As many of you figured out, I was not able to keep the blog updated during our pilgrimage. It turned out to be more of a chore than expected. The internet in Australia is still pay by the minute. So I didn't want to run up a bill for my host family. I also found internet cafe's, but it would be far to expensive to go there everyday also.
I know most of you still kept up with news from WYD. We were also very blessed to have so many people back home praying for us. Everyday I recieved an email from someone telling me that they were praying for our pilgrimage. I hope the graces we received will be passed on to all of you.
I am asking several of the pilgrims to post some testamonies of their expereinces. There is no way for me to sum up all that happened by myself.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Saginaw pilgrims featured in Austrailian press
The South Coast Register out of Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, featured two World Youth Day pilgrims from the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.
Check out the story: http://nowra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/pilgrims-progress-in-the-shoalhaven/810325.aspx
Check out the story: http://nowra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/pilgrims-progress-in-the-shoalhaven/810325.aspx
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
From Down Under!
This is the first time I have been able to find time to get to a computer. We have been here for about 20 hours. Unfortunately, we were greeted with some cold and wet weather. Today it is looking much better.
Even though we have hit a few snags here and there we have all made it to Australia! We were separated a few times on different flights, but we always were able to regroup at each airport. We have two guys still waiting for their luggage to arrive. We hope to get those today.
Our whole group was able to meet up in Los Angeles. This was the first time we have been able to do this. We had people flying from Saginaw, Detroit, Chicago and Denver. Once we all got through security we celebrated Mass together at our gate. Before we began there was so much chaos around us. People were talking loud, the speaker system was trying to give directions that you couldn't understand and even a group of girls were playing volleyball. As soon as we began singing our opening song everyone at the gate stopped what they were doing and either joined us or watched. Fr. Denis reminded us and let everyone else there know in his homily that we are in a pilgrimage. We have to find the time and carve out a space from the chaos and noise of the world to find God and listen to Him.
We have even experienced our first miracle. One girl's backpack didn't arrive in Brisbane. So we filed some paperwork so when it was found it could be sent to us. We then said a prayer to St. Anthony to help. It was about a half our later that our group in Melbourne called and asked if we were missing a bag. They had found it in Melbourne! They were able to check it through to Sydney and the pilgrim and her belongings were reunited!
We were greeted at St. Peter and Paul Parish, Kiama yesterday afternoon. We celebrated Mass with some of their youth who were prepared with music. The bishop of Wollongong was waiting for us to arrive but because we arrived a few hours late he had to leave. We have all been given wonderful people to stay with and we are in a beautiful town with rolling hills right on the coast. Today we will get together for Mass and then have a free day with our host families to see some sights of Kiama.
Please keep us in your prayers.
Even though we have hit a few snags here and there we have all made it to Australia! We were separated a few times on different flights, but we always were able to regroup at each airport. We have two guys still waiting for their luggage to arrive. We hope to get those today.
Our whole group was able to meet up in Los Angeles. This was the first time we have been able to do this. We had people flying from Saginaw, Detroit, Chicago and Denver. Once we all got through security we celebrated Mass together at our gate. Before we began there was so much chaos around us. People were talking loud, the speaker system was trying to give directions that you couldn't understand and even a group of girls were playing volleyball. As soon as we began singing our opening song everyone at the gate stopped what they were doing and either joined us or watched. Fr. Denis reminded us and let everyone else there know in his homily that we are in a pilgrimage. We have to find the time and carve out a space from the chaos and noise of the world to find God and listen to Him.
We have even experienced our first miracle. One girl's backpack didn't arrive in Brisbane. So we filed some paperwork so when it was found it could be sent to us. We then said a prayer to St. Anthony to help. It was about a half our later that our group in Melbourne called and asked if we were missing a bag. They had found it in Melbourne! They were able to check it through to Sydney and the pilgrim and her belongings were reunited!
We were greeted at St. Peter and Paul Parish, Kiama yesterday afternoon. We celebrated Mass with some of their youth who were prepared with music. The bishop of Wollongong was waiting for us to arrive but because we arrived a few hours late he had to leave. We have all been given wonderful people to stay with and we are in a beautiful town with rolling hills right on the coast. Today we will get together for Mass and then have a free day with our host families to see some sights of Kiama.
Please keep us in your prayers.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Rising of a Star...Continued
OK. I thought it was a pretty cool idea to ask a musician to come along to provided music for us wherever we may end up. However, this is getting way out of control! Check out the schedule of our singers.
Here's the scoop on the events we are doing!
Thursday, 16th, Friday, 17th, and Saturday the 18th, Dawn, Alicia, David, and I are helping with a catechetical session which will include Mass.
Wednesday 2pm - 2:45pm, the 15th, we will be performing at Palm Grove in Darling Harbour. (This is the harbour where the Pope comes in.)
Thursday the 16th at 6pm - possibly 9pm, David and I will be playing with the David Vogel Band, Dana, and Fr. Stan Fortuna at the Sydney Opera House.
Friday 6pm -7, 8pm, - 10pm, we will be performing with the John Angotti Band in Palm Grove and David Vogel and Fr. Stan.
Sunday, July 19th, I will be singing with OCP and WLP artists for the USCCB Mass and Concert, beginning at 8am.
Also, Sunday July 19 Randwick Racetrack SCP 1:00pm - 1:40pm with the David Vogel Band.
Wow! I can't believe all of these opportunities we've been given to do music ministry!!
Here's the scoop on the events we are doing!
Thursday, 16th, Friday, 17th, and Saturday the 18th, Dawn, Alicia, David, and I are helping with a catechetical session which will include Mass.
Wednesday 2pm - 2:45pm, the 15th, we will be performing at Palm Grove in Darling Harbour. (This is the harbour where the Pope comes in.)
