SYDNEY 21 JULY 2008:
Sydney and Australia turned it on for World Youth Day 2008 with near-perfect
weather and the typical friendly Aussie hospitality throughout the week.
The Military Diocese of Australia, under the codename of Operation
Testament, hosted over 200 'military pilgrims' from 8 different nations
around the world - Australia, Canada, Columbia, France, Germany, New Zealand,
United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The International Military Pilgrimage to
World Youth Day 2008, that included the first Days
in the Military Diocese held in Canberra, saw the military pilgrims
gather to share the power of the Holy Spirit with each other and with
over 400,000 other pilgrims from around the world.
This was also Pope Benedict XVI's first apostolic jorney to Australia
and, indeed, the military pilgrims embraced the presence of the
successor of St Peter in their hearts. World Youth Day brought witness
of Christ to the people of Australia and certainly to the members of the
Australian Defence Force.
"Sometimes, in the secular workplace,
it is difficult to express our faiths as Catholics in the military. So
to be able to connect and be free to be Catholics amongst others in the
military has certainly strengthen my faith and sense of community within
the Church", said a military pilgrim in the Australian
Defence Force.
"I had so much fun at World Youth Day!
Our Catholic faith is actually 'cool'! However, although I had an amazing
week of youth festivities and seeing the Pope, the highlight of my time
at World Youth Day was indeed the fact that I received Holy Communion
- the Body and Blood of Christ - from the Holy Father who is the successor
of St Peter. At the end of the day, it was the fact that I was in 'communion'
with 400,000 other people through Christ that was most important",
said another military pilgrim.
"I was baptised as a Catholic, but before
July 2008, I was not practising religion. Religion did not mean much to
me then, so I never wanted or thought about going to World Youth Day.
However, I did watch the events on TV. It was amazing. Seeing the love
of the Holy Father, seeing the happiness of the pilgrims, and hearding
the great stories of the military pilgrims who have come back from World
Youth Day, I am so inspired! I want to be part of this new rejuvinated
Catholic Church. I cannot wait until I go to World Youth Day in Madrid!"
proclaimed a cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy who did not
attend World Youth Day 2008.
Click on the buttons on the left for more about
the The Military Diocese of Australia would like to thank all the military
pilgrims for their participation and for bringing the Holy Spirit to our
program. We would also like to thank the Australian Defence Force - Joint
Task Force 665, Catholic Church Insurrances Ltd. and all those who have
contributed to making this great experience possible.
International Military Pilgrim's World Youth Day related
activities.
and looks forward to re-uniting in Madrid in 2011!!!
