World Youth Day symbols make a preview visit

WARREN JONES

A GIANT wood crucifix and a picture of Mary with the baby Jesus were marched along Wollongong beaches last week in the lead up to next year’s World Youth Day in Sydney.

The symbols were brought to Wollongong as part of the celebrations for World Youth Day (WYD), a Catholic Church event for young people to share their faith.

Bishop Peter Ingham said the arrival of the Cross and Icon heralded the countdown to local World Youth Day celebrations.

Part of the WYD tradition is for the World Youth Day Cross and Icon (the picture of Mary and baby Jesus) to travel to all of the dioceses of the host country.

Last Saturday the Youth Mission Team carried the cross and Icon from Bellambi to Wollongong across the beaches.

This short preview visit gave the region a taste of what to expect when the World Youth Day symbols officially tour the Diocese of Wollongong between March 24 and April 5 next year.

The Youth Mission Team Australia is one of the nation’s leading Catholic youth ministries and there are Youth Mission Teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and, as of recently, Wollongong. The teams travel to high schools, Catholic and public, running a range of seminars on character and faith development.

Steve Toohey is the Director of Youth Mission Team Australia.

He said the cross and Icon were symbols of the relationship between man and God.

“Carrying the cross and Icon is not about ceremony or religion, it’s the declaration of a friendship; it’s a statement of God’s love for every person and his invitation to friendship with him,” he said.

On Saturday night a dinner and a concert were held in Market Square in Wollongong, followed by a Youth Rock Mass and all night vigil at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.

Wollongong is a co-host of the World Youth Day events planned for Sydney and the Illawarra.

It is estimated that as many as 10,000 visitors, having made the pilgrimage to Australia from all over the world for the event, will visit the region.