 Just landed: fifty WYD Mexican pilgrims
Close to fifty young Mexican pilgrims arrived in Sydney International Airport this morning for WYD, representing Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.
These fifty Mexicans are one twelfth of 600 international pilgrims who will arrive to take part in the Festival of St Jean International schedule during WYD08 who are set to have St Peter Julian’s Church at 641 George St. Sydney, as their Spiritual Centre.
For the same group of St Jean, 300 pilgrims arrived yesterday from Taiwan, China and France to name but a few.
Tomorrow more will arrive from the USA & the Philippines, Fr Iovane of the Festival St Jean International said this morning.
Leading another group of 50 pilgrims from the Republic of Ireland, from County Kildare and Leighlin, was Trish O’Neill.
“We’re the first group [of fifty pilgrims] out of 140 to come out … There’s another 98 more to come,” she said excitedly.
For many who are landing in Sydney this week and in other capital cities around Australia, the long journey is a shock to the system.
After leaving sunny 40 degree heat on Palm Beach behind, a group of fourteen 17-year-old boys from St Joseph’s Prep (SJP), a Jesuit Preparatory College in Philadelphia also landed this morning at the crack of dawn.
Their flight from New York via Hong Kong to Sydney, took close to 35 hours including the 6 hour waiting time at Hong Kong airport.
“The Church is universal - that is what is bringing them all here – and that’s the beautiful thing” said Sarah Swaykus, who arrived this morning for her second WYD, co-chaperoning the SJP group. Her first WYD was in Denver, in 1984.
The boys, she says, have been preparing for nine months for the pilgrimage both spiritually and with lots of fundraisers, she says.
“Service is an important part of the Jesuit formation and spirituality, so that’s why they’re here a week early,” Ms Swaykus said explaining the pre-WYD landing in Sydney.
 “The school tries to encourage the students to develop an attitude of ‘preferential option for the poor,’ that is to say to consider the welfare of the world’s poorest in all of our decisions. For example, in choosing how we will spend our free time while visiting Sydney, we will also spend some time visiting with those who cannot leave their home, such as homebound elderly persons.”
“I am so excited for all of the boys to begin their first WYD.”
Alongside two Jesuit seminarians, Ms Swaykus said she is honored to help lead this group, as she knows it will be a life-changing experience for them.
“I think it will really help to forge their identity as young Catholics to meet so many people from all over the world- so unique and different from them, and yet sharing the same faith that has been carried since the time of the apostles!”
“I hope it’s as wonderful for them as it was for me.”
Images by: Bridget Spinks
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