Category: WYD Preparation

St Charles Lwanga, Ugandan Martyr

20/7/2023

Pencilled 17 Jul 2023.
Painted 18 Jul 2023.

St Charles Lwanga, one of the Ugandan Martyrs.
He was a strong protector of young men from sexual predation and advocate of chastity.

He was martyred at the age of 26 when he refused to renounce his faith in Christ Jesus, in the year 1886.

For a far more in-depth look at St Charles Lwanga than I could ever attempt, read this reflection by Bishop Robert Barron on Word on Fire here.

And for the histories other Martyrs of Uganda, visit the Basilica of the Ugandan Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Namugongo, website here.

Vincent Cavanagh
20 Jul 2023

1 Week to Go

14/7/2023

It's slowly starting to hit me that I'm actually going abroad in 7 days.

I'm really feeling the exhaustion, as I write this, after having been out tonight at our Diocese's WYD Pilgrim Blessing Mass. It was a very taxing night mentally, as well as physically.

Thankfully, I can report that I am now in possession of both my Diocesan Pilgrim and Pilgrimage Travel Provider Kits. I know have a better idea of what I have to pack as well as how much extra space is now available thanks to the new cross-body satchel.

Goodnight.

Vincent Cavanagh
17 Jul 2023

Previous WYD Formation Session blogposts:
Pre-Session #1 Thoughts
Session #1
Session #2
Session #3
WYD Travel Itinerary UPDATE

WYD Travel Itinerary UPDATE

11/7/2023

I'm not flying with RyanAir, hooray!

Last night I received my finalised Travel Itinerary from the pilgrimage provider for my diocese, wherein I found out that I am not flying RyanAir for the leg between Rome and Lisbon as I had previously been led to believe. (Hooray!)

I am actually flying from Rome to Lisbon on TAP Air Portugual. (Hoo–boy...)

The upside to all of this is that I will be on the same flight as the rest of my small group, instead of travelling separately form them on an earlier flight.

Another positive is that I may be able to inspect the Leonardo da Vinci–inspired sculptures in Rome's Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" for the 4 or 5 hours we have to kick around inside before our flight opens for boarding. If there are still on exhibition, of course.

And also find Dinner as well to help us survive through the flight. It's scheduled for 8:15pm, Rome time.

Pray for us.

Vincent Cavanagh
11 Jul 2023

WYD Formation Session blogpost links:
Pre-Session #1 Thoughts
Session #1
Session #2
Session #3

St Augustine Zhao Rong

7/7/2023

Sketched 29 Jun 2023.
Painted 6 Jul 2023.

St Augustine Zhao Rong, a former prison guard from Wuchuan who was converted by the testimony of the missionaries and Chinese Christians that he guarded and escorted to trial before his baptism into the faith in 1776.

After this he became a diocesan priest on 10 May 1781 and went on to proclaim the gospel and life of Jesus Christ to his fellow countrymen in rural areas. He was later captured and tortured, dying in the coldest part of 1815.

He and his fellow Chinese martyrs from the period between 1648 to 1930 were canonized by Pope John Paul II on 1 October 2000.

For more details read this article from Society of Saints.

Vincent Cavanagh
7 Jul 2023

Breathe

28/6/2023

Because that’s basically the only thing that I can control.

Our 3rd World Youth Day Formation Session was held last Tuesday (20 June) in the same venue as Session #2. There wasn’t all that much new to talk about.

We had confirmation of the multiplicity of different flight paths/times we would all be taking as pilgrim small groups going into Europe and coming out again due to post-COVID-related travel booking arrangements. I've illustrated my own flight path below.

Sydney – Doha – Milan – Pilgrimage – WYD – Madrid – Doha – Sydney. Clear?

Small updates about diocesan-branded WYD merchandise and clothing. The diocese’s WYD app has been approved by Apple, but no mention of Google at all.

We had a rough explanation/run-through of how the Rise Up Catechesis session are supposed to run; our diocese will be the Animating Host Team for the English-speaking sessions for a 3rd WYD. Think conversation ice-breakers and running around with wireless microphones to multiple other English-speaking pilgrims from across the world inside as-yet-to-be-determined venues.

KonradWyszyskiPlanespotting, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

My rather lacklustre reporting of this is because I’ve only in the last 24hrs found out that I will be the only one from my small group flying out on the first of the 3 flights from Rome to Lisbon on 31 July. I will of course be travelling with other pilgrims from the same bus group; but before this oblique gut-punch, I was already processing that I was being flown into Lisbon by Ryanair. An airline that any aware passenger needs no introduction to.

