Volunteer Profile

At the heart of every great event is a team of dedicated volunteers. Have a look at what one of the 400 plus TEAM DID08 members has to say about her experience so far and what she looks forward to this July…

NAME: FRISKA ZHANG
VOLUNTEER ROLE DURING DID08: TRANSPORT
 

Why did you become a volunteer for DID08? Have you also volunteered for other similar events? I wanted to somehow glorify God and be a witness of His love by volunteering my time. I also wanted to be part of the local preparations surrounding World Youth Day 2008 (besides just attending the event). Thus, I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to volunteer for DID08 here in Melbourne.

Did you participate in the Journey of the WYD Cross and Icon earlier this year? Which event did you enjoy most and why? I enjoyed the local parish events and especially the MCG walk (27 April) because I got to carry the Cross and see the enthusiasm of young other Catholics professing their faith as followers of Christ to the community without any embarrassment.
 

What’s the best part about being a volunteer for DID08? The best part of being a volunteer for DID08 is being able to experience working with people from a wide age range, learning about their backgrounds and where they are from. It also gives me the chance to learn about how different people approach their faith, life and society.

What are you looking forward to most about DID08? Are you going to World Youth Day in Sydney? I am looking forward to meeting more young people from around the globe and learning about their faith and culture. I’m also excited about attending DID08 events and as a volunteer, seeing how they will be organised. And yes, I am a registered pilgrim for WYD08 in Sydney!

 

WINNERS OF MAKE IT YOUR MISSION iPod CHALLENGE:
Congratulations to:
1. John Cardamone
2. Dulce Carpio
3. Brian Miller
4. Leanne Noone
 

You are the lucky winners of the iPod shuffle competition! The DID08 office will be in contact with each of the winners to claim their iPod shuffle.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN EVENT TIME VOLUNTEER?
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR TRANSPORT STOPS IN WANGARATTA, HOLBROOK AND GOULBURN.

SIGN UP NOW!

**ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 18

Welcome from the CEO

The Mission Continues!

It’s nearly here! Soon, the long anticipated arrival of thousands of young pilgrims from up to 90 countries will be here in Melbourne! We look forward to meeting over 580 INTERNATIONAL GROUPS from various Catholic communities sharing their gifts of faith and life with us.

Days in the Dioceses Melbourne is a chance for all of us to strengthen our faith through the witness of other people in our lives. This is how we deepen our faith – we ‘catch’ it from others. As I always say, faith is not taught; faith is caught!

But Catholics never just gather together and stay put. We are always on a journey...always on a mission to bring Christ to the world. We must ask ourselves, what will we learn from all these wonderful young people? ...how can we change and grow as people renewed by our faith and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Even after we come back from World Youth Day, our mission continues! We go to Sydney to encounter Christ and upon our return, we will go forth again to love and serve our neighbours.

Christ…
Mission…
Community…

THIS IS WHO WE ARE.... We exist for Christ! Let the pilgrimage go on!

Br Mark O’Connor
Chief Executive Officer

Parish Story

 

PILGRIMAGE THROUGH THE CITY
A prelude to the BIG one!

For many youth, World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney (WYD08) is the road trip of a lifetime. It’s a chance to be part of history – sleeping out under the stars with thousands of other youth from around the world and celebrating Mass with the Pope.

For the energetic, committed youth of St Mary’s Greensborough, WYD08 will be the fruit of many months of labour. Like many youth groups around Melbourne and the world, the young people from St Mary’s have gone through months of tireless fundraising efforts, formation sessions, and locally planned WYD08 events to engage local parishioners and youth. World Youth Day is a chance for parishes to re-energize their youth and provide the young with an opportunity to discover more about their faith with others of the same age.

As part of their preparations for the journey to WYD08, the St Mary’s group leaders organised a mini-pilgrimage through the Melbourne CBD to help pilgrims visualise what the WYD08 experience will be like when tens of thousands of youth wonder around Sydney on their way to festivals, Catechesis sessions and Masses. After celebrating Mass at the parish in the morning, the group walked down to the Watsonia train station and ventured into the city for what would be a day of fun, spiritual enrichment and discovery. The pilgrimage began with a trip to St Patrick’s Cathedral – Melbourne’s spiritual home for Catholics – where the group was welcomed by the Dean of the Cathedral Fr Gerard Johnson, who spoke about the importance of pilgrimage in one’s faith life. “A pilgrimage is about discovery…and it is meant to be simple. And when one goes on pilgrimage it is not only a journey to one’s self and where you are going in life, but also a journey to others and to God.” he said.

