+St. Isidore Parish+

July 20, 2008

Dear Friends:

G’day mates from down under!  What an incredible experience we have been having so far with World Youth Day.  We all survived our flights and arrived fresh and excited for a tour of the city.  We got an overview of the city and made notes of the highlights we wanted to go back and explore some more – especially Bondi Beach.  While touring the city we stopped at Lady MacQuarrie’s Chair and met up with a group from Boston and joined them for Morning Prayer and did a little spot for their Catholic TV Station back in Boston.  It seemed everywhere we turned we ran into Americans.  We continued on our tour – finally arriving at our hotel, getting checked in and taking a much needed shower.  Then it was off to dinner and back for a long needed sleep.

Our second day started out with some early risers heading to the Cathedral to view the remains of Blessed Pierre Georgio Frasatti – the Patron of World Youth Day.  After breakfast we made our way to Bondi Beach and then off to Barangaroo on Kings Wharf for the Opening Mass of World Youth Day with Cardinal Pell from Sydney.  It was attended by 150,000 people.  Following the Mass we wandered around the wharfs and harbors eventually making it back to our hotel.  After a quick break a group of us headed to the Cathedral for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and then home to bed.

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