Tuesday 9 October 2007

At the heart of Australia

Today we journeyed through what would be considered the heart of Australia from Alice springs to the very iconic place of Uluru. This is a land that is usually filled with heat and dryness, however during our time there we enjoyed a few spots of rain.

First thing in the morning we journeyed to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College in Alice Springs for a morning liturgy with the high school students. Though rushed for time it was a beautiful liturgy. The most striking moment for me was when the pilgrims on the Great Crossing Pilgrimage joined the school students in standing in a circle for the Cross to be passed around the circle on the students hands. The Cross then passed to the hands of the local student group that had organised and worked in a lot of the events around Alice Springs.

From the school we travelled south-west into the heart of the country to Uluru. There we spent the first part of the evening watching the Sunset from the lookout while praying before the Cross and Icon which stood before the great iconic landscape of the rock. During this time we had the chance to just look at the wonder and awe of God's creation. Side by side were placed two amazing things to reflect on - the wonder of God's creation, and the beauty and love of the Cross, together creating the perfect scene for meditation and prayer.

After a quick dinner we went off to learn more about our Aboriginal brothers and sisters by watching the movie "After a quick dinner we went off to learn more about our Aboriginal brothers and sisters by watching the movie "Kanyini" with Uncle Bob and having an open question and answer discussion with him after the movie. This moment was both very educational and inspirational in building motivation to go out and help right the wrongs towards the indigenous people of our country" with Uncle Bob and having an open question and answer discussion with him after the movie. This moment was both very educational and inspirational in building motivation to go out and help right the wrongs towards the indigenous people of our country.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey guys.

Hope your all doing well. We miss you all! Thanks for such an amazing week.

Matt, you got some awesome shots there! Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

To anyone who is willing to listen! Pilgrimage is by its very definition at odds with the consumerist, modern society in which we live. Before I was blessed with the opportunity to walk with the WYD Cross and Icon, I would never have thought that the sacrifice and challenge involved in being a pilgrim could lead to such a spiritual experience of loving unity with a group of people who had been strangers and are now my brothers and sisters. I have never felt so deeply thankful for everything in my life and the scared land of Australia which has become my home.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the opportunity to travel with the Cross and Icon over the past week. Thank you for opening my eyes to the injustice that exists in Australia. I pray that we will always remain instruments of your peace, sowing justice and love. Give us the strength to fight for peace in this world. Thank you for the Cross and Icon helping to spread this message.

Anonymous said...

Hey that movie/documentary is called KANYINI and it was recently voted "best documentary" at the London Australian Film Festival 2007. It is brilliant.

Based on Bob's own personal journey and the wisdom he learnt from the old people living in the bush, Bob tells the tale of why Indigenous people are now struggling in a modern world and what needs to be done for Indigenous people to move forward.

I would recommend purchasing a copy of the DVD for yourself, your friends, school, group etc. To do so, visit www.kanyini.com

 
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