WYD08 - Journey of the Cross & Icon

This morning the Koolang Muutang Community Centre in Framlingham Aboriginal Community was officially opened. There were many things to celebrate; the Centre had planned for 10 years, the facilities are very professional and the WYD Cross and Icon were present. A smoking ceremony and welcoming dance were performed to cleanse the centre's ground of any bad spirits. Afterward a morning tea was shared, were smoked eel was on offer. I tried and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. The locals were extremely grateful that the Cross made a stop in their small community, but we were equally grateful to be apart of such a special day for them.

We traveled to Warrnambool where we met a group of expectant parishioners at the breakwater. They processed the Cross and Icon along the beach and the Cross was blessed with water from Lady Bay. We arrived at the park behind the Surf Club were primary school students from a number of schools in the area had gathered. They had each made little crosses which they swapped with students from other schools. My highlight was observing them all surf the Cross over their heads and do a Mexican Wave while shouting WORLD YOUTH DAY!

That evening the Cross and Icon were present at Mass, then at a massive sit-down dinner supplied by generous parishioners. Some local bands then did a fantastic job of entertaining the crowd.