Days in the Diocese

Participants in World Youth Day erect a 3.8 metre wooden cross as the sun sets at Bondi Beach in Sydney on July 7, 2007. The cross is touring Australia as an invititation for young people to join the Catholic faith in preparation for the visit of Pope Benedict in July 2008.

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Thousands attend mass at stadium

July 11, 2008

Article from: AAP

MORE than 40,000 Catholic pilgrims have packed into the Telstra Dome stadium in Melbourne to celebrate mass.

The commissioning mass gave Melburnian Catholics tonight the chance to mingle with some of the thousands of international visitors that have arrived in the city ahead of World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations in Sydney next.

The stadium normally roars with the sound of an AFL football crowd but tonight songs of worship and praise to God were heard as part of what the church in Melbourne has called Days in the Diocese.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said the mass, while television personality Eddie McGuire hosted the pre-event entertainment.

Victorian Premier John Brumby addressed the crowd, telling them it was "rare to see so many young people come together and create such a buzz of joy and hope for the future".

"Victorians have really got behind this event, with thousands of families opening their homes to international visitors. In addition, hundreds of young volunteers drawn from 300 Victorian parishes have worked tirelessly to put this all together," he said.

Victoria's celebrations run for five days until Monday as a lead-in to the international WYD celebrations in Sydney, which includes a visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

Some 500,000 people are expected at Sydney's Randwick racecourse on July 20 for the Papal mass.

The government says there are more than a million Catholics in Melbourne.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24007549-29277,00.html

Welcome to World Youth Day Sydney 2008!

World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.

Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.

WYD08 will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted. It will attract over 125,000 international visitors - more than the 2000 Olympics.

WYD08 will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.

Through the WYD08 experience, young people from throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in faith, meet, and experience the love of God.

World Youth Day is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith around a particular theme. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Find out more about our major events and where you can see the Pope. Click here