New generation bearing the cross
New generation bearing the cross
December 12, 2007
Section: News
A GIANT wooden crucifix and a picture of Mary with the baby Jesus were marched along Wollongong beaches last week, in the lead up to next year’s World Youth Day in Sydney.
The symbols were brought to Wollongong as part of the celebrations for World Youth Day (WYD), a Catholic Church event for young people to share their faith.
Part of the WYD tradition is for the World Youth Day Cross and Icon (the picture of Mary and baby Jesus) to travel to all of the dioceses of the host country.
The Youth Mission Team Australia is one of the nation’s leading Catholic youth ministries and there are Youth Mission Teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and as of recently, Wollongong.
The teams travel to local high schools, both catholic and public, running a range of seminars on character and faith development.
Corrimal man Steve Toohey is the Director of Youth Mission Team Australia.
He said cross and Icon are symbols of the relationship between man and God.
“Carrying the cross and Icon is not about ceremony or religion- its’ the declaration of a friendship - it’s a statement of God’s love for every person and his invitation to friendship with him,” he said.
Wollongong is a co-host of the World Youth Day events planned for Sydney and the Illawarra next June and it is estimated that as many as 10,000 visitors, having made the pilgrimage to Australia from all over the world for the event, will visit the region.