World Youth Day is an experience that is so hard to describe in words. Pictures aren't enough to describe it as well.

First of all, I would like to thank Patrick and Geraldine for organising this event. Without them, there wouldn't be a Fides World Youth Day pilgrimage. And without them, I don't think I would have ever gone for WYD.
So, thank you so very much for all the stuff you two have done.

Secondly, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made WYD possible, from the airline crew who took us to Sydney, to the volunteers who helped pack the food and guide the lost sheep around, to the policemen ensured our safety, to the bus drivers who volunteered to work extra hours so that we would have transport to and fro, to the station operators who always smiled at us early in the mornings and late at nights, to the toilet cleaners who keep the washroom clean for our usage.

A BIG BIG thank you to all of you...

Now, I will go into my pilgrimage.

It's going to be impossible to pen down everything that happened, so I will just pick the events that left the deepest impression in my heart.

Event 1
Adoration at the Sydney Opera House

For me, adoration is never my form of prayer with God. I can have a relationship with God when I am praying before I sleep, when I attend Mass, or when I receive his body and blood. However, it is never the case during adoration.

I wasn’t totally excited about going for adoration on the 14th of July, and somehow, we seem to be losing too many people on the way. Some of them fell sick, some got injured and some needed to take care of those who were not fit. At the end, only 7 of us managed to go to the Sydney Opera house for adoration.

However, the experience was something I never felt before in my life. Beside the cross, there was this phrase, “I thirst”. Looking at it, I realised how often I thirst for a relationship with God during the times I spend in adoration, that I never really let him take control of my thoughts and my emotions. I never surrender my everything to him. But this time, I managed to. I felt a sense of peace which I have never felt before. My heart was calm, my thoughts were clear, my emotions were strong. Everything just felt right. Everything in my life just became so insignificant when compared to standing in God’s presence.

I am beginning to fall in love with adoration. I hope my desire for this Blessed Sacrament continues to burn and stay alive in my heart.

Some pictures to look at. Will continue with the other significant events that happened during WYD in another entry.

Samantha and I entertaining ourselves in the airport cafe while waiting for the airport transfer to take us to our hostel.

Outside St. Mary's Cathedral.
St. Mary's Cathedral is one of the prettiest places I have seen so far. Although it's old, it is so well maintained. And you can just feel the grandness (if there is such a word) of celebrating a Mass there. I missed the chance of attending Mass there though. Would have loved to have gone for one.

The last part of the journey of the cross and the icon. We actually got the chance to go near the cross and the icon, which travelled around almost the entire world already. So many people have touched it and I am sure the cross touched the lives of many others.

At Darling Habour, taken during one of our walks to Barangaroo, where all the mass events were held.

Look the the amount of people walking. And path that I captured in this picture wasn't even the main route. Haha.

Look forward to the next post!!!

May the Lord keep you safe.
God bless.