 Pre-WYD: Concelebrating the Mass
Mexican priest, Fr Mario Ramirez, is in Sydney for his
first WYD and is open to the experience, he says.
He is accompanying 53 young people from Colorado, and
having suffered a 30 hour flight from the States with some fellow pilgrims
losing luggage, he is now waiting, patiently.
“It’s the first time that Pope Benedict XVI has
initiated the WYD – he chose the theme and the place this time. In contrast, in
Cologne, he was fulfilling the wish of Pope John Paul II,” he says.
Fr Gregory Jordan SJ concelebrated a 4pm International
Students Mass in Sydney Uni’s Great Hall, with Italian priests for a
congregation of Singaporean, Polish, Italian and hosting Australian pilgrims.
In his homily, ACSA chaplain, Fr Jordan drew attention
to the saint of the day.
“The saint today is Camillus de Lellis, the patron
saint of all those who work with the sick and in hospitals. He is relevant for
all those studying medicine but he is also of interest to us at WYD because he
led a dissolute life as a young soldier and was addicted to gambling. He
underwent a conversion, founding an order to care for the sick,” he says.
“His story demonstrates that no matter how deeply you
are gripped by vice, change is possible. Despair is not an option and for those
who have come to WYD, change is possible. There’s no point coming to WYD if
there’s no change.”
The Opening Mass with Cardinal Pell will be held at
Barangaroo today at 4.30pm.
Image courtesy of Justin Lynch
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