Pope goes home

dolphinlove · #1 Jul 20, '08, 5:48 pm

Im going to miss having him here sooo much

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...21/2309281.htm

Eden · #2 Jul 20, '08, 7:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphinlove

Im going to miss having him here sooo much

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...21/2309281.htm

I know the feeling. I felt that way when the Pope left the United States in April.

dolphinlove · #3 Jul 20, '08, 10:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eden

I know the feeling. I felt that way when the Pope left the United States in April.

I was watching the plane taking off on the tv then ran out into the back yard to see it going overhead, i just started to cry.
Im such a whinger

Eden · #4 Jul 20, '08, 11:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphinlove

I was watching the plane taking off on the tv then ran out into the back yard to see it going overhead, i just started to cry.
Im such a whinger

As Bill Clinton said, "I feel your pain".

That's pretty cool that you could see his plane from your yard though.

BarbaraTherese · #5 Jul 21, '08, 2:13 am

I watched the Holy Father in Sydney on a live feed to our ethnic channel - all public events. What really struck me was the actual person of Pope Benedict. His smile is so genuine and that of the honesty of a child and just as warm and open. At times he had a mischieviousness in that smile that totally glints! At times in speaking he raised one left eyebrow with that mischievious smile as though to say "Well what do you think of that?" with something he had said and he would look out over the vast crowd present. Watching it all on television was an opportunity to see him close up all the time.
Most of all it was his walk that totally astounded me........it is the walk of a young and very fit young man. The lead up to the main altar at Randwick racecourse was a three tiered slanted walk upwards........which he took with absolute ease never faltering. And I took note as he boarded the plane to leave that he went up the steep flights of steps again with the footfall of a young and very fit young man. It was almost eirie to me to watch for it was a young man walking..........not an 81 year old man.
I think we just may have another contemporary Pope who will be made a saint. Last night was televised a documentary of his life from childhood on, with many interviews, mainly as a Cardinal and what shines all through it is a man of deep and profound humility without being a 'mushy humility'. .........an honest and straightforward humble disposition. He said at one point something that will live with me (from the documentary when he was still a cardinal) "the message is always greater than the one conveying the message".

Most of the time The Holy Father's smile was like that of child at his birthday party..........shy and humble yet joyous to be the focus. At times his warmth and smile - his expression - came across as that of a tender Father with his beloved children.

All in all, I think the Holy Father geniunely totally enjoyed WYD in Sydney, Australia. Though not personally at the celebrations, my personal feeling is that Australia and Australians - myself included - are now personally known to our Holy Father and with joy remembered by him. I am now hoping and praying as he flies back to Rome that we will be forever marked and quite markedly by his visit to Australia for World Youth Day...........that we will be "seen to be". The physical presence of The Holy Father is now flying away from us, but I think we will live forever in his heart and he in the hearts of Australia. No other papal visit has touched me in quite this way.

Blessings...........Barb

AussieAnn · #6 Jul 21, '08, 3:20 pm

I am very sad to see him go. When I got back home (eventually) after the Papal Mass. I discovered that my beloved cat Lucy had been run over and killed. I wept of course, but I just kept thinking of our Holy Father and his first words at Mass in his lovely German-accented voice saying "Peace be with You". I also thought of how much he loves cats as well and it consoled me.

Tonight there is a bbq at our Parish and that will be really the close of our WYD festivities and the last of the pilgrims heading home and it does feel sad. I am just going to hold onto that wonderful spirit that I felt thanks to Pope Benedict. God Bless Him.

Well Done Everyone -it was worth every effort.

happygal · #7 Jul 25, '08, 1:44 am

I felt so happy that i can see the Pope from such a close distant when he hosted the farewell session for the volunteers...am so thkful to God that i was given an opportunity that for once i could served in such an amazing event for the Catholics...hoping am able to make it for WYD 2011 in Madrid as a volunteer again

BarbaraTherese · #8 Jul 25, '08, 1:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by happygal

I felt so happy that i can see the Pope from such a close distant when he hosted the farewell session for the volunteers...am so thkful to God that i was given an opportunity that for once i could served in such an amazing event for the Catholics...hoping am able to make it for WYD 2011 in Madrid as a volunteer again

Thank you for being a volunteer. Things went overwhelmingly well and are a real feather in the cap of the volunteers

I hope you will make it to Madrid and will say a prayer that you do............Blessings and thanks again...........Barb

happygal · #9 Jul 25, '08, 2:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarbaraTherese

Thank you for being a volunteer. Things went overwhelmingly well and are a real feather in the cap of the volunteers

I hope you will make it to Madrid and will say a prayer that you do............Blessings and thanks again...........Barb

Thk Q..my honour to serve God's pple...will be missing WYD after i get back to Sydney in Sep..

ozellis · #10 Jul 26, '08, 5:05 am

Well, WYD is now behind us! If this was not the workings of the HOLY SPIRIT amongst us then I remain bewildered!

Although I was unfortunately not present in Sydney, our family hosted some pilgrims on their way to WYD08 near Brisbane, Queensland. That was a most delightful experience for us all and our parish certainly gained much from giving these young pilgrims some encouragement and hospitality on their way.
At a wonderful gathering of pilgrims (around 6000 people I believe) in Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland (Days in the Diocese) I was priveleged to attend on July 12th.
I was with a dear Irish friend who had come to Australia from Belfast with her family at the age of 9 years and we were highly amused by the fact that all around the parkland were these double orange flags at this most Catholic of occasions.
The 12th of July of course is Orangeman's Day in Northern Ireland where they march to celebrate the victory over the Catholics in 1790.
How things can change with the colour orange thankfully now signifying something totally different!
I thank the Lord for the witness of so many of our Catholic youth from all over the world to their faith and for the blessings of the HOLY SPIRIT upon us all.
God bless,
ozellis