austraLasia #2219


Jakarta at the WYD: "Father, can we just stay here please?"
(Fr Noel Villafuerte sdb, PP of Jakarta's St John Bosco: "It has been more than two weeks since the conclusion of the awesome World Youth Day in Sydney, but for the Indonesian youths who had the time of their lives taking part, the fever is still burning!  Sharing experiences and recalling memories through chatting, email and mailing lists, texting, have never been both as consistent and intermittent at the same time.  What follows is a little sharing of our unforgettable adventure")

JAKARTA: 8th August 2008 -- As the countdown to our departure for Sydney reached zero, we were all just purely excited. And why not?  We were all first-timers to this great youth event.  Timely reminders via text messages, weekly countdown from day 100, and a Recollection and Eucharistic Adoration some weeks before D-Day had helped build up the excitement and anticipation.
    Would you believe that there were actually about 1,200 Indonesian youth, a record for this predominantly Moslem country, who flew to Sydney under different groups and categories.  The group of 20 from St John Bosco Parish in Jakarta comprised ten percent of the official Indonesian 200 strong delegation. Sydney airport was bustling and alive with pilgrims from Mexico in huge sombreros, singing Brazilians, Italians with their attractive ponchos, and it was here that our group got their first taste of the 'electric' atmosphere of the WYD where everyone greets everyone else as best as their language skills allow, and everyone smiles and waves at their new-found friends and fellow-travellers.  The pilgrimage was on!
    The young pilgrims were immediately at home as they experienced the red-carpet hospitality of Sydney-siders who were overwhelmingly gracious and warm.  But what would remain as one of the most unforgettable experiences for this group of 20 travelling under the label of 'Bosconian Youth Jakarta' is their participation in the Salesian WYD at Engadine, south of Sydney.  As fully-fledged Bosconians, these Jakarta youths experienced the thrill of their lives as they encountered and interacted with fellow Salesian youth from all over the world.  What was to complete their excitement was encountering no less than the Rector Major himself, Fr Pascual Chavez, and the newly-elected Regional Fr Andy Wong; great Salesians who were already their friends here in Jakarta.  No wonder then that one of the lads remarked, "Father, can we just stay here please?" (which reminded one of Peter's 'Lord, how wonderful for us to be here!').  And so with heavy heart, but totally fulfilled and proud as ever to be part of the worldwide Salesian Youth Movement, they moved on to catch the 50 minutes train ride back to the city centre where they were to take part in the evening Asian Youth Gathering.
    Sadness turned back to joy as soon as they began to run into more new friends from around the globe.  Still four days to go and these youths would bear up well despite little sleep, because they were running on excitement.  The catechesis sessions in the morning, the faith-sharing and availability of the Sacraments are what turned them into pilgrims, not just tourists.
    And after going through the intense and hectic schedule of the rest of the WYD events, the group headed home and left Down Under. Several Sydney Catholics I've met speak about how they felt re-vitalised, energised and renewed by seeing the young face of the Church.  If it were for this alone all the travel, effort and sacrifice would have been worth it. We full hearts we returned home, strengthened in the faith by our encounter with young fellow Catholics from around the world, culminating in our meeting with the Holy Father and empowered by the Spirit we have received.  In this great Pentecost for the Church may the same Holy Spirit clothe these young people and indeed all of us with power from on high".
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2219
Subject and key words: EAO General WYD Indonesia
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2219