Blessed be God!

Before I started WYD activities, I didn't know what to expect. I have learned that my plan isn't always God's plan. When you make decisions and plans expect them to change rapidly. Being open and allowing yorself to be on God's time brings many more graces than you could imagine. I've also learned the art of waiting. It's that old saying, rush to wait. Most of the large events involve hours of waiting before the event starts, but if you want a good view, there you stand or sit for 3-4 hours. These are oppurtunities for the good Lord to bring people into your life. Much conversation goes on during this time with people you wouldn't generally meet. God has blessed me with many new friends.

The pope arrived today. We had a superb spot right along the street to see him. Unfortunately, the motorcade went speeding by and we only got a glimpse of him.

Dinner with coajutor Bishop Soto was a treat! He is truly a big spender!

Please continue to keep us pilgrims in prayer. God Bless you all. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and foreve!
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Reverence and Awe

Praise be Jesus Christ! Hey All! Wow! Graces and blessings abound everywhere! Every where I turn today, I've been blessed. WYD officially started late yesterday afternoon. We begun with an Aborigine dance and then an incredible Mass with hundreds of priests, bishops and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims! Part of today, we have attended a concert, hence the picture of the Rockin Friar. God Bless you all.
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Touring Sydney again

Today I got to play tour guide. We took the ferry out again and this time I remembered to take a picture. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are in the background. We finally caught up with the diocese group today.

It is amazing to see all the people that the Holy Spirit has gathered together for the Glory of God! . When I first arrived I was in awe about how many pilgrims I saw. Today there is about five times more. It is really cool to see so many people traveling from all over the globe for this incredible event. Please pray for a successful World Youth Day. All WYD events commence Mon (US time). God Bless You all.
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Among friends again

Another productive day. I attended Mass at the beautiful Cathedral and met up with Uncle Al. We walked through town and had a scrumptious meal consisting of blue crab cakes and steak. Yummmmy! The ride on the ferry was just incredible. The views were spectacular. Praise God for all his goodness and beauty! Today my favorite mateys arrived. I now have a group to identify with! The photo included is the New Australian Nose Flute Band. Look closer you probrably know a few of them! Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming! God bless you all.
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Walk...Walk...Train...Walk

I took the train to Mary MacKillop Place in N. Sydney (the photo is the chapel at MMP). Bl Mary MacKillop is the first cannonized person from Australia. To me, she embodies the same spirit as Mother Teresa. She has such a beautiful story. She started a new form of religious, the Sisters of St Joseph. Mary and her sisters lived among the poor and cared for destitute women and children. I visited the chapel where she was laid to rest. "Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them cheerfully, remembering whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid, love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you in all your life.". Blessed Mary MacKillop - words to live by! Keep me and my family in prayer while I am on this pilgrimage. Charles and Savanna leave for camp soon. Blessings and Peace to you all.

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In the Other Half of the Hemisphere

Ay mate. After a 13 hour flight, I am finally in Sydney. So far, I've checked into my hotel and walked to St Mary's Cathedral. Amazing. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's remains are in the Cathedral along with a new icon of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. The southern cross is a constellation in the night sky that can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. From the Cathedral, I took a walk to Sydney Harbour and ended here...now I sit on the front stairs of the Opera house updating my blog. Keep checking back. I'll be adding more soon. Keep us in your prayers. God Bless you all.
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See ya on the Other Side of the World!

The countdown begins. I leave in three days for Sydney, Australia. The bag is packed, the camera battery is charged and the credit card is ready for international spending! Seriously, I've been preparing with prayer and ask that you all keep me and my family in prayer while I am gone. I look forward to lots of prayer, learning, praise and worship! Can't wait to share my pilgrimage with all of you. Pope Benedict has asked for prayers for Word Youth Day. Check out this link: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13144. See ya all on the other side of the world! Peace and Blessings...c