Bill:
The seed that falls on fertile soil will reap a fruitful harvest
This was the responsorial psalm for mass tonight, it pertains to the pilgrims, but let me back up.
Even though I have the smallest day to write about (5 hours thanks to the International Date Line), there has been a lot happening.
As a mighty river starts with a small mountain stream, so has our journey grown. Each of us started on the 11th in our own house as one pilgrim, some met at Logan Express to make 12, and we then came together at the airport as 16. At the gate we joined 34 more from the Archdiocese, In Atlanta we joined another small group, in LA we woke up to a sizable contingency in the lobby. When we boarded in LA, the number grew again.
The flight from HI to SYD was when it started to hit me. Charlotte and I sat behind the excited Mexicans (when are Mexicans not excited). The Long Island, NY Yankee-loving, group was a few rows ahead and the entire 767 was going to WYD.
On the ground we arrived at the hotel at 10pm Sunday. We had mass in the upstairs lobby. Five priests concelebrated the mass in a cramped space. There were roughly 150 of us from Boston, Connecticut, and New York (and I mean the heart of NYC). The mass was great, albeit, we were exhausted, but we were all in the same boat, pilgrims in a foreign city sharing a common experience.
Individually, each of us has been called to Sydney for reasons large or small. Our hearts and minds are open. There are lots of smiles on the groggy faces. I am proud of the sacrifices everyone has made to get us to this point. I cannot wait to see how this story unfolds…Stay tuned.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Pilgrim Blog: Day 2
Sean L:
The phone rings, and we’re all tired. It is 4:45 AM in Los Angeles. We all rush to take quick showers. We all get downstairs by 5:25, and have literally three minutes to eat. The shuttle we go on is packed. We get to LAX by 6:05. The entire archdiocese of Boston happens to gets its own lines for check in. It takes two hours of waiting in order for everyone to get checked in. Joanne, herself, happened to be checking in for twenty minutes because of her last name being spelled on the visa. We were running behind schedule. We had come close to missing our flight. Five of us happened to go ahead of the group to make sure the flight didn’t leave without us. We had some really good beggars and nice airport staff because the staff pushed the rest of us through TSA. We were about to go on the runway for takeoff when a pilgrim from another group happened to leave their medications and purse inside the airport. That gave us an hour delay.
We had five minutes in between the arrival and boarding time, so we had a little rush. We had some good meals on the flights. The movies happened to be hilarious to most of us(mainly from sleep deprivation).We saw some beautiful sunsets as we were heading west from Honolulu to Sydney, a approximate ten hour flight. The day had its up’s and down’s as it went on. But now looking back at the bad things, they seem funny. We will remember this is a pilgrimage, not a vacation; and that there is no complaining - only fun!
Mahalo: Thank you
The phone rings, and we’re all tired. It is 4:45 AM in Los Angeles. We all rush to take quick showers. We all get downstairs by 5:25, and have literally three minutes to eat. The shuttle we go on is packed. We get to LAX by 6:05. The entire archdiocese of Boston happens to gets its own lines for check in. It takes two hours of waiting in order for everyone to get checked in. Joanne, herself, happened to be checking in for twenty minutes because of her last name being spelled on the visa. We were running behind schedule. We had come close to missing our flight. Five of us happened to go ahead of the group to make sure the flight didn’t leave without us. We had some really good beggars and nice airport staff because the staff pushed the rest of us through TSA. We were about to go on the runway for takeoff when a pilgrim from another group happened to leave their medications and purse inside the airport. That gave us an hour delay.
We had five minutes in between the arrival and boarding time, so we had a little rush. We had some good meals on the flights. The movies happened to be hilarious to most of us(mainly from sleep deprivation).We saw some beautiful sunsets as we were heading west from Honolulu to Sydney, a approximate ten hour flight. The day had its up’s and down’s as it went on. But now looking back at the bad things, they seem funny. We will remember this is a pilgrimage, not a vacation; and that there is no complaining - only fun!
Mahalo: Thank you
Friday, July 11, 2008
Pilgrim Blog: Day 1
Kevin J:
Today I woke up in one city and ended in another across the country. The arrival to the airport brought excitement for the trip and eagerness to go to sleep. We spent 6 hours in airports waiting and 6 hours in airplanes flying. During this time we got closer as a group. Charlotte pulled out the Apples to Apples game in the Atlanta airport and we played in a random gate.
Lunch was Chic-fil-a, Cinnabon, and other notorious lunch spots. We all wore our green shirts and awesome, flaming hats. We could be seen from Sydney as we walked through the terminals. Notable stars along the way were Shawn Michaels (WWE) and the tall twin brother from last year’s Stanford Cardinal basketball team.
I am pumped for the rest of the trip. We have mastered the planes, but we have another 16 hours in the air. It is 11 pm and wake up call is 4:45. Gotta go! Hey mom, send $$$.
Today I woke up in one city and ended in another across the country. The arrival to the airport brought excitement for the trip and eagerness to go to sleep. We spent 6 hours in airports waiting and 6 hours in airplanes flying. During this time we got closer as a group. Charlotte pulled out the Apples to Apples game in the Atlanta airport and we played in a random gate.
Lunch was Chic-fil-a, Cinnabon, and other notorious lunch spots. We all wore our green shirts and awesome, flaming hats. We could be seen from Sydney as we walked through the terminals. Notable stars along the way were Shawn Michaels (WWE) and the tall twin brother from last year’s Stanford Cardinal basketball team.
I am pumped for the rest of the trip. We have mastered the planes, but we have another 16 hours in the air. It is 11 pm and wake up call is 4:45. Gotta go! Hey mom, send $$$.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pilgrim Blog: Day 0
Joanne:
Around one and a half years ago (or maybe more? I'm not quite sure), Mrs. Willitts asked me if I wanted to go to Australia.
Hold on...repeat that, please. Australia?
I wasn't actually too sure until the night of the informational meeting, when I told my parents I'd like to attend. I attended, and signed up. I was on board. Oh, the things I was on board for...
We sold calendars, raffled off countless Sox tickets, manned (womanned?) the yard sale, and served an Irish dinner to the parish...after which we had a special dance party with Wally, the Green Monster.
So why did we raise so much money? What's it all about, Alfie?
I should probably figure out if I quoted that song correctly.
The fundraising is for our pilgrimage to Australia. Note: I said pilgrimage. Not vacation. We'll be meeting up with Catholic youth from around the world to celebrate our faith.
Let's stop and reflect on that. Catholic youth...from around the world! Maybe my high school French will finally come in handy!
But in all seriousness, I am very much looking forward to our journey. From the who-even-knows-what-time-it-is flights to an overnight vigil on a racetrack with the pope, I know every part of this pilgrimage will hold something amazing for at least one (or maybe even sixteen) of us Dragaroos (a rare species that comes into form when a dragon becomes friendly with a kangaroo).
I can't really describe what it will be like, except I know it will be a wonderful experience.
And with all this 90 degree weather we're having, I can't wait for Australian winter!
Around one and a half years ago (or maybe more? I'm not quite sure), Mrs. Willