Catholic Diocese of Broome

Sydney was engulfed in an atmosphere of joy, love and kindness. That was a common description of World Youth Day and the accompanying week of celebrations. Some 400,000 young people from around the world gathered to share their love for Jesus Christ, to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to deepen their relationship with God and in His name share with each other their faith in God’s love for us.

For the 120 pilgrims from the Kimberley who attended WYD it was a unique and powerful experience. Each Parish was represented among our pilgrims and their presence was a credit to themselves, their families and their faith communities.

This Diocese is indebted to the many people who supported our pilgrimage in so many different ways. The Parish of St Anthony’s in Clovelly, a seaside suburb of Sydney, and its school community, where we stayed during WYD week, were generous and hospitable hosts. The Parish Priest, the Principal, the teachers, the parishioners, the parents and even some of the students went out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible. I wish to offer special thanks to Fr George Connolly, the Parish Priest, and Ms Anne Sullivan, St Anthony’s School Principal. Their leadership was a marvellous witness to Christian love.

I thank the Leaders’ Team appointed from among the pilgrims. I make special note of Ms Erica Bernard, the Diocesan WYD Coordinator, whose efforts were beyond the limits of duty. Erica not only led, but she also witnessed continually to the spirit of WYD. On many occasions a word from her was sufficient to set the scene or to give an invaluable insight to what was taking place. John Purnell happily stepped up to the mark also and showed dedicated and welcome leadership when it was required. The Leaders’ Team worked hard to keep the pilgrims together in body and soul, enabling smooth movement and good management. For all of your valuable help, thank you! I make note too of the efforts of Fr Matt Digges and Ms Rachael Reeves of the WYD Office who often gave their time and some special assistance to our group. Thank you.
The residents of Xavier Terrace, a residential community in Lavender Bay, Sydney, led by the inimitable Marg Zucker and WYD aficionado, Parish Priest, Fr Tony Smith SJ, were most generous in their support of our pilgrims. Besides offering a welcome morning tea they knitted beanies and even trimmed our flagpoles. Marg negotiated lots of warm clothing from generous sources – Macquarie Bank and Lowes clothing store. Thank you. I must also add that kind support came from a host of private sources in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne; from companies and from various organizations like CCI, Catholic Education and KPMG. Thanks.

Ms Janice Grimson was a source of constant support. Her organizational ability assisted the efforts of myself and others to get the pilgrimage in order and keep it that way. I also recognize the willing work of Mrs Mary Parnell and Ms Mary Martin from the Diocesan Finance Office, along with Mrs Merrilyn Purcell at the front desk. All contributed generously to the pilgrimage challenge. I add a word of thanks to Mr Pat Walton, from Melbourne, an ongoing task force in himself, who sourced tracksuits and many other things for us. I must mention also an item that came to be identified with our pilgrimage group – the Diocesan flags. Cauline Masuda worked with the design and spent long hours sewing the flags for us, all of them. All ten flags. What an effort! The flags not only kept us together but when raised high they were very visible.

What an experience! What a moment in our history as Catholics of this nation! Our faith response is “Thanks be to God.” And for His many blessings on this event and His gifts to us all, we say: Praise Him.