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Welcome to World Youth Day Pilgrims

Dear Pilgrims,

 A warm welcome to you for what will no doubt be one of the most historic and memorable times of your life – World Youth Day 2008 (incorporating MAGiS 08).

 On behalf of all of the Sisters of Charity of Australia, I am delighted you have come to our country to be part of our community which has ministered to the Australian people for 170 years.

 The Australian Church has been eagerly anticipating and preparing for World Youth Day 2008 in a way that is generally reserved for countries hosting the Olympic Games!  There have been countdown clocks, massive logistical manoeuvrings and the calling for thousands of volunteers to host overseas visitors, to assist pilgrims move around our country and the city of Sydney and especially to make the world’s largest mobilisation of young people what we in Australia would call a “roaring success”. 

You too have had to do much planning and travel long distances to get here – whether from Zambia, Nigeria, Venezuela, California, or Ireland.  It makes coming from Tasmania, Victoria and the other Australian states seem like coming from next door.

Now we have the chance to meet and to share, to play and to pray together.  The time we spend here will be for all of us a wonderful expression of Ignatian spirituality within the charism and spirit of Mary Aikenhead. 

The three pillars of MAGiS provide a wonderful basis for your participation in World Youth Day 2008.  Allow the experiences to sustain you as you get to know God in your life, build a relationship with Jesus and discern how you are called to respond to God’s love. 

As I said in an earlier message, I encourage you throughout World Youth Day to open your hearts to the possibility of more that you may receive more – more for your life that you may give more for our world. 

I look forward to greeting you personally in the near future.  In the meantime enjoy the energy, spirit and witness of your fellow pilgrims and your hosts in Sydney.

On your return home please remember to pray for the Sisters of Charity of Australia and if possible keep in touch with us. 

Richest blessings,