World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney

If you are here attending World Youth Day 2008, please do not read any further... you are in the wrong place, bless your hearts. And actually, if you are an easily offended, devout Catholic you may want to go in peace now too--Shabbat Shalom my friends.

The rest of you-- carry on...

Next week is World Youth Day in Sydney--- but it looks like World Youth Day is more like World Youth Week.

One thing I've noticed about Sydney is that most events, festivals, large scale festivities are not hugely promoted-- it's like they're all on done on the down-low. So even though there was a church sporting a digital count down clock to the big event (WYD) on it for the last year in the middle of the city-- World Youth Day 2008 has just snuck up on the locals and is taking over.



In anticipation of the expected 300,000 people, many streets downtown will be closed off next week, and there will be no parking allowed throughout most of the city, and they've put out the word (as quietly as they do that here) that you should use public transportation if you want to be downtown. My preschool is closing early all week, so you won't be caught in the midst of the crowds.



I'm all thinkin'...
Concerts, parties, a bunch of wild kids-- right? Sounds like World Youth Day to me. Schwing baby, bring it on. Of course I'm not going, but I support and envy the lucky people who do get some full on sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll.

Guess who's a dumbass-- oh, you're right-- it's me.

Guess who the guest of honor for World Youth Day is-- it's the Pope! Yippie.

And guess what the festivities schedule looks like--

Tuesday 15 July 2008
4.30pm-6.30pm Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo Youth Festival events
Wednesday 16 July 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis (teaching) sessions at over 250 locations across Sydney (for registered pilgrims only) Youth Festival events
Thursday 17 July 2008 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis (teaching) sessions at over 250 locations across Sydney (for registered pilgrims) 2.45pm Papal Boat-a-cade on Sydney Harbour 3.30pm-4.30pm Papal Arrival at Barangaroo 4.30pm-5.30pm Papal Motorcade through Sydney CBD streets Youth Festival events Friday 18 July 2008 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis (teaching) sessions at over 250 locations across Sydney (for registered pilgrims) 3.00-6.00pm Stations of the Cross - a re-enactment of the last moments of Jesus' life: St Mary's Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Domain Youth Festival events Saturday 19 July 2008 From 5.30am Pilgrimage walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse (for registered pilgrims) 7.00pm-9.00pm Evening Vigil with the Pope and sleep out under the stars at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) Sunday 20 July 2008 9am, Papal flyover and motorcade through Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) 10am, Final Mass celebrated by the Pope, Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) 12.30pm-5pm Youth Festival events at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park)

Hmmm, guess they won't be fighting off the Girls Gone Wild crew from this party, right?

As for me, I needed a little Jesus right about now anyways. I even got my hair done today, maybe I'll run into the Pope during all this and he can see how much better my skin looks when I'm really, really blonde.

Activities for everyone else, not participating in World Youth Day:

1. Fortunately for all of us, the radio station who invented the Gravy Chip is having a Jesus look-a-like contest with a $1000 prize for the winner. Sweet.
2. Did you notice the Pope will be doing a "Papal-boat-a-cade". That really rocks my world. I am hoping to catch a glimpse of that from my house!