DID

The events during DID were just excellent. During the week I visited the Wetlands to help with tree planting and it was fantastic to see children as young as three planting ground cover foliage. I also participated in Stations of the Cross on Fernleigh track. This was a bizarre experience which set the tone for the rest of the week. Here was a deeply spiritual act of remembrance clashing with everyday life. As pilgrims carried the WYD cross and icon singing along the track cyclists and families out walking would be engulfed by the service. It was interesting to see the effect the spiritual had on the everyday. Some would stop a pay respect, others would ignore and the best were the people who stopped to ask questions.
Finally, the Corroboree in at the Foreshore was a wash of cultural diversity. I decided to just wander and talk to pilgrims to get an idea of the atmosphere that was going to be in Sydney. Bradley Wagoner from Canada spoke volumes for pilgrims saying, “We have come because we believe, to share our common reason and our unity.” Lauren Higgins from Denver, USA, laughed about the joy of meeting so many people in an environment that was about positive growth. A bit closer to home Kuggim Kim of Kempsey spoke about her appreciation in a Catholic event targeted at young people.
I look forward to my trip to Sydney.