Catholic Diocese of Broome

The Sign of the Cross is one of the earliest ways adopted by Christians to acknowledge their faith. Forced to hide this practice during early persecutions, believers often made a small sign with their thumb on their forehead in the hope noone would see them.

In later ages while people still crossed themselves, the cross itself developed as a visible sign to be used generously in churches and as religious art in an effort to lift our hearts and minds to God. Today crosses can be found inside homes as well as on roadsides and in schools, cemeteries and churches.

Pope John Paul II’s gift to World Youth Day was a Cross and then later an Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary nursing the Holy Infant. Both these gifts have assumed huge symbolic value for WYD. The WYD Cross and Icon left Rome amid a joyful fanfare and then travelled the world before arriving in Sydney, the site of World Youth Day 2008.

The great news is that the Cross and Icon are coming to the Kimberley for the week beginning the 17th June. These religious signs will be here to remind us of WYD and for us to venerate them so as to lift our hearts and minds to God.

Unfortunately, these holy signs cannot be transported everywhere in such a short time. The matter of the size of the Kimberley makes this impossible. It is unfortunate that the Cross and Icon will not be able to travel along the Gibb River Road for instance. . There simply isn’t enough time.

However, the sacred signs will go to a large number of centres along the Great Northern Highway including a side trip into the desert communities of Balgo, Mulan and Billiluna.

With a group of others I will be picking up the Cross and Icon from Port Hedland on the 17th June. The Cross will travel to Bidyadanga and then Broome and then as outlined in the schedule .

There is a group of six young people, travelling with the Cross and Icon. They also have with them a Message Stick from Aboriginal folk in Sydney, that will be displayed whenever the Cross and Icon stop for public veneration. This concession, of having another sign travelling with the Cross and Icon, is due recognition of the importance of Indigenous people in our land and the importance of their part in the celebration of World Youth Day. Whenever the Cross and Icon stay overnight the relevant Parish has the responsibility of providing bunking-space and meals for the group. Meals along the way will also be provided by the Parish should a mealtime and a moment of veneration coincide. [By the way, I will be travelling with the group through the Diocese and take this opportunity to include myself in the arrangements!!]

The Cross and Icon, and the Indigenous Message Stick, will of course be treated with great reverence. That will not stop the Cross, particularly, being touched, handled or carried by people. The idea is that it is a moment of tactile interaction between people, bringing some tangible signs of the Sacred. I believe this event in your Parish promises to be a faith-lifting, prayerful communication with God.

The Icon is particularly beautiful as a work of religious art. The Cross is huge but plain. Its simplicity is indeed the origin of its beauty. The words ‘This is the wood of the Cross upon which hung the Saviour of the world. Come let us worship.’ leap to mind.

I hope remote schools and communities that are unable to be included on the itinerary of the Journey of the Cross and Icon and Message Stick will nonetheless make the effort to travel to centres where these objects of veneration will be. I hope that as many as possible may touch them and pray and share these blessed moments with others in faith.

Like a herald of old, like a messenger, the Cross and Icon call us all to pilgrimage, to acknowledge our own journey in faith, to support those who will go to World Youth Day and to be nourished ourselves by the Grace that emanates from this most valuable time with the Lord.