Marists invite Bangladeshi youth

Four former students of Don Bosco Students' Home, Dhaka City, were amongst the first pilgrims to arrive in Sydney for World Youth Day. They were invited to the event by the Marist Fathers' Australian Province.

They are Shourov Ghosh, Bivash Rozario, Shaiket Biswas and Uzzal Costa.

Bivash and Uzzal attended Green WYD in Victoria prior to WYD, while Shourov and Shaiket participated in the Marist International Festival at Mittagong and Hunters Hill before the main activities of WYD week.

Catholic Bangladeshi families (below) in the Rockdale/Bexley area provided welcome and accommodation for the four young men.

The lads' arrival in early July.

Marists, YPD and 'Ready 4 Action!'

Young People for Development (YPD) is a network of youth from nations mostly of South and South-East Asia  who are enthusiastic about development in their own countries.

YPD collaborated with Marist Training Resources for their annual assembly in WYD week as well as skills training in the week following WYD (see below, 'Ready for Action!').

Both events used facilities of the Marist Fathers at Hunters Hill, Sydney.

Green WYD
This event preceded WYD and began in Melburne on Jul 05, culminating with an eco-journey to Sydney and WYD.

'Ready 4 Action!'
This post-WYD training happened on Jul 22-24. Participants were drawn from numerous Asian countries and focused on leadership, teamwork and management skills as well as the 'see, judge and act' vision of the late Cardinal Joseph Cardijn.

Click below for links to Young People for Development and Green WYD sites

A recent Marist Traning Resources leadership and management program

Marist devotional experience for WYD 2008

During WYD week in the beautiful setting of St Patrick's, Church Hill, the Marists offered a place for prayerful adoration, reconciliation and teaching based on the Marist spirit and mission.

St Patrick's church is located in Grosvenor St, Sydney, in Sydney's historic 'Rocks' area. It is accessed from George St and not far from Wynard Railway Station and Circular Quay.

In the crypt and courtyard areas there was opportunity to venerate of relics of St Peter Chanel and St Marcellin Champagnat -- and to visit the 'Marist tent' (see below).

An Australian patron saint

St Peter Chanel, a pioneer Marist priest and missionary in the Pacific, was martyred on the island of Futuna in 1841. He has since become one of Australia's patron saints.

Relics

Fr Chanel's remains were transferred to Europe in 1859 making him the only canonised Saint to date who has rested on Australian soil. A relic was displayed in the devotional area of the crypt beneath St Patrick's church.

Champagnat's monstrance

The Blessed Sacrament was exposed in a monstrance belonging to St Marcellin Champagnat. There was also a relic of St Marcellin.

Marist display and the 'Marist tent'

A display in the crypt focused on the founders of the various Marist branches.  Short talks on Marian themes were given in the Marist tent in the courtyard area, with tea and coffee available. Pilgrims were saying: 'Meet you at the Marist tent!'

A major relic of St Peter Chanel was venerated in the crypt of St Patrick's, Church Hill. Using St Marcellin Champagnat's monstrance the Blessed Sacrament was exposed along with a relic of St Marcellin.

Br David Hall FMS, speaking on the Marian face of the Church with pilgrims in the Marist tent.

Maps
At the Marist Expo site fold-up maps were available for pilgrims wishing to visit the Marist site at nearby St Patrick's, Grosvenor St, Church Hill.

Distinctive blue and gold jackets made Marist religious and volunteers easy to spot at St Patrick's and at the Vocations Expo.

Life of Peter Chanel in seven languages

Translations of the life of St Peter Chanel included English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai, Bengali, Korean and Vietnamese.

Visitors to the Marist shrine at St Patrick's....

Archbishop Adrian Smith SM (Honiara, Solomon Islands) with Sr Anne Baxter SMSM near the banner of Marist Misisonary Sisters foundress, Francoise Perroton.

Marist Vocation Expo

The Darling Harbour Vocations Expo included a section staffed by Marist Sisters, Missionary Sisters, Laity, Brothers and Priests. They were available during the weekdays (Tue-Fri) of WYD week to consult on any aspect of Marist life.

Marist Family members

WYD activities amongst members of the Marist family were coordinated by a working group of Marist brothers, sisters, priests and laity.

Life of St Peter Chanel:
click here

Life of St Marcellin Champagnat:
click here

Marists support indigenous pilgrims

Indigenous pilgrims
From the Macksville-based ministry team amongst indigenous people of NSW's northern rivers Marists were involved in WYD plans.

Several indigenous young people from the Bowraville-Macksville area were in Sydney for WYD 2008.

Br Mika Cilicewa SM (right) with indigenous
WYD pilgrims at Bowraville, NSW.