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UPDATES FROM THE MILITARY DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA ABOUT WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008
5 MAY 2008 - In Memory of Fr Jean-Yves Fortin - Canadian Forces Chaplain and WYD08 Military Pilgrim
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Fr Jean-Yves Fortin, who was orginially appointed by the Military Bishop of Canada to lead the Canadian Military Contingent to WYD08 has passed away, aged 45. Bishop Max Davis and the Military Diocese of Australia's WYD08 Team expresses their sincere condolences to his family and to the Catholic military community of Canada. Fr Fortin, a registered military pilgrim, was much admired and will be remembered by the young parishioners at the Royal Military College at Kingston, as they persist in their journey towards Christ at WYD08. A special memorial Mass will be celebrated for Fr Fortin during 'Days in the Military Diocese 08' in Canberra.
We will pray for him, and we trust that he will be looking down upon our pilgrimage from his new home in Heaven.
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15 APRIL 2008 - Cross and Icon Commemorates the ANZACs.
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The WYD Cross and Icon of Mary have paused during their pilgrimage through Victoria at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Chapel in the Royal Australian Navy's recruit training base, HMAS Cerberus, to remember those who have died in service of Australia. Immediately following the traditional Anzac Day Dawn Service, the Catholic military community gathered with the Cross and Icon in the Chapel for a special ANZAC Remembrance Mass celebrated by Chaplain, Fr Paddy Sykes.
We commend our prayers to the Lord for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Lest we forget.
Cross and Icon Commemorates Anzac Day at HMAS Cerberus.
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31 MARCH 2008 - Closing Date for Military Diocese's Registration has been extended to Monday 14 April 2008.
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The Military Diocese of Australia has announced that the closing date for registration with it's 'Days in the Diocese' and World Youth Day program is now 14 April 2008. Please register as soon as possible.
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24 MARCH 2008 - Cross and Icon visit Fleet Base East as part of Easter weekend celebrations.
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On Easter Monday, 24 March 2008, the Catholic Military Community in Sydney gathered with the WYD Cross and Icon at Fleet Base East (Garden Island Naval Base, Sydney). Reflecting on the "empty tomb" that the Disciples found upon Christ's Ressurection, Catholics of the Australian Defence Force prayed through the Cross and Icon and carried the religious items across the base in a Rosary Procession to the Naval Chapel for testimonies, veneration and the celebration of Holy Mass.
Australian Defence Force members were joined by cadets, family and friends for the ocassion that was led by Bishop Max Davis and chaplains (priests) of the Australian Defence Force.
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1 FEBRUARY 2008 - Military Diocese of
Australia launches military WYD pilgrims program and registration.
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The Military Diocese of Australia has announced the 'Days in the Defence Diocese' and Military World Youth Day 08 programs. Bishop Max Davis, Bishop of the Australian Defence Force is pleased with the program, "My World Youth Day team has been working extremely hard to put together a program that this cost effective for individual pilgrims and still allow pilgrims to have a prayerful and spiritual experience during the 'Days in the Diocese' in Canberra and World Youth Day in Sydney. I am sincerely appreciative of all the support provided to this program by the Chief of Defence Force and his Joint Operations staff."
An office in Sydney has been set up by the Australian Defence Force to coordinate the hosting of military pilgrims. Australian and international military pilgrims can register through the GETTING HERE section of this website.
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14 JANUARY 2008 - Cardinal Bertone delivers Pope Benedict's message for world's military on the World Day of Peace.
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, has celebrated the 41st World Day of Peace at a ceremony at the Church of St. Catherine of Siena in Rome, organised by the Military Ordinariate of Italy. Cardinal Bertone expressed his appreciation for "those who have paid with the price of their lives" in their service to peace, "assuring prayers for their souls and a renewed spiritual closeness to their families."
"In the enormous field of world peace, armed forces have a specific role: to be at the service of peace, as public opinion more and more perceives, and as is shown by so many humanitarian missions," Cardinal Bertone said. He emphasised how "the peace we desire for humanity" is "the peace that we do not tire to beseech with prayer and to build with incessant effort -- the peace that is born above all in ourselves when we manage to snuff out in our hearts the violent fire of hate, envy, egotism and indifference." (courtesy of Zenit)
Cardinal Bertone also delivered Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the 41st World Day of Peace 2008
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18 OCTOBER 2007 - Sydney's preparation passes world inspection.
