Tuesday 23 August 2011

Holy Toledo!

Ray here ... This will be my final entry. WYD has come to a close but we have an extra day before flying home on Tuesday. We have decided to spend it on a tour of Toledo. Before showing you some photos, I just want to mention that last night we enjoyed a football match between Espana and the mondo. The world won, 3 to 1. Go, World, go!

Main cathedral








Streets of Toledo








It was a good tour, but what little energy we had left after WYD is now gone. Can't wait to take a real shower and sleep in a bed again. Need a good rest for Fly-day tomorrow. Blessings!

Ray out.

Monday 22 August 2011

Vigil and Closing Mass with the Pope

Photos from Cuatro Vientos Airbase, site of the vigil with the Pope and the Closing Mass.






YouTube Video

Lots of pilgrims arriving.





St. Joseph WYD Group (Langley)


Thunder and lighting approach


People running for cover


Fireworks to end the vigil





The morning of the closing Mass. Pilgrims entering in.





Pope arrives for the Mass


The view of the back section (G,H,I)


Most of these people had passes for A-F but they were not allowed in due to the amount of people already in those sections (including myself).


The Rosary group before Mass.


Brazilian flags fly at the announcement of the next WYD taking place in RIO 2013!

- Gerard

Vancouver gathering: Mass with Archbishop Miller




Cristina, Joseph and Dylan leading music for Mass


The Archbishop with priests from the Vancouver Archdiocese including deacon Pablo


1st reading by Paul Siu of SFX






YouTube Video







Holy Cross group having lunch with the Archbishop


Star of the Sea group having lunch also.

It was a great celebration in Madrid!

- Gerard

Sunday 21 August 2011

Benedicto!

Esta Ray aqui ... Estoy mui consado pero spiritually rejuvenated. This entry covers the pasados 3 dias. Okay, enough Spanglish.

Friday

We went to the Love and Life exhibit after morning Catechesis. This was by far the best pro-life experience I've ever seen. It was an MP3 headset guided tour through beautiful posters depicting the choices made by 6 young people.


The way it was set up, the powerful testimonials and the beautiful songs made for an emotional and memorable experience. Plenty of tissues were available.

In the evening, we saw the Way of the Cross.


We had part of our group hold a great spot. We were near Station 7, shown in the photo. The WYD cross moved from station to station, so we felt part of the experience. We did leave early so as not to be caught in the crowd again.

Saturday/Sunday

In the morning, we had a special Vancouver Archdiocese Mass with AB Miller. It was good to see so many familiar faces from home. After lunch, it was off to the air base for the Vigil. We made good progress but it was still too late. Our zone had filled up and it was challenging to squeeze parts of our group in. Some ended up going to the public area. It did work out in the end, though.


Having two spots allowed us to escape the intensity of the forward areas for those that needed a bit of sleep. And being forward allowed us a better view of the stage and of the Pope as he drove by.

Read Mat 8:24-27 before continuing.

The airbase was a sweltering 40 deg C. The ground was dry and the feet of well over a million pilgrims were raising enough dust to make breathing challenging. Water was the key, but the refilling station line-up was considerable, (not to mention that it was far from where we were sitting). People were fainting and the lack of space was frustrating. So perhaps more important than the water, was prayer.

Our prayers were answered in a big way during the Vigil. As the Pope welcomed us, distant flashes of lightning echoed his greeting. Us hardy Vancouverites tried to weather it out, but the wind escalates and sent waves of cold rain water on us. We were not prepared for this, and as i crouched under my Thermarest, I noticed in the one videotron that was still working, that the Pope remained where he was. With a peaceful calm, he looked out over the storm as the pilgrims took shelter and chanted "Benedicto!". Within 30 minutes, calm returned; the faithful's prayers were answered.

After an evening of singing and celebrating, a very tired group of pilgrims joined the Holy Father for Mass in the morning. At the end of the Mass, it was announces that the next WYD will be in 2 years in Rio!


- Posted by Ray Tarnai using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Calle de la Participación,Madrid,Spain

Saturday 20 August 2011

End of Day 3 and Day 4 photos at WYD 2011




Peregrino Dinner at Gino's



Protesters at Puerta Del Sol


Pilgrims at the metro


Catechesis with the Cardinal George of Chicago.


Holy Cross pilgrims singing with Jesse Manibusan for Mass after Catechesis.


Our Lady of the Assumption WYD group


Prado Museum


Big screens to watch the stations of the cross.

Friday 19 August 2011

Catechesis and Mass with Archbishop Miller

Photos taken at the Love and Life site.








Christ the Redeemer pilgrims





Fr. Rosica and Archbishop Miller


Catechesis


Mass


Deacon Pablo reading the Gospel


It's full in here


On the big screen


Holy Trinity and Christ the Redeemer pilgrims