Malakhi Puertollano has a prayer’s-eye-view from the shoulders of Trevor Cox at the opening Mass, Barangaroo, Sydney WYD08.
Photo: CAS

“I call upon you, O Lord; give ear to my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you ,and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. My eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord; in You I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless.”
Psalm 141

Issue 6, September 2008, Highlights:

Special Message

Viewpoint

Benedictine Sisters Leave Kalumburu

Obituary: Fr Michael Anthony McMahon sac

Kalumburu - 100 Years

KCP Magazine

Viewpoint:

World Youth Day sets challenge for youth

World Youth Day was a stunning success by any account. The joy that swept Sydney and touched the lives of countless thousands was undeniable. Despite negative media campaigns and the jaundiced views of bigots and cynics, an enormously powerful voice for Christ was heard. From all over the world and from every corner of Australia young people reached out in a positive way for God and then in God’s love, for each other.

There is a challenge for youth and for all of us wrapped up in this wonderful joy and enthusiasm for the Spirit. It is the challenge to persevere in our calling, to remember that as Christians we are a new creation, part of a holy world in which God is not eclipsed or deemed irrelevant by a secularist ideology, as the Holy Father reminded us. We are called to persevere in witnessing to the magnificence of God’s love for us, to act justly in his name and to be agents of hope and peace. The Holy Father further reminded us that we should never be afraid to call Jesus our friend, that we should say ‘yes’ to Jesus and like Jesus we should grow to be a means of change for a desperate world.

At the de-briefing after World Youth Day our young people spoke of the need to carry this enabling power of the Spirit into our lives back home in the Kimberley We agreed (1) there would be a Youth Council appointed for the Diocese; (2) that we would have a legacy Cross and Icon in the fashion of the WYD Cross and Icon and that these sacred symbols would travel around the Diocese on important occasions; (3) that there would be assemblies of young people in the East and West of the Diocese who would come together to share their faith and celebrate their beliefs.

I welcome any suggestions you may have about the next steps in the development of youth and faith in your parish and in the Diocese. Every good wish and blessing in your youthful endeavours. Let us remember the Holy Father’s words that we should not be afraid to call Jesus our friend.