Sydney has hosted the International Preparatory Meeting that involved members of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) and over 200 delegates representing over 100 Catholic Bishops Conferences around the world. The delegates received briefings on current WYD08 planning and operations. Archbishop Rylko, President of the PCL, has given a positive report card for Sydney's preparations to host the large youth festival in July 2008.
This was also an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand Dioceses to showcase their "Days in the Dioceses" programs to the world.
The Military Diocese of Australia was represented at Holy Mass in St Mary's Cathedral, a NSW Government reception and a special Sydney Harbour Cruise,
and interest in the ADF's Days in the Defence Diocese and WYD08 (Operation Testament) programs was pleasingly high.
Group Captain Stephen Bucholtz, Director of Military Pilgrims Coordination, was delighted at the response to the ADF's program. "People from all around the world were excited that
we will be hosting the International Military Community in such an event that promotes goodwill and friendship", he said. "We even had a military chaplain from the Democratic Republic of Congo come and ask us about our plans. He was keen to bring a delegation of military pilgrims from his nation to join us."
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30 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Robertson Barracks celebrates Holy Mass with Cross and Icon.
The local Catholic community at Robertson Barracks in Darwin has celebrated Sunday evening Mass with the WYD Cross and Icon.
The humble congregation gathered at the Robertson Barracks Chapel celebrated Holy Eucharist and prayed through and venerated the Cross and Icon. Special prayers were offered for members of the base who are currently deployed overseas.
WYD Cross and Icon visits Robertson Barracks, Darwin, for Sunday Mass - 30 Sep 07
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22 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Navy takes the WYD Cross and Icon to the Great Barrier Reef.
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The Royal Australian Navy's new Armidale Class patrol boat, HMAS Broome, has taken the WYD Cross and Icon, accompanied by the WYD Aboriginal Message Stick and 30 guests (predominately made up of youths from the local Diocese of Cairns) to the Great Barrier Reef.
Anchored off Fitzroy Island, reflective service was conducted onboard with prayers for the environment and those who serve in the Australian Defence Force. The Cross was also symbolically lowered into the waterline of the Great Barrier Reef by the youths.
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16 SEPTEMBER 2007 - Australian Soldiers engage with the WYD Cross and Icon in Townsville.
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Australian soldiers based at Lavarack Barracks have participated in ceremonies, involving the WYD Cross and Icon, organised by the local Diocese of Townsville. These ceremonies included a "Way of the Cross" Procession up "Castle Hill" and a morning Remembrance Service at the local Bagal Beach RSL Memorial Park.
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20 AUGUST 2007 - The WYD Cross and Icon visits Australian soldiers at Kokoda Barracks.
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The WYD Cross and Icon has made an historic visit to Kokoda Barracks, Canungra (in the hinterlands of the Gold Coast). This marked the first time the Military Diocese of Australia has hosted the sacred symbols. The Cross and Icon were entrusted into the care of Australian soldiers, by school students of the Gold Coast during a ceremony at Marymount College, and were transported in two Army Bushmaster armoured vehicles escorted by Military Police motorbikes and Queensland State Police vehicles.
At Kokoda Barracks, Bishop Max Davis led the humble crowd of Australian Defence Force personnel, families and friends in a ceremony that reflected and prayed for those who are currently serving on dangerous overseas operations and those who have died in service of their country. The ceremony was beautifully organised by the Catholic Military Parish of South-East Queensland.
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20 JULY 2007 - Message from the Holy Father in Preparation for World Youth Day 2008.
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The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has issued a message to the young people of the world as we prepare for World Youth Day 2008. Coinciding with exactly one year before we celebrate Mass with him in Sydney, the Holy Father reminds us of Christ's love for young people and calls us to be His witnesses, as we prepare for a year-long journey to World Youth Day.
Click here to read the Holy Father's message.
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2 JULY 2007 - World Youth Day 2008 Anthem - RECEIVE THE POWER - is released.
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1 JULY 2007 - The Military Diocese of Australia welcomes the WYD Cross and Icon to Australia.
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On Sunday, 1 July 2007, the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Mary arrived at Sydney. At a reception in a QANTAS hangar at Sydney Airport, the spiritual symbols were taken off a Boeing 767 by young delegates from New Zealand and handed over into the care of young delegates representing all Catholic dioceses and movements in Australia, to begin the year-long pilgrimage around Australia and towards WYD in Sydney in July 2008. The Military Diocese was representated by Lieutenant Ivan Yau.