And I am still recovering from whatever laid my low after my cross-border travels from almost 3 weeks ago. Other than that, I am at least slightly closer to starting a picture that’s been waiting since before my afore-mentioned sojourn.

Until next time.

Vincent Cavanagh
28 Jun 2023

Links to previous WYD Formation Session blog posts:
Pre-Session #1 Thoughts
Session #1
Session #2

Personal Update + WYD Travelling Videos

17/6/2023

The reason that there hasn’t been much news from me as late is because I have been sick at home for the best part of a week after having done a crazy 5-and-a-half-day round journey with my father from Sydney to Melbourne, to Adelaide, and back to Sydney again, all by rail.

I hope to be in a fit state to attend the 3rd WYD Formation Session this coming Tuesday (20 June), God willing.

Until then, I have put together this collection of relevant YouTube Travel Videos for my fellow diocesan pilgrims and for anyone else planning on travelling to Italy or Portugal.

Our Diocesan Itinerary for WYD Lisbon 2023

I do admit that most of these videos are from Mark Wolters and his Wolters World YouTube channel. This is because he and his family are inveterate travellers with a wealth of lived experience and, in comparison to other travel advice channels, he aims to be helpful rather than fear-mongering (case in point: the Scam City tv series, widely available on YouTube).

I would highly recommend checking out Wolters World for further travel advice that I can't share due to how long this post is already getting 😉

Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk (02)

21/5/2023

#ChisholmWalkSydney

A short selection of photographs from today's first (ever) Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk, and the second Caroline Chisholm Walk in total.

Our Route way from Circular Quay, past the Sydney Opera House, through the Royal Botanic Garden, stopping for refreshments at Mr's Macquarie's Chair, and finishing the day in The Domain.

Enjoy!

A rather striking shot from the start of the Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk at Circular Quay.

Making our way along the waterfront of Farm Cove, named after the colony's first farm that was started in 1788. The current day replica way built from 1997 to 2001.

Next to Mrs Macquaries Road the pilgrims are taking in the warm rays of the sun, meanwhile their tour guide is otherwise detained in the nearby pissior.

3–2–1 — JUMP!

Personally, I'd take this crew over whatever NCIS: Sydney ends up offering.

Making our way up the stone stairs next to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

A group photo kindly taken by a fellow visitor to Yurong Point (a.k.a. Mr's Macquarie's Point).

Continuing along from Mrs Macquarie's Chair past some of the many rock overhangs around the Point where many homeless young women would shelter during the night in Mrs Chisholm's day.

She helped many of them to find shelter and well-paid work through out the colony of Australia.

Vincent Cavanagh
~21 May 2023

Smile and Wave

17/5/2023

Our second Diocesan WYD Formation Session was held in Sydney last night (16 May 2023) and it came preloaded with post-WYD Event promotions, zero Pilgrimage Itinerary updates, a do-it-yourself Spicks and Specks round, and a side order of cringe through the conscription of ELO's Mr Blue Sky. The less said about that particular episode, the better.

Apart from finally getting to see what the Diocesan and Travel Provider merchandise (only visual mock-ups, nothing physical), the main highlight of the night was the reflection from Fr Stephen Wayoyi AJ (Apostles of Jesus Missionaries) on The Road to Emmaus, Gospel of Luke 24:13-35.

He told us that we are all, on this pilgrimage, invited to an important encounter with Jesus, just as the disciples encountered Him on their way to Emmaus. Their sorrow from the crucifixion was turned into joy by meeting Jesus on the way. So to are we called to bring our own daily sorrows, pains and discouragements with us on this pilgrimage; and to be open to God. To give him all that is weighing us down, that He may also turn it into joy. Joy in Him.

Remember: the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Be not afraid! We don't have to give up. God is with us. We are not here [in this hall, on this pilgrimage] by mistake. He has chosen us. He is asking us to journey with him. He wants to be a companion with us. To remind us always, that God is real.

Then Fr Stephen finished by asking us to say to the person next to us, "We are together again."
And he concluded the reflection by leading us together in song:

Something good is going to happen.

Vincent Cavanagh
~17 May 2023

We Are Together Again (Song)

17/5/2023

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Not all, but most of Fr Stephen Wayoyi's rendition of "We Are Together Again" from last night's 2nd World Youth Day Formation session (16 May 2023).

Vincent Cavanagh
~17 May 2023

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Caroline Chisholm City Walk (01)

30/4/2023

#ChisholmWalkSydney

Today was the first ever Caroline Chisholm City Walk through Sydney CBD: starting from Wynyard Station; stopping for Mass at St Patrick's Church Hill; pausing at the site of the Female Immigrants House founded by Mrs Chisholm in 1841; and finishing at St Mary's Cathedral.

Below are some of the photos from today.