After a lunch in the park, the pilgrims were divided into smaller teams and embarked on an “Amazing Race” competition. Each group was given a list of tasks and significant religious landmarks around the city to visit and then return their completed questionnaire to the leaders before the afternoon’s end. It was a day of discovery – with pilgrims learning more about their team mates and the roads that many other pilgrims will walk when they arrive here in Melbourne. The group felt a genuine sense of excitement and anticipation for WYD08 after completing the discovery walk around the city.

Group leader Angela Enright said she has great anticipation for WYD08 and is most looking forward to seeing young people come together in a shared faith experience. “World Youth Day is a chance to show the youth something tangible about their faith. It’s a way for them to see that the Church and going to Mass isn’t just something for the older people – there are young people [too] who share the same faith.” she said.

With WYD08 less than three weeks away now, there is no denying the excitement as youth anticipate what’s set to be the pilgrimage of a lifetime! 

Click here to view some of the photos from the pilgrimage in the city.

International Update

 

CESAR ACUNA from the St Augustine’s youth group in Chile is just one of the many pilgrims visiting us this July for Days in the Dioceses Melbourne (DID08). Much like every other pilgrim group around the world, Cesar and his pilgrim group have worked very hard over the past year to raise funds for their journey to Australia.

We here in Melbourne look forward to welcoming all young pilgrims to DID08 and hope that you will enjoy your well-earned stay here in our beautiful city!

Name:
Cesar Gonzalo Ortiz Acuna, Pilgrim Group Leader (St Augustine’s, Chile)

Age:
19 years old

What do you do in your free time?
Listen to music, read a bit, and play the guitar

What’s your favourite book?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Who are your favourite actors?
Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas

How has your group prepared for World Youth Day?
We have raised money by making feasts, bingos, selling things, and many more activities.

Why are you looking forward to Days in the Dioceses Melbourne and World Youth Day?
I look forward to learning about the faith of others, and being in the presence of thousands of people who are there for the same purpose. I also want to be with the representative and the successor of Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, the head of our Church. I am very excited about this event, and I feel that it is going to be something magical that will literally change my life.

What do you want to share with Melbournians?
[I want to share] that despite the fact that we are “country folk” compared to Melbournians we are a beautiful country, eager for progress and proud to be Chileans! I also want to show our desire to live like Christ and the energy and enthusiasm that characterises us. It is also great to hear from Tim Davis [International Liaison, DID08 Office] that there is a whole Archdiocese waiting for us in Australia!

How will you continue your faith pilgrimage after World Youth Day?
I hope to share my DID08 and WYD08 experiences with people who were not fortunate enough to be able to witness such wonderful events in Australia.

Upcoming Events

Melbournians are very excited to welcome over 20,000 international pilgrims this July for the cultural and spiritual event of the year! As pilgrims begin arriving in our city, we thought we’d give you a sneak peak of what to expect upon your arrival!

 

PILGRIM WELCOME CENTRE – OPENING SOON!
Open from 5-14 July 2008
Pilgrim groups are encouraged to visit the Pilgrim Welcome Centre at the Australian Catholic University (115 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne). This will be the official meeting and greeting point for all pilgrims, where they can:

• Collect the official DID08 Pilgrim Pack, containing the Official Visitors Guide to Melbourne and Pilgrim Passport, a card that entitles you to loads of great discounts at some of Melbourne’s iconic tourist attractions;
• Visit the official DID08 Merchandise outlet and browse through the many souvenirs for sale. Rug up for the cold Melbourne weather with the DID08 scarf, jacket and plenty more goodies;
• Collect your group’s tickets to the Commissioning Mass at the Telstra Dome from our Ticket Distribution Centre; and
• Speak to our TEAM DID08 staff for a range of suggested activities for pilgrims to do while they are here in Melbourne.

 

DID08 COMMISSIONING MASS AT TELSTRA DOME
Friday 11 July 2008
The major highlight of the DID08 calendar, the Commissioning Mass is an event not to be missed! Telstra Dome is one of Melbourne’s premier sporting venues and for the Mass it is being converted into one big Cathedral! Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart will celebrate a Mass for all pilgrims to prepare them and send them on a safe onward journey to WYD08. Pilgrims will be treated to some of Melbourne’s best musical performances and choirs showcasing the musical diversity and talents of Melbournians (as well as a few other surprises!).

