Hey guys,
We are finally home. After our seventh flight of the trip! We began our trip with a flight to Las Vegas, then a connector to LA, stayed a couple nights, went to Australia, flew from Australia to San Francisco, then to LA, then to Kansas City, then our final destination... Orlando!
It feels great to be home... even though I haven't even looked at my room yet. I'm pretty sure it's messy! ;) Dad made us a delicious dinner, and we finally got a glass of water that didn't cost 5 bucks! We reviewed our videos from the trip. Some are good... most are silly! :)
Well 'til next time,
Colleen <3
Florida Group
The Florida Group meets at the mall to plan their trip. Ana Marie Feuerbacher, Marcin Wilczac, Michael Armstrong, Monica Rassi, Megan Arago, Bianca Godin, Andrea Feuerbacher, and Colleen Arago are the group members. Maureen Arago is the group leader.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Last Day
So today we went to the Opera house, and took the tour! It was really interesting to hear about how it came to be. We could one see the Ballet stage, not the main stage, which is the most famous one. They had a rehearsal in that hall. We also got to see some of the smaller venues which was very exciting!
Sorry if this doen't make to much since because I'm under a lot of presure here. I only have 15 min. and Megan and Michael are telling me a buzillion things.
We are very sad yet excited to leave Australia. Cant wait to see you all!
Love,
Monica
Sorry if this doen't make to much since because I'm under a lot of presure here. I only have 15 min. and Megan and Michael are telling me a buzillion things.
We are very sad yet excited to leave Australia. Cant wait to see you all!
Love,
Monica
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Eating Better than Tucker
It's hard to compete with Tucker's meals, but we are eating better...All of us were treated to meals by our host families upon our return from Randwick race track. Colleen, Bianca, and I had lasagna, chicken, stuffed olives, salad, fruit, and wine for me and coffee and hot-chocolate for the girls. All of our host families attended the Mass, so all were excited to talk about the day and share their emotional moments of seeing the Pope and the other pilgrims. For me, I think my most treasured part was the evening prayer vigil with the Pope.
We said good-bye to our host families yesterday mid-day and most of us headed to the Marriott. Anna Marie and Andrea went to visit another family they had met. Then we went to visit the Blessed Mary McCollup(sp?) tomb. The Australians hope she will be their first saint - a woman who traveled the country by horse-back, thousands of miles, to help people around the country. She started the Josephites here. At her shrine, we happened upon a French group with their bishop about to celebrate mass. We couldn't stay, but at least had some time in the beautiful chapel.
Back to food - then we went to Chinatown and went to a food court where (almost) everyone found something delicious. I think Bianca picked the best.
This morning, Marcin, Anna Marie and Andrea left for Adelaide. Of course they are missed by all the other kids. The rest of us headed to Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach has been my favorite tourist place. The waves were so huge, dramatic and powerful, crashing against the rocks, spraying water high into the air. We had lunch at the Bondi Beach hotel. I had pumpkin soup and hot bread, which was delicious; we could see the water, and stay warm. After our walk around the coast line, a woman at a restaurant which had already closed let us in for coffee and hot chocolate. People are very, very nice.
Then the kids rested and went to the gym, and I went to the Cathedral for Mass. This time I happened upon a huge group of Italians. Cardinal Pell celebrated the Mass with the Italian Cardinal who was responsible for WYD, plus 20 other bishops and at least 100 priests. It was a beautiful Mass - all in Italian, except for a Communion meditation in english. It's nice to see some of the pilgrims still around. Everyone's definitely more subdued.
So - the pilgrimage is about over. Tomorrow we'll take it easy and get ready to leave. I already gave away my sleeping bag and towels to lighten my load. The sneakers might be next. See you soon! Maureen
We said good-bye to our host families yesterday mid-day and most of us headed to the Marriott. Anna Marie and Andrea went to visit another family they had met. Then we went to visit the Blessed Mary McCollup(sp?) tomb. The Australians hope she will be their first saint - a woman who traveled the country by horse-back, thousands of miles, to help people around the country. She started the Josephites here. At her shrine, we happened upon a French group with their bishop about to celebrate mass. We couldn't stay, but at least had some time in the beautiful chapel.
Back to food - then we went to Chinatown and went to a food court where (almost) everyone found something delicious. I think Bianca picked the best.
