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Monday, November 24, 2014
Mike Delaney's invitation is awaiting your response
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Mike Delaney's invitation is awaiting your response
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Monday, November 17, 2014
I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
World Youth Day - Sunday
While I was waiting to call I decided to try and find out if I could get into the area over the hill to concelebrate and found that the gates at Access 3 were (somehow) broken and they we're
working to fix them so I would need to go to Access 2 which was some 3km away. I thought about it for a short time and knew that if I went there I would almost certainly not see our Pilgrims anytime soon.
I went back and checked with Emily Mallett and Chris Clear, who were also going to speak on the ABC program and we chatted briefly about the kind of things we would say. When I rang I got through right away and almost immediately we went to air. I think we went ok and from the few comments people received by text from home it seems that a few people heard it and that was good.
About 6am the event MC's woke everyone up and after announcing that there were some more missing children and for I formation go to Medical Centre 3 they also announced that the winds during the vigil last evening had destroyed some of the Blessed Sacrament Chapels and because of the destruction it was not possible to distribute Holy Communion at Mass. So we were at another World Youth Day mass and not really able to participate.
The Mass itself was quite beautiful, some of the singing was really great but sadly the homily was only given in Spanish, not even a summary in any other language, so we felt somewhat left out.
If you have been reading this blog and the Tassie Devil blog you will know that l had been given a little Tassie Devil by St Joseph's Catholic School at Rosebery. I had decided that I would bring him along on the trip, write (type) his blog for him and then send him off with another pilgrim to a new country and a new home. Along the way, Thursday night at the Papal Welcome, I had met some Irish pilgrims from Kildare and after chatting said that I would look out for them on Sunday to give Tas to them to take back to Ireland.
With the mixup about getting into the arena for the Final Mass I found some young pilgrims from New York and so Tas is heading home with them and they promised to send a photo of his new home which I will add to the blog.
On the way to catch the train back to our accommodation - I suppose you will guess what happened. Yes, the group immediately behind us as we walked along was this same group of Irish Pilgrims asking if I still wanted them to take Tas to Port Laoise. I had to tell them that he was already heading off to the USA but they were ok about it.
The train trip again was hectic and difficult - an hour in the sun waiting to get into the station. The security people were only letting so many into the station at a time in order to protect people on the platform from being pushed and shoved.
Eventually we all got back and had showers and changed and then we were back onto more trains to go to an international Soccer Friendly put on by the WYD Organisers as a fun ending to the week. We had been told that it only rained about four times a year in Spain - well after last night we didn't expect another downpour but we got it and most of us managed to get very wet and uncomfortable. The game itself was ok with the World Team beating Spain 2-1 but no other top teams need be concerned about losing to them.
Then another difficult train trip with much pushing and shoving resulting in one of our group getting a badly strained ankle later requiring hospital treatment. Eventually everyone was home and so to bed as we are off at 9am tomorrow for our retreat centre.
World Youth Day - Saturday
So after breakfast I went looking for a supermarket and, quick as a flash, noticed that were lots of police and barricades along the Calle Grand Via and figured out that the Pope must be traveling down the road at some stage this morning.
I waited about 30 minutes and sure enough he came down the road but of course I didn't have my camera with me - I mean you don't expect to see the Pope when you head off to the supermarket, it certainly doesn't happen when I go to the supermarket in Queenstown.
After getting some things to make the journey to Cuatro Vientos a little more pleasant I headed back to our accommodation and got my things ready for the trip, walk and overnight wait for the final Mass of WYD 2011.
I'd been in contact with +Adrian who joined us about 2.30pm as the small groups were finishing some reflection and journaling time and we prayed and he gave us a blessing and sent us on our way.
The train trip was a bit of a battle as all of the trains were full and so we broke up into our small groups arranging to meet at the last station. Eventually we all arrived and started the walk to Gate 3 where we were to enter to go to D2, our designated spot.
It took some time because there were 1000's of other pilgrims traveling in the same direction and when we got near the gates the first serious problem arose. The photo with today's blog shows the kind of landscape we were going to moving into and it certainly didn't get any better the closer we got.
After walk some distance we were told that the gate we wanted to enter was shut and not likely to be opened so we had best find ourselves another spot so we settled into an area where we had sufficient room although we were some distance from a screen to see what was happening because there was a high bank between where we were and where the Pope was to be tonight for the Vigil and tomorrow for the Mass.
We survived the early part of the evening were geared up for the Vigil but we had some slight concerns as the were huge clouds building up in the distance and moving towards us. When the Pope was addressing the crowds the heavens opened and he was forced to stop as lightning, thunder and wind shook the place leaving lots of damage and plenty of soaked pilgrims. Thankfully I had my space blanket which became a more than adequate wet weather shelter.
After the Vigil had finished and the Pope had left I settled back to reflect on what was happening and concerned that if we were so far away would we be able to receive Communion tomorrow or would I be able to even get into the area to concelebrate the final Mass.
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