Tickets are limited so if you have not already booked your ticket contact ticketing@did08.com or call +61 3 9926 5619. Reserved tickets will be available for collection from the Pilgrim Welcome Centre from Saturday 5 July. On the day of the Mass, ticket holders will be entitled to free metlink transport (buses, trains, trams) for the whole day.

 

MELBOURNE WELCOMES CARDINALS AND ARCHBISHOPS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!
We are very privileged to welcome a number of Cardinals and Archbishops from all over the world, visiting Melbourne for Days in the Dioceses.

• Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez from Honduras will be speaking at the St Vincent de Paul Ozanam Lecture on Thursday 10 July at 3pm at the Melbourne Town Hall and the Caritas Forum on Becoming a Good Global Citizen on Saturday 12 July at 10am. Cardinal Rodriguez will also be speaking at the Interfaith Youth Pilgrimage to be held at various ecumenical and interfaith locations around the city before they gather together at Federation Square for a Peace Ceremony.
• Cardinal Wilfrid Napier from South Africa dialogues with youth on the topic of Reconciling Voices from the Margin on Saturday 12 July at 2pm at the Australian Catholic University (ACU).
• Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Collins will our pilgrims in Lectio Divina, an ancient form of prayer that includes the reading of and reflection on sacred scripture. The Life Giving Love Meditation workshop starts at 2pm on Saturday 12 July, at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

We are also very pleased to welcome Cardinals Antonio Varela of Madrid and Cardinal Augustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia to our city. Bienvenido a Melbourne!

 

DID08 FESTIVAL
12-13 July 2008
Pilgrims will be treated to an impressive line up of musical and cultural acts at the DID08 Festival at the ACU from 12-13 July. The festival is open to local and international pilgrims and all other interested members of the public! Watch out for Matt Maher, a celebrated Christian musician from the United States, who performs on the Saturday night of the festival. For the full line up of DID08 Festival activities, click here. It’s going to be huge!

Click here to view the DID08 event venues in the city or visit www.did08.com for further details on all these events. 

In The News

TRANSPORT TO SYDNEY
Buses travelling to Sydney from Melbourne

If you have not yet booked transport to Sydney, please contact Harvest Online as a matter of urgency www.harvestonline.net.au. For more information please call +61 3 9412 8488

Pilgrim groups who have booked their buses to Sydney through the DID08 office will be sent their travel details by Tuesday 1 July. This information will also be available from the Pilgrim Welcome Centre or through your local host parishes.

Please note that it is the responsibility of pilgrim groups to book their own transport to Sydney. If you have not yet booked transport to Sydney, please contact Harvest Online http://www.harvestonline.net.au/ as a matter of urgency. For more information please call +61 3 9412 8488.

Pilgrims travelling from Melbourne to Sydney for WYD08 will hopefully enjoy a real “pilgrimage experience” at the three pilgrim stops set up in Wangaratta, Holbrook and Goulburn. With up to 900kms to travel (approximately a 13-hour trip), each of these stops offers pilgrims a safe resting place, some hot food and an opportunity for quiet meditation in the nearby chapels set up along the highway.

 

TRANSPORT HUBS IN MELBOURNE
Five main transport hubs have been set up in central locations around Melbourne where international pilgrims will be dropped off from the Tullamarine airport upon their arrival and met by their local hosts. These hubs will also be the departure point for all buses travelling to Sydney for WYD08.

• North – Penola College, Broadmeadows
• South – Nazareth College, Noble Park North
• East – Marcellin College, Bulleen
• West – Catholic Regional College and Sacred Heart Primary School, St. Albans
• Central – Southern Cross Railway Station

Click here to see where these hubs are located across Melbourne.

For any enquiries on transport, email bustransport@did08.com or call the DID08 Transport Hotline on +61 3 9412 8444.

 

DID08 PILGRIM PASSPORT
Flash your Pilgrim Passport and enjoy your Melbourne experience!
All local and international pilgrims will receive a DID08 pack, containing tourism information for Melbourne and the DID08 Pilgrim Passport that entitles all pilgrims to special offers from various tourist attractions around Melbourne during DID08. This is also a great opportunity for locals to “rediscover” Melbourne with our international visitors this July! For more information on Pilgrim Passport privileges, visit www.did08.com.