The Cross and Icon visited the tomb of Mary Mackillop - Australia's first saint - before they were processed across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through the streets of Sydney and to the sea of thousands gathered at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where the WYD08 Anthem, "Receive the Power" was played live for the first time.
The Journey of the WYD Cross and Icon will visit various Australian Defence Force communities around Australia. For more details, click here.
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24 APRIL 2007 - Cardinal Pell Celebrates Anzac Mass.
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On 24 April 2007, the Archbishop of Sydney, His Eminence George Cardinal Pell celebrated a Vigil Mass for over 400 people (military and civilian) at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney as part of ANZAC commemorations. The VIPs that attended the Mass included: Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW; Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas AM CSC RAN, Commander Australian Fleet; and Major General Mark Kelly AM, Commander Land Command-Army.
The Mass was concelebrated by priests of the Military Ordinariate of Australia and included military customs and traditions such as the marching in and out of the Australian National Flag and service flags, a general-salute to His Eminence, the Last Post, minute silence, Reville and the playing of the Australian National Anthem.
After Mass, His Eminence invited all military members to the Cathedral House for a cocktail reception.
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19 APRIL 2007 - Journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Our Lady visits Gizo, Solomon Islands.
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Fourteen days after a major earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of the Solomon Islands, the WYD Cross and Icon of Our Lady have visited the Diocese of Gizo where the earthquake and tsunami hit hardest. The WYD Cross and Icon have brought hope, the peace of Christ and the maternal love of the Virgin Mary to the young Solomons as they repair their lives.
The Australian Defence Force and the Australian Federal Police have been heavily involved with securing peace and security for our brothers and sisters in this Pacific nation, and as such, we pray to the Lord for the young people of the Solomon Islands, especially those in Gizo.
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10 APRIL 2007 - Bishop Max Davis's message for Easter 2007.
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In his Easter message for 2007, the Bishop of the Australian Defence Force, Bishop Max Davis, reminds us of the encounter between Jesus and two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus as recorded in Chapter 24 of St Luke's Gospel.
Click to download Bishop Max Davis's 2007 Easter Message: ADF_Bishop's_Easter_Message_2007.doc (227KB)
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27 JANUARY 2007 - Message of the Holy Father to the youth of the world on the occassion of the 22nd WORLD YOUTH DAY 2007.
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When not held as a giant gathering of young people in one city, the Holy Father annually invites young people, all over the world, to celebrate the blessings of World Youth Day in their own dioceses and communities on Palm Sunday. This year, World Youth Day 2007 (22nd WYD) will be celebrated on Palm Sunday, 01 April 2007 and Pope Benedict XVI has sent a message to all young people asking them to take this opportunity to focus on the true meaning of "love". Jesus (through St John's Gospel) leaves us with the theme for WYD07:
"Just as I have loved you; you also should love one another" (John 13:34).
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The Military Diocese of Australia invites and encourages all military dioceses, parishes and communities around the world to join us, and the Holy Father, in celebrating WYD07 on Palm Sunday.
Click here for the Holy Father's
Message to the youth of the world on the occassion of the 22nd WYD 2007.
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16 NOVEMBER 2006 - US Military Archdiocese issues "Planning Resource" for US pilgrims to World Youth Day 2008.
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In response to Bishop Max Davis' invitation for military pilgrims to gather in Australia for World Youth Day 2008, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA has developed a "Planning Resource" document to help potential US pilgrims plan for their pilgrimage "Down Under", to World Youth Day 2008.
For more information about the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA's World Youth Day 2008 and youth ministry programs, visit the Catholics Seeking Christ website, or download their "World Youth Day 2008 Planning Resource" (PDF):
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The Military Diocese of Australia thanks Archbishop O'Brien and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA for their enthusiasm and support of World Youth Day 2008.
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15 NOVEMBER 2006 - Bishop Max invites the world's military to World Youth Day 2008.
Bishop Max Davis has returned from a successful Conference of Military Ordinaries in Rome. There, he issued a special invitation for military pilgrims from military dioceses around the world to come to Australia and celebrate the "Days in the Diocese" and World Youth Day in 2008.
His invitation has been well received by the world's Military Bishops.
Download the invitation brochure (PDF) that Bishop Max has given to his fellow Military Bishops:
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