The Mount Argus WYD2008 blog

Good morning all! As Gerard has said above we really did have the best places in all of Australia for the vigal mass. We were in section A4, to the left of the alter…. and yes we were considered VIP’s – although that meant metal detectors and bag scanners whenever you needed to go to the toilet to get back in…. well worth the hassle though!

I dont think any amount of writing can justify the atmosphere of the last 2 days…. the thousands of people who all flocked to the racecourse all paraded down the citys streets before hand on their pilgrim walk, about 4.2 kilometres for us. I heard at one point last night that there was half a million around at one point….. thats a lot! We all got in after the longest walk (due to being at the front) and set up our camps with sleeping bags and mats alongside the scottish group from St. Mungos. (They’re departing for home in about 2 hours). The vigal was beautiful, just to look across these acres of land and see thousands of candles lit was in itself amazing. At about 10.30 the music stopped and it was time to settle down for the night…….. well not really! the party continued in most ‘pods’ of the course with music and dancing (although our’s wasn’t too bad!). The night was cold and long, but the best part was trying to get out to the toilet at 5a.m. , falling over a coupe of hundered of people in the process, and then realising you have no way of finding your way back to your sleeping bag! fun!

Sunday morning we were kindly woken at about 7 O clock to get up and prepare for morning prayer at 8, and then the papal mass at 10. Another fantastic experience which we will all write more about when we get home, so much happened that just cannot fit into here.

After the whole event we made our way back towards town which wasn’t easy……. at leaslt getting in the crowed moved…. getting out it just didnt! However we got there in the end. About half way back we dicided to split up. Some were going shopping, others for dinner, Grainne to see family, and some to find an internet cafe! Ciara, Sherina and I opted for the internet cafe idea, but never got there…… Not too far from Central station we passed a building ‘The Gaelic Association of NSW’, with people standing outside…. so over we walked with the flag held high! There was a function organised by the ‘Kilkenny Association’ for the pilgrims from Kilkenny and Mayo who were over, but there were plenty from all over Ireland. We were invited in and given a full meal with what can be classed as the nicest irish people down under. The president of the association is from Stannaway Road in Crumlin and was a regular of Mount Argus up until he moved to Sydney 37 years ago! One of the priests I got talking to from Mayo happens to be my cousins chaplain in school in Ballina and is their parish priest now! Small world!

After arriving back at the college everyone just recovered. Some pizza was ordered, and everyone just put their feet up and reflected on the weekend. We also had to say some goodbyes to people from Melbourne, in particular Bridgit and Zoe, the two girls who have been central in organising the Melbourne Encounter, and were the 2 people up to meet us in the wee hours of the morning when we arrived here….. There were tears!

We’re getting breakfast soon enough and then we’ll say goodbye to our friends from St. Mungos (but that’s not the last we’ll see of them…… we have plans!)

Hope all is well at home and enjoy the photos,

Regards,

Dave.

PS: I’ve just figured out a quicker way to upload photos so enjoy there’s plenty there! Talk soon.