at this point: How do we convince the Basilians to start an apostolate here? Really, I promise I will work hard -- really. . .

As for the Austrailian word of the day: "Scabbing", which is the term used when you take something from someone else. (However, since Morgan didn't want those fries anyway, I am not sure this is entirely appropriate)

Enough fun in the sun, tomorrow, the real rat race begins. Until next time, Blessings and G'Day!

Perfect Weekend

2008-05-03T19:56:00.021+10:00

Morgan and I finally had a chance to be tourists now that the weekend has arrived. After a rather exhausting week of travel and work, we decided that we would take it easy and just walk around Sydney Harbour. Of course, I ended up with far too many pictures of the Opera House, but as you will see above -- it is rather amazing. This picture was taken from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which we walked across.

Also taken from the bridge, the Opera House with Downtown Sydney in the back ground. As we were walking, Morgan and I kept counting our blessings, that we were able to do this before 350,000 young people were trying to do it at the same time. Crazy -- just crazy!

It's autumn in Sydney, which is a bit odd. Yes, the leaves are falling and people are breaking out their autumn (and it is autumn, they will laugh at you if you say Fall) clothes. It also means there are a ton of street festivals and weddings -- my goodness, there are lots of weddings. But no, this happy couple was not a part of the wedding but a 1970's dance festival that was taking place later in the day. Morgan and I both thought it best to pass on this opportunity.

Speaking of street festivals, we ran across this chap who was quite entertaining -- throwing knives, juggling chainsaws, climbing on top of people and here, riding a bike on a pole while "swallowing" a sword -- which happened to be a balloon. Even with all this, he managed to make a pass at several women in the crowd. Very talented -- very talented indeed.

Back to the Opera House. The whole design is based on a sphere -- Morgan, of course, knew exactly how this worked and didn't quite explain it to me in terms I could understand, so I will just share with you that it is made out of tiny tiles, seen here.

So to bring this happy little photo show to an end, I leave you with a picture of Morgan and I in front of the Opera House and another of downtown Sydney.

And now, at the request of many, we will leave you with the Australian word of the day: "Schooner" -- is a mug of beer. (We learned this today at one of Australia's oldest brewery, the Lord Nelson -- a perfect way to end a day of walking . . . for hours and hours and hours) Until next time. . . G'Day!

No Time for Jet Lag

2008-05-01T21:18:00.003+10:00

You can imagine what a whirlwind Morgan and I have landed in. I am not sure how many people work on staff here, as I think I went blurry after the first two departments. It doesn’t really matter anyway as there approximately ten volunteers being added each week from now until July. Morgan was swept up into the massive organization of the International Liturgy Group and the Liturgy Team of WYD, while I have been assigned to the Vocations Expo. Both of us have spent our first day in meetings or buried in documents. Much like we expected, the excitement is clustered with the overwhelming sense of magnitude concerning what we are being asked to accomplish. And so it begins. . . dive right in, pray quite hard, and don’t worry about sleep . . . that’s what Heaven is for. . .

As for the Australian word of the day: "Jab" which is a shot -- like the kind you get for medical reasons. This is in the news a lot right now since winter is approaching a many are getting their flu jab.

Stranded Between Two Worlds

2008-05-01T21:11:00.002+10:00

In religious contexts, people often speak of the difference between travel and pilgrimage. Travel is usually associated with vacations – something we do on our own terms as a way to experience another world. However, pilgrimage is something quite different, for it is on God’s terms, not ours. Yes, travel is usually a part of it, but it does not have to be anything exotic. Pilgrimage, rather, is an event in our life when we surrender ourselves to the experience.

World Youth Day is a pilgrimage, no doubt about it. Though Morgan and I are not necessarily classified as “pilgrims”, we discovered very quickly that we are not in control of our journey to Sydney. There is nothing like a cancelled leg of a flight to tell you that. That’s right, we made it from Toronto to Vancouver, boarded the plane to travel from Vancouver to Sydney – but never left the airport. After sitting (or sleeping) on the plane for three hours in the middle of the night, we were informed that the plane was broken and we would be stranded for one day. Air Canada did take care of us once they determined the plane could not be repaired, and after a night in the airport, we finally made it to a hotel to get some much needed sleep. After we caught up a bit, we were rescued by our good friend, Marc de Asis, SJ who toured us around UBC, which included a nice hike (see our rather symbolic photo above) followed by sushi with a few friends. Twenty-four hours later, we found ourselves at the Vancouver airport once again to board one plane with a passenger list for two.

The rest of the story is no more eventful than any other plane ride to the other side of the world. We have since settled into our temporary home in Sydney and will begin work shortly.