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.