 

TEAM DID08 KICKS INTO GEAR!
Melbourne volunteers prepare for the biggest youth event to hit Melbourne!
The DID08 office held an official volunteer training session last Saturday 14 June. More than 400 TEAM DID08 volunteers attended and were informed of their roles during event time. Volunteers were allocated to the following key areas: Transport, Pilgrim Services, Media and Communications and Event/venue operations.

TEAM DID08 volunteers will be present at all DID08 events throughout the city. For any enquiries while you are here during the event, do not hesitate to approach one of our uniformed volunteers!
 

Pilgrim Services - What's New?

 

THEY’RE COMING!

There are less than two weeks to go before thousands of international pilgrims touchdown in Melbourne!

Parishes around the Archdiocese eagerly await the arrival of their visiting pilgrims this July. After months of meticulous matching and planning with local parish coordinators and parish priests, pilgrims have now been allocated to parishes and school halls throughout the Archdiocese. Below is a glimpse of where some of the various visiting countries will be hosted:

To the NORTH of the Archdiocese:
Brunswick – UK, Italy
Bundoora – Germany
Clifton Hill – South Africa
Coburg -- India
Craigieburn – Philippines
Epping – India, Germany
Essendon – France
Glenroy – Zambia, Canada
Montmorency – Mexico, Chile, Philippines, Cameroon, USA
Thomastown – Italy

EAST:
Balwyn North – USA, Italy
Box Hill – France, Venezuela, Mexico
Bulleen – Italy
Deepdene – Mexico, Panama
Donvale – Singapore, Philippines
Heidelberg – Germany, USA, Nigeria
Laverton/Spotswood - France
Mooroolbark – Czech Republic, Chileans
Ringwood – Czech Republic, Canada
Rowville – United Kingdom

WEST:
Altona - Germany
Braybrook – India, Haiti
Deer Park – USA
Geelong – United Kingdom
Melton – Brazil, Kenya
St Alban’s South – Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Japan
St Albans – Germany
Werribee – Philippines
Williamstown – Italy 

SOUTH:
Brighton – South Africa, Brazil, Hong Kong
Brighton East – Koreans
Cheltenham – Germany, French Guiana
Clayton – Germany, USA
Doveton – United States
Frankston – Venezuela, Kuwait
Glenhuntly – Ireland, Ghana
Hampton – Poland, Tanzinia, Sri Lanka
Hampton Park – Costa Rica, Peru, Indonesia
Noble Park – USA, Chile
Oakley – USA

All international pilgrim groups who have not yet been in contact with their host parish in Melbourne are encouraged to email info@did08.com or call +61 3 9412 8400 immediately.

Pilgrims will get a taste of true Australian hospitality and culture with a variety of locally-organised activities at parishes including museum visits, bush walks, tree planting, movie nights and barbeque lunches with parishioners. In the afternoons, pilgrims can venture into the city for more central events including the Commissioning Mass, DID08 Festival, Art Exhibition, Pilgrim Walks, etc.

Why not see a game of Australian Rules Football? All pilgrims are entitled to a special 2 for 1 ticket entry to the Hawthorn v Sydney football game at the MCG on Sunday 13 July. Simply show your Pilgrim Passport at one of the MCG ticket box offices at gates 1, 3, 4 or 5. 

 

Training Corner

 

PILGRIM TEAM TRAINING RESOURCES
Thank you to all parishes and communities who attended the last session of Pilgrim TEAM Training! For all Pilgrim TEAM Training materials, including the Formation Program for Pilgrims, visit the Resources section at the DID08 website. 

 

WYD08 PILGRIMAGE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR ALL LOCAL LEADERS
All guides/groups leaders from local parishes and communities are encouraged to attend the WYD08 Pilgrimage Leadership Training session to receive important information about the code of conduct, reporting policies, emergency procedures and strategies for working with young people. See you all at 2pm on Saturday 27 June 2008 at the Cardinal Knox Centre!

 

WYD08 PILGRIM JOURNAL
All local pilgrims travelling to World Youth Day 2008 will receive a free Pilgrim Journal from the Melbourne Archdiocese containing prayers, songs and journaling pages for pilgrims to bring with them on their pilgrimage. We encourage all pilgrim group leaders to collect their group’s journals from the Days in the Dioceses Melbourne office (250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne) from 30 June 2008 or from the Pilgrim Welcome Centre at the Australian Catholic University (115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy) from 5 July 2008.

This journal will be a great way for our pilgrims to reflect on their faith and keep a souvenir of their pilgrimage to WYD08!