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Broken Bay students ready for their trip of a lifetime to WYD Madrid

 

Twenty eight Broken Bay students and eight staff are making their final preparations before they depart on a trip of a lifetime to World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations in Spain.

The student pilgrims are from St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga; Mercy Catholic College, Chatswood; Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood; St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford; St Edwards College, East Gosford; St Peters’ Catholic College, Tuggerah and MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale.

The schools group (with the broader Diocesan pilgrim group) has attended four preparation sessions over the past four months, culminating with a Commissioning Mass at Waitara Cathedral with Bishop David Walker.

Just prior to the Mass, Br Tony Whelan, Director of Schools, met with the schools group and their parents to extend his own support and prayers for their journey and presented each student with a travel bible for use throughout their three week pilgrimage.

WYD Madrid, Spain will run from 16-21 August with the theme, ‘Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in faith’ and will involve a week long series of events, attended by the Pope and hundreds and thousands of young people throughout the world.

The pilgrims will depart on 5 August firstly completing a Saints and Mystics Tour, visiting the towns and sites which are essential in the story of Christian Spain.  The group will then go on to the Toledo Diocese where Broken Bay will be hosted for Days in the Diocese before travelling to Madrid for the central celebration of WYD and the occasion of the celebration of the Eucharist with Pope Benedict, the climax of WYD.   

In the final week of their journey the Broken Bay pilgrims will travel to Dublin to undertake a three day retreat led by Father Jim McKeon with emphasis on reflection and preparation. The school pilgrims will reflect on their experiences and prepare for their return to school and parish back in Australia.

The student pilgrims from the Broken Bay diocese will be accompanied by Ray Werren (Catholic Schools Office); Chris Comerford (St Paul’s Catholic College, Manly); Fiona Brown (St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah) and Nicky Chin (Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood). The schools group also includes three young teachers who are part-sponsored by the Diocese - Megan Taylor (Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School, Forestville); Kathleen Gibson (Sacred Heart catholic School, Mona Vale); and Ben Rowse (St Paul’s Catholic College, Manly).