World Youth Day 2008

“Allow yourself to be surprised by God.” This was the instruction from Fr. Brian Antienze at our Saturday retreat in Sacramento a few weeks before traveling to New Zealand and Australia for our World Youth Day pilgrimage from Northern California and Reno, Nevada. Between the dioceses of Oakland, Reno, Sacramento and San Francisco, we had 50 pilgrims for our journey. As one of three group leaders, I found it difficult to be surprised. In fact, it was my job not to be surprised. Organizing prayer and reflection, planning escape routes when roads were blocked and public transportation failed (which thankful, this World Youth Day it didn’t), as well as making sure everyone left on time and enjoyed their experience as a pilgrim was my main responsibility at World Youth Day. Always thinking the what ifs, how and when allowed little time to be surprised by God.


Because our pilgrims were all over 18, this allowed the leaders more freedom as the days of World Youth Day progressed and everyone became familiar with the different venue locations and how to travel to and from our hotel. So, on our fifth day in Sydney, a Friday, instead of joining the main group for our assigned location in Barangaroo where the final Stations of the Cross would be held, I joined a smaller group going to the Sydney Opera House for a tour of the famous entertainment venue. As we were waiting for our tour time outside the Opera House, I spied a young man in white habit, a Dominican priest. I have known Fr. Steve Maekawa for years from St. Dominic’s Parish in San Francisco and it was quite a surprise to see him in Sydney. I hadn’t known his intention to attend World Youth Day with his former campus ministry program from an Oregon University. I see him very rarely now, but he was one of many religious who ministered to me on my spiritual journey and the sight of him brought me much joy. We couldn’t talk long because of our tour time, but the chance meeting set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

After our tour, we arrived outside the Opera House for the Stations; another surprise since we were told that only pilgrims assigned to this area could witness the stations. I was amazing by the sobering silence from the crowd of on-lookers. We were full participants in these stations - the sentencing by Pilate, the scourging and crowning of thorns and the carrying of the cross. We were also witness to Jesus boarding a small vessel to be carried across the Sydney Harbor to Barangaroo, an old shipping yard on the bay of Darling Harbor transformed for World Youth Day for the opening mass, Pope welcome and Stations of the Cross. I had wondered how the actor portraying Jesus would carry the heavy cross across Sydney to the final site for the Stations of the Cross and the water image was a fitting reminder of our baptism and our continual renewal of those promised when we bless our selves with water.

Our small group wanted to attend the Vocations Expo held near Darling Harbor, so we boarded a ferry to that location. To our surprise, we were also able to witness the Stations of the Cross at Barangaroo as we passed in our ferry. The sight of the three crosses set against the background of the cliffs aglow with colored lights with a full moon rising was mesmerizing and we fell silent as we remembered the gift of our Lord of His life. My camera battery had gone dead earlier in the day and so I enjoyed this sight and blessing without interference and restriction through a camera lens. The ritual of remembrance of Jesus crucifixion and death allowed the space and time for reflection of the beauty and joy that is World Youth Day - the coming together of the young Catholic Church in fellowship and celebration. All of these pilgrims will bring this renewal of Spirit back to their faith and social communities around the world.

Thank you, God, for surprising me and helping me appreciate more your gift of this great celebration of life.