Woke early and then dozed as it was so hot. Headed out to breakfast with the others and then onto the Metro to get to Plaza San Juan de la Cruz to get my accreditation. Actually found my way easily and arrived about 8am and found out that the centre wasn't opening until 9 so settled in for a long wait.
Luckily a young volunteer asked me where I was from and after learning I was a priest went and asked when I could be processed and came back a short time later and took me through and I filled out the paperwork and got my card. I walked out of the centre and got into a taxi and headed back to Plaza de Espana which is right opposite our accommodation and where our groups were meeting for some small group reflection and journaling.
We regathered about 10am and headed off to the big centre where all the Australian Pilgrims were gathering for the Welcome celebration which was really great. It was a real Aussie affair and great to see so many Aussie youth gathered together. +Adrian caught up with us at the end before we headed outside to have our lunch and then he headed off to his accommodation and we headed off towards the Cathedral and Palace.
Unfortunately so did 1,000's of others and it was impossible to get anywhere near either place so after a short time of trying we headed back to our 'place' and got readyd for the Opening Mass tonight. I had decided that I would stay with the pilgrims rather than concelebrating the Mass so after our evening meal which took forever we headed towards Plaza Cibeles but didn't get too close at all. The setup is that the main groups arrive in the Plaza and others are in the surrounding streets but unfortunately we only had tv screens, little sound and heaps of people who were easily distracted and groups arriving late and singing and disrupting everyone.
Eventually, after trying to get closer and a better chance to hear we headed back towards Plaza de Espana and found another TV screen and with the use of radios we were able to be part of what was going on. At communion time I gave the group a blessing and then we sang Communion Hymns and became the centre of attention for the people using the Plaza as a stopping place on their way home.
Carter an eventful day with lots happening I've got home and now am about to hit the sack. One of our pilgrims has not been traveling that well today so the groups was split tonight, some have headed for bed, some are heading over to the Plaza for the concert and others, like myself, are heading for bed.
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