Passionist Youth Encounter (PYE)
On Wednesday 9 July, participants to the Passionist Youth Encounter in Endeavour Hills, Melbourne, were welcomed in the Opening Ceremony by a group of Australian Aborigines. The group of adults and children welcomed everyone onto the sacred land and presented the Superior General (Most Rev. Ottaviano D’Egidio C.P.), the Provincial (Very Rev. Joachim Rego C.P.) and a representative from the Parish with Aboriginal Message Sticks.
Once the Opening Ceremony was completed, all the participants were invited to move
back into the church and participate in the Opening Mass, the Feast of Our Lady of
Hope, led by the Provincial, Fr Joachim Rego CP. The Opening Mass started with a
procession of the relics of three of the World Youth Day Patron Saints, who are Passionist
Saints -
After blessing the casket which contained the relics of the three Saints, the procession entered the church. Fr Joachim was assisted by two Passionist Deacons and all the 120 Passionist priests present concelebrated in the Mass. This was truly a warm celebration of our diversity of cultures as every effort was made to ensure that every cultural group was represented throughout the programme.
The YPE programme was one full of exciting and enriching speakers from around the world with Social Justice as a major theme. The speakers and activities for the week encluded:
Ms Rose Wu (Vietnam)
Sr Patricia McCabe CP. (Ireland)
Fr Ray Sanchez CP (Australia)
Fr Jesus Maria Aristan CP (Rome)
Fr Enzo Del Bocco CP (Italy)
Cardinal Wilfred Napier OFM (South Africa)
There was also loads of time for recreation and celebrating our various cultures in group discussions and social activities, not to mention the great dancing and singing after dinner and in between sessions. The closing ritual, lead by Fr John Pearce CP marked the end of the PYE and the start of the journey to Sydney!
All of the participants of the PYE in Melbourne were accommodated at the Passionist
schools in Sydney, where the daily catechesis also took place in the church. The
catechesis was given by bishops and cardinals from around the world and each one
was made relevant to life today. It was great to hear how tour faith is applied
to real-
After catechesis everyday, there were heaps of activities to participate in. We
had the Opening Mass at Barangaroo, the Vocations Hall, Concerts with famous Christian
Bands, the arrival of the Pope at Darling Harbour, the Stations of the Cross. Then
on Saturday , a special Mass for seminarians and religious presided over by the Pope
at St Mary’s Cathedral, before the pilgrim walk over the bridge to Randwick racecourse
for the Vigil and sleep-
For more photos and news on WYD08 go to
http://www.worldyouthday08-
cpvocations.com.au -
Aboriginal Group at Opening of PYE
Fr Joachim blessing the relics
Arrived in Sydney at St Mary’s Cathedral
We are all pilgrims on our faith journey
Nicky with the Altar in the background
Aerial view of the opening Mass where approximately 150 000 people attended
