Headed to Opening Mass; will update after Mass.
Love you all!
-Dave
[Update]
The Opening Mass for WYD was pretty incredible. There was definitely a different feeling with the influx of pilgrims from around the globe.
I really enjoyed the welcoming remarks of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the homily of George Cardianl Pell (Archbishop of Sydney), and the closing remarks of Cardinal Rylko (the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity). Here's a few snippets of their remarks:
P.M. Rudd noted that Christianity has formed Australia in many ways: they contributed schools, hospitals, services for the poor. It is not often that the head of a governing body affirms the contribution of religion to society. He also noted that faith and reason should indeed coexist, and complement each other (which is the crux of Benedict XVI's argument about contemporary thought).
Cardinal Pell's homily was simple and effective; he was neither too general nor too theological. In reflecting on the tale of the Bones in Ezekiel 37, Galatians 5, and Luke 8 (the Parable of the Sower), he emphasized responding to the theme of WYD by being open to the power of the Holy Spirit. He also challenged us to be practicing Catholics who are willing to take the next step and go deeper. "He also admonished us early to bring this home after WYD ends, because "the reality is that next week, we will all go home... When we part, let us never part from our loving God and his Son Jesus." Like the army of bones that came to new life, he encouraged us to become an immense army that will evangelize and serve.
Cardinal Rylko echoed his good friend John Paul II by saying, "You are the springtime of the world and of the Chuch... experiene a new Pentecost, and open the doors of your lives to the Holy Spirit."
Overall, it was a wonderful Mass. The theme song is quite powerful. You should check it out. Tomorrow we have catechesis and different stuff. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Thanks for following. Keep up the prayers!
-Dave
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5 comments:
Ah I'm so excited and can't wait, I'll be watching live at 1am tonight!
Hope you get your money's worth. This is costing the taxpayers of this country $100 million. This is money that could be better spent building hospitals, or on foreign aid, or helping people care for the elderly and disabled. This much money could save hundreds of lives. Why cant the church fund its own events? The majority of the population here are not catholic, why should we pay? It is disgusting.
Beautiful Mass, here now 3:51am
To matthew, you sound just like Judas , look at Matthew 26 in the Bible. The money is funding an event that has the potential to bring greater things than $100 million could build! You pay for help tenfold.
no need to respond angrily to matthew. just be respectful.
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