Thursday the 16th at 6pm - possibly 9pm, David and I will be playing with the David Vogel Band, Dana, and Fr. Stan Fortuna at the Sydney Opera House.
Friday 6pm -7, 8pm, - 10pm, we will be performing with the John Angotti Band in Palm Grove and David Vogel and Fr. Stan.
Sunday, July 19th, I will be singing with OCP and WLP artists for the USCCB Mass and Concert, beginning at 8am.
Also, Sunday July 19 Randwick Racetrack SCP 1:00pm - 1:40pm with the David Vogel Band.
Wow! I can't believe all of these opportunities we've been given to do music ministry!!
NEWS to SHARE!
This blog is only one way that people at home will be able to follow our pilgrimage. Starting next Monday at 8:30 am two of our pilgrims will be interviewed by Teresa Tomeo on 990 AM and 1440 AM Catholic Radio. They will also be interviewed the following two Mondays at the same time. The last two will be live interviews from Australia!
Tell your families and friends to listen!
Tell your families and friends to listen!
From Dawn
Hi everybody!
I am thrilled to have so many chances to sing and pray with you! And I can't wait to meet everybody and make more Catholic friends... I'm also stoked for Noelle and ecstatic to see her being offered so many opportunities to praise God on stage during our celebration! There are a lot of things that have been on my mind that I thought I'd share on this blog... Here goes...
This will be my third WYD (Denver and Toronto were the first two :), and I have to say that they always are very powerful, convicting experiences that make me feel the holy presence of the Universal Church. It is overwhelming at times-- so completely unifying-- and truly unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I am looking forward to that feeling of being with tons of other people who adhere to the same beliefs that I do. I have moved around a lot in the last few years, and all my Catholic friends are very scattered. It has been incredibly hard at times to be Catholic, and although I have a very intense love of Jesus and the Church on my own, it will be nice to share that with many others. :) Here is a quote that gives me great hope:
"By opening your very being and your whole life under the gaze of Christ, you will not be crushed -- quite the contrary: You will discover that you are infinitely loved," Pope Benedict affirms. "You will receive the power that you need in order to build your lives and to make the choices that present themselves to you every day."
In the absolute insanity surrounding the last couple of weeks of preparation for this trip, this quote encapsulates what I've been striving to hold onto-- the paradox of loss being gain, and death being life. It is a hard-- almost impossible-- thing to remember and believe in when the trials of my regular life crop up. The types of pressures and decisions we all have to make, especially as young people trying to live counter-cultural, holy lives in our completely unsupportive world, are weighty and unfair. And sometimes it doesn't seem like adhering to the label of Catholicism or Christianity makes it any easier! But it is only when I go deeper into the faith-- beyond the label, beyond the obligation of 'religion'-- do I ever allow myself to benefit from the real fruits of freedom given by God-- namely, LOVE.
In preparation for this trip, I've personally been trying to focus on that infinite LOVE of Christ, and to be aware of my (to quote Fight Club) "ability to let that which does not matter truly slide." I get entirely too caught up in trying to "win" God's love by doing more and more, praying more and more, making myself feel more and more guilty over sin, that I don't hear Him saying to me: "Dawn. Chill. I am right here. And I love you."
I'm really looking forward to this trip and to sharing our love of Jesus, the Eucharist, Mary, the Saints, and... Catholicism!
Peace!
Dawn Apang
I am thrilled to have so many chances to sing and pray with you! And I can't wait to meet everybody and make more Catholic friends... I'm also stoked for Noelle and ecstatic to see her being offered so many opportunities to praise God on stage during our celebration! There are a lot of things that have been on my mind that I thought I'd share on this blog... Here goes...
This will be my third WYD (Denver and Toronto were the first two :), and I have to say that they always are very powerful, convicting experiences that make me feel the holy presence of the Universal Church. It is overwhelming at times-- so completely unifying-- and truly unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I am looking forward to that feeling of being with tons of other people who adhere to the same beliefs that I do. I have moved around a lot in the last few years, and all my Catholic friends are very scattered. It has been incredibly hard at times to be Catholic, and although I have a very intense love of Jesus and the Church on my own, it will be nice to share that with many others. :) Here is a quote that gives me great hope:
"By opening your very being and your whole life under the gaze of Christ, you will not be crushed -- quite the contrary: You will discover that you are infinitely loved," Pope Benedict affirms. "You will receive the power that you need in order to build your lives and to make the choices that present themselves to you every day."
In the absolute insanity surrounding the last couple of weeks of preparation for this trip, this quote encapsulates what I've been striving to hold onto-- the paradox of loss being gain, and death being life. It is a hard-- almost impossible-- thing to remember and believe in when the trials of my regular life crop up. The types of pressures and decisions we all have to make, especially as young people trying to live counter-cultural, holy lives in our completely unsupportive world, are weighty and unfair. And sometimes it doesn't seem like adhering to the label of Catholicism or Christianity makes it any easier! But it is only when I go deeper into the faith-- beyond the label, beyond the obligation of 'religion'-- do I ever allow myself to benefit from the real fruits of freedom given by God-- namely, LOVE.
In preparation for this trip, I've personally been trying to focus on that infinite LOVE of Christ, and to be aware of my (to quote Fight Club) "ability to let that which does not matter truly slide." I get entirely too caught up in trying to "win" God's love by doing more and more, praying more and more, making myself feel more and more guilty over sin, that I don't hear Him saying to me: "Dawn. Chill. I am right here. And I love you."
I'm really looking forward to this trip and to sharing our love of Jesus, the Eucharist, Mary, the Saints, and... Catholicism!
Peace!
Dawn Apang
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