austraLasia #2894 Shells Blessed at Australia - Pacific WYD
Commissioning
MELBOURNE: 25 July 2011 -- Salesian World Youth Day
pilgrims took their first step on the journey to Madrid at a
Commissioning Mass celebrated by Australia - Pacific
Salesian Provincial, Fr Frank Moloney, at St John’s Church
in Clifton Hill, Melbourne.
More than 70 young pilgrims from
Salesian schools, Don Bosco Camp and other works throughout
Australia and Samoa will journey to Madrid in August to
celebrate World Youth Day. They will join thousands of other
young Catholics from all around the world including more
than 5000 members of the world-wide Salesian Family.
The Commissioning Day began with a
gathering of the young people. Together they selected and
prepared their scallop shells –the traditional symbol of the
pilgrim. These were blessed at the Mass. The shells will be
carried throughout the expedition as a physical reminder
that this is a special journey of faith. The day culminated
in the Mass and Blessing concelebrated by Fr Moloney, Fr
Bernie Graham, Fr John Papworth, and Fr Martin Tanti. Fr
Moloney told the young people that World Youth Day would
offer each of them the adventure of a life time and a rich
spiritual experience. The central message of World Youth Day
was an affirmation, despite the messages of a modern world,
that “it was okay to love God, and it was okay to love each
other”. Friends and family witnessed the commissioning and
joined in the prayers and blessing for a safe journey.
The Salesian pilgrims gather in
Italy in early August and tour the great cultural and
religious sites of Rome before heading to the birthplace of
Don Bosco – Turin. Here they will visit the key Salesian
sites before flying to Madrid for a week of World Youth Day
festivities culminating in the all night Vigil and Mass
celebrated by His Holiness, Pope Benedict. _________________ AustraLasia
is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia
Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in
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