Knights Attend WYD Opening Mass; Prepare Site for Pilgrims

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On Tuesday, July 15, the morning of the official launch of World Youth Day (WYD) 2008 in Sydney, Australia, the Knights of Columbus and Sisters of Life continued to prepare for the events they will host at the Love and Life Site.

Donned with K of C t-shirts featuring the Love and Life Site’s logo on the back, the college Knights were divided into various crews, who will be responsible for various aspects of the site the rest of the week.

Throughout the morning, the Knights, sisters and other volunteers came together to make sure the site would be ready to welcome pilgrims for the first catechetical session Wednesday morning. Anticipation continued to grow as the stage was assembled, a tent for information booths was erected and numerous signs were hung.

“There’s been a lot of eagerness to help. The guys feel really excited to be a part of this site and to be able to touch so many people at World Youth Day,” said Michael Brewer, the Supreme Council office’s college council coordinator.

“It has definitely been challenging, and I think the guys have risen to the challenge. There’s a lot of anticipation for tomorrow.”

“The site has been coming along famously,” said Mother Agnes of the Sisters of Life. “The tents are up, and the collegians have been here to help get the stage in place. It’s really been wonderful. It’s amazing to see the sisters’ ideas have concrete shape and tangible form.”

Some of the Knights also spent time at the Melkite Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, the second site the Order is sponsoring for morning catechesis.

In the afternoon, the Knights marched to the Barangaroo district of Darling Harbor equipped with the Order’s college banner and flags, joining the rest of the WYD pilgrims for the opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell of Sydney.

Before the opening Mass, Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed the crowd of 150,000 pilgrims to Sydney in numerous languages, before greeting them with a message of solidarity.

“You are a light to the world in a time when the world has so much darkness,” said Rudd. “There are those who say there is no place for faith in the 21st century; I say they are wrong.”

Cardinal Pell then added his own welcome, which he did not limit to the massive crowd gathered for Mass. In his homily, he said, “I begin by welcoming and encouraging anyone anywhere who regards himself or herself as lost, in deep distress, with hope diminished or even exhausted. Young or old, woman or man, Christ is still calling those who are suffering to come to him for healing.”

For more information, visit www.wyd2008.org and www.lovelifelink.org.