austraLasia
#1810
World Youth Day Cross and
Icon to arrive in Solomon Islands en route to Australia
(from Catholic Communications
Solomons)
HONIARA: 11th April
2007 -- Symbols of the world’s
largest youth event - the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Our Lady – will
arrive at Henderson airport, Solomon Islands on 12 April, 2007. Youth and
parishes across the Solomon Islands have been preparing for the arrival of the
Cross and Icon ever since the two symbols of WYD started their journey through
Asia and Oceania in February 2007 on their way to Australia for World Youth Day
2008 in Sydney, Australia. The Diocese of Auki and Diocese of Gizo will
also have the Cross and Icon visit them for a day.
Fr. Ivica Gregurec cm, Parish
priest of Good Shepherd parish, Tenaru, will welcome the Cross and Icon.
Archbishop Adrian Smith sm will give the opening address. It will then be
carried in procession into Honiara by the youth of different parishes.
Along the road different youth groups will offer prayers. The Cross will
then depart to Auki by sea for a day to enable participants from the Diocese of
Auki celebrate and pray with its people. On its return to Honiara on 14
April, 2007, it will go west to Tanagai and Visale parishes. Early morning
on Sunday it will travel by air to Gizo, giving the victims of the recent
tsunami a chance to venerate the Cross and pray for lost loved ones and the
strength to endure their trials. It will then move to Ruavatu, East
Guadalcanal on 16 April, 2007. The parishioners of Christ the King, Tetere
and Good Shepherd parish will receive the cross on 17 April. A farewell
mass will be celebrated by Bishop Chris Cardone op, Bishop of Auki and will
depart on the 19 April, 2007.
As part of the celebrations, 150
young people are present at the Bishop Epalle School, Rove for a camp organized
by Fr. Joseva Tuimavule cm and his team. Several more are expected
to arrive from Russell Islands, Savo and Makira. Different sessions and
talks to deepen and strengthen the faith of the participants are
planned.
WYD organizers, who are supporting the Oceania
itinerary, have had enthusiastic responses from the region. "In places like East
Timor, the diocese have told us they don't just want to host the Cross and Icon
- they need it to bring some light to their troubled times", World Youth Day
Coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher OP said.
"The journey of
the Cross and Icon is an invitation to the people of Asia and Oceania to join us
in Sydney to celebrate World Youth Day with his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The
journey of the Cross and Icon will inspire young people from the region to make
the pilgrimage to Sydney....we know that for many young people [of the region]
this is their best opportunity to attend a World Youth Day and share in it
powerful message".
To help those in developing countries
make that pilgrimage, Australia has developed support programs to help them meet
some of the costs. The support schemes available can be found at
www.wyd2008.org.
World Youth Day is the largest youth event in
the world and will attract an anticipated 500,000 pilgrims from around Australia
and the world to Sydney from 15-20 July 2008.