From Australia: Mass in the Dome

11 July 2008

Maria Brennan is a parishioner at Clifton Cathedral and she’s just began a memorable trip to Australia for World Youth Day (WYD). Maria’s keeping a diary for cliftondiocese.com and this is her third entry.

This morning we talked about our personal faith and the people and places that have influenced us. I remembered my Parish Priest in Ramsgate who was both a monk and priest and who taught me to serve on the altar. Sadly he had a stroke and died some years ago but during his illness I visited him in a nursing home and used to sing hymns to him which he seemed to enjoy.

After this morning session at St Simon's church in Rowville we travelled once again by bus and train to the centre of Melbourne where we visited the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre. Mary, now Blessed Mary, lived in Melbourne during the 19th century and helped set up a community of nuns whose main work was helping the poor especially homeless women and children. It is hoped that she will become Australia's first saint.

The highlight of the day was a Commissioning Mass for WYD pilgrims at the fabulous Telstra Dome which houses 70,000 people.

The Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Harte concelebrated the Mass with a number of cardinals and bishops. It was a night to remember with the most amazing music led by a special choir made up of people from parishes in the area. Archbishop Hart led the proceedings with great enthusiasm and dignity and the huge multinational crowd joined in with great joy. The Archbishop gave us all a special blessing and wished us well in our preparation for the main event next week in Sydney.

There’ll be more from me soon.

Maria Brennan

Maria’s previous diary entry.

Meet more of our WYD pilgrims.

Keep with cliftondiocese.com for regular WYD reports from our young pilgrims direct from Australia and Maria’s diary.