This morning, Marcin, Anna Marie and Andrea left for Adelaide. Of course they are missed by all the other kids. The rest of us headed to Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach has been my favorite tourist place. The waves were so huge, dramatic and powerful, crashing against the rocks, spraying water high into the air. We had lunch at the Bondi Beach hotel. I had pumpkin soup and hot bread, which was delicious; we could see the water, and stay warm. After our walk around the coast line, a woman at a restaurant which had already closed let us in for coffee and hot chocolate. People are very, very nice.
Then the kids rested and went to the gym, and I went to the Cathedral for Mass. This time I happened upon a huge group of Italians. Cardinal Pell celebrated the Mass with the Italian Cardinal who was responsible for WYD, plus 20 other bishops and at least 100 priests. It was a beautiful Mass - all in Italian, except for a Communion meditation in english. It's nice to see some of the pilgrims still around. Everyone's definitely more subdued.
So - the pilgrimage is about over. Tomorrow we'll take it easy and get ready to leave. I already gave away my sleeping bag and towels to lighten my load. The sneakers might be next. See you soon! Maureen
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Continuation
We are on our way home from the 2.1 mile walkfrom Randwick with the some 500,000 pilgrims where we stayed overnight. It was very cold, some of us got a better nights sleep than the others because of how cold it was, but it was still fun. This morning was the final mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, i think it was about 2 1/2 hours long, really awesome and at the end he announced the next location of WYD in 2011:
Madrid, Spain!
Sign me up! :) Some of us were talking and realizing that a few of us are going to be 20 then, thats weird, but anyways we had a lot of fun and the masses and stations of the cross were AMAZING. I loved the choirs and huge orchestra they had, really breathtaking. we're all sad at how fast this week has gone by and thats its over, but we can't wait to see everyone back in Florida in a few days!
Love you, miss you,
Michael and all
Madrid, Spain!
Sign me up! :) Some of us were talking and realizing that a few of us are going to be 20 then, thats weird, but anyways we had a lot of fun and the masses and stations of the cross were AMAZING. I loved the choirs and huge orchestra they had, really breathtaking. we're all sad at how fast this week has gone by and thats its over, but we can't wait to see everyone back in Florida in a few days!
Love you, miss you,
Michael and all
Friday, July 18, 2008
Today's events
Wow, it's hard to follow my mother's blog, but here goes anyway-It'll be short, because of the time, and my lack of thoughts. Today we saw the Stations of the Cross. They were very nice, although we were not able to see the cross, at anytime. Monica and I will be waking up in around 6 hours, to catch a bus to the Chattswood station, and begin our long walk to Randwick. We will be joining the USCCB, at around nine, for a mass. After that, we'll be at Randwick for the sleepout. The weathermen are predicting rain. I've been expecting it, even though you can't really trust weathermen.
Lots of love :)
Megan
Lots of love :)
Megan
Thursday, July 17, 2008
We Saw the Pope
Today we saw Pope Benedict XVI! I don't know what was more exciting - seeing him or seeing the kids get so happy to see him. We had a pretty good spot where we were able to see the boat land. Then we could also see him come through in his vehicle until he walked up the steps to the staging area. The real excitement was when he left in the vehicle and drove in our direction. The kids were jumping, climbing, and hugging each other...it was great. He looked great - very happy!
To answer some questions - we have been getting around by ferry, bus, train, and our weary legs...which is why I am now sitting in an internet cafe while the kids explore a little more. Our host homes are all located on the same bus route. We have many other pilgrims staying with host families on that route. Some are from the Phillipines. Some are from England. We are in a community about 20 minutes or so past the train stop. The community does not want the train, and has hired their own private bus company to pick up from the train. We get first class treatment. Our host families drive us to catechesis each morning. Then the bus takes us from the church to the train. The difficult part comes once we get to our major venues. They route us like cattle long distances for better traffic control. Today, for example, to get 1/2 a block we walked at least one hour. At the end of the night we have to all walk to one very far train station. Then we catch the private bus to our nearest stop. I might have to have my legs taped together to continue this pace.
This morning's catechesis was excellent. It began with a DVD of quotes from Pope Benedict. Then we had the American military bishop give a lesson. It was an excellent talk followed by a beautiful Mass. The host mom for Michael and Marcin joined us at Mass which was very special. The same people on our bus route join us for catechesis, so we get to see familiar faces throughout each day.
As for host families - they are wonderful. Michael and Marcin's hostess washed their clothes today. She is on a committee for the Cathedral which is serving tea at an interfaith event tomorrow morning. I did have my glass of Australian wine, offered by my host family. The first night the woman also offered me coffee and said it would be terrible without some kind of special addition in it - so I trusted her judgment. We have enjoyed the conversations before and after our day begins.
We went to the vocations exhibit yesterday. It is a great exhibit - far beyond what you would imagine - every kind of ministry and order represented...free internet, a coffee shop. Above it is the patron saint exhibit. A few of us were able to catch seminarian Ben at the North American booth. We hope to see him again tomorrow and arrange to meet the seminarians at the vigil and Mass. The American bishops are offering a special mass Saturday morning. Today, walking to see the Pope we ran into a priest we met in LA who was on our plane. It tuns out he's on the USCCB liturgy committee working on that mass. He also worked on the mass in D.C. for the pope and told us about that.
All the young people are doing very well. They get disappointed in one thing or another from time to time, but are good sports. I enjoy watching them experience the event. They have played a lot of soccer and volleyball with the people they meet, exchanged pins and e-mails, etc. The opening night they danced and danced. The second day we watched polish, irish, filipino, palestinian, and Australian performers. We tried to cover everyone's heritage.
The hardest thing for me is being out of touch with people at home...even harder than the crazy walking. I guess it makes sense that pilgrimage includes both leaving somewhere and walking - but was that in our preparation DVD?
It's time to go!
Maureen
To answer some questions - we have been getting around by ferry, bus, train, and our weary legs...which is why I am now sitting in an internet cafe while the kids explore a little more. Our host homes are all located on the same bus route. We have many other pilgrims staying with host families on that route. Some are from the Phillipines. Some are from England. We are in a community about 20 minutes or so past the train stop. The community does not want the train, and has hired their own private bus company to pick up from the train. We get first class treatment. Our host families drive us to catechesis each morning. Then the bus takes us from the church to the train. The difficult part comes once we get to our major venues. They route us like cattle long distances for better traffic control. Today, for example, to get 1/2 a block we walked at least one hour. At the end of the night we have to all walk to one very far train station. Then we catch the private bus to our nearest stop. I might have to have my legs taped together to continue this pace.
This morning's catechesis was excellent. It began with a DVD of quotes from Pope Benedict. Then we had the American military bishop give a lesson. It was an excellent talk followed by a beautiful Mass. The host mom for Michael and Marcin joined us at Mass which was very special. The same people on our bus route join us for catechesis, so we get to see familiar faces throughout each day.
As for host families - they are wonderful. Michael and Marcin's hostess washed their clothes today. She is on a committee for the Cathedral which is serving tea at an interfaith event tomorrow morning. I did have my glass of Australian wine, offered by my host family. The first night the woman also offered me coffee and said it would be terrible without some kind of special addition in it - so I trusted her judgment. We have enjoyed the conversations before and after our day begins.
We went to the vocations exhibit yesterday. It is a great exhibit - far beyond what you would imagine - every kind of ministry and order represented...free internet, a coffee shop. Above it is the patron saint exhibit. A few of us were able to catch seminarian Ben at the North American booth. We hope to see him again tomorrow and arrange to meet the seminarians at the vigil and Mass. The American bishops are offering a special mass Saturday morning. Today, walking to see the Pope we ran into a priest we met in LA who was on our plane. It tuns out he's on the USCCB liturgy committee working on that mass. He also worked on the mass in D.C. for the pope and told us about that.
All the young people are doing very well. They get disappointed in one thing or another from time to time, but are good sports. I enjoy watching them experience the event. They have played a lot of soccer and volleyball with the people they meet, exchanged pins and e-mails, etc. The opening night they danced and danced. The second day we watched polish, irish, filipino, palestinian, and Australian performers. We tried to cover everyone's heritage.
The hardest thing for me is being out of touch with people at home...even harder than the crazy walking. I guess it makes sense that pilgrimage includes both leaving somewhere and walking - but was that in our preparation DVD?
It's time to go!
Maureen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
