"YOU WILL RECIEVE THE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU;AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES"(ACTS 1:18)WYD08 theme
BENEDICTO!!!went the chants of the different pilgrims from around the world walking towards the pilgrim venue site.Our own pilgrim group stayed in a caravan park and booked ourselves to a self contained cabin with ensuite,in a town a bit away from the city central of Sydney.
From Day one ,as we travel 14 hrs. by bus to Sydney,it was filled with excitement because while travelling we get to brush shoulders with other pilgrims from different nationality;Germans,Italians,Americans etc. when get to stop at a petrol stations,or highway fastfood shops.We go wave our flag (hehehe,no not phil. flag but Aussie flag since i was with aussies from Geelong,and yelled Aussie,aussie,aussie!OI!OI!OI!As expected they went waving thier flag to us.What was amazing is that almost 200 big buses were on the same road we were taking.I think all the pilgrims were hosted by Melbourne,for about a week...for the celebration of Days in the Dioceses throughout Australia n New Zealand.DID08 is a celebration leading up to World Youth Day in Sydney.Days in the Dioceses had program of events and activities,taking in tourist,spiritual,cultural,musical and life-changing experiences.It was an awesome feeling for me to know that i'm multiplied a hundred times as a catholic faithful...that in this particular occasion i'm not so controlled by what other "non-believer" would think of me.Most often times if ever i'll show some signs of my devotion,they misunderstood me of being "too imposing" of my faith.I was elated for the fact that there are hundreds and thousands of people like me in different sorts of culture and background gather together in prayer and worship and be one in sharing our catholic faith.To know the reign of God's love is already in our midst,i was teary eyed...walking with other pilgrims,hearing and seeing them chanting of jubilant praise and worship songs.It was such a victorious gathering for God!
