It was a dream come true for most of the 96-strong Manila delegation to the Sydney World Youth Day. Most of us were first-timers, except of course for those who were already “young” when the WYD was held in Manila in 1995. It was just amazing that most of those who went to Sydney were only toddlers or were still inside their mothers’ wombs when it was held in Manila.
We arrived in Melbourne on the morning of July 9. We were brought to the Marcelin College after six hours of waiting at the airport. People from our host parish, St. John the Evangelist in Mitcham, fetched us and brought us to the parish. By 6pm, foster parents started arriving to pick up those assigned to them. Barry O’ Shei who became my foster father for 5 days, came to pick me up together with Fr. Chris Sabili from Palawan. His house along Ventnor St. was about 1.6kms away from the parish. July 10: We joined the community mass at Mitcham’s around 10am. Then the parish priest and some parish leaders brought us to Victoria Market where we had lunch before proceeding to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the Opening Mass of the Days in the Diocese.
July 11: We went to the Pilgrim Center (while worrying whatever happened to Atty. Lea who was not able to get off the train). Our group made a pilgrimage walk to the Blessed Mary McKillop Heritage Center. Blessed Mary Mckillop hopefully will become Australia’s first saint. At 6pm, we were already at the Telstra Dome for the commissioning mass. Finally, and to our relief, we were reunited with Atty. Lea.
July 12: After mass at Mitcham’s, we had barbecue with the parishioners. Then we were given the afternoon for free. For tennis fans, Melbourne is a sacred place. Every year, around the month of January, Melbourne hosts the first Grand Slam event to kick off the tennis season, the Australian Open. Having mastered the art of manipulation (laugh), I was able to drag along with me some priests and young people for a side trip to the Rod Laver Arena. I was in Cloud Nine! Just seeing the tennis courts where famous tennis players compete gave me a blast. My trip to Australia was complete!
The following day we were off to Sydney. Melbourne was memorable. First, for Barry O’Shei, my foster father there. Second, The Rod Laver Arena. Third, for everything that happened while we were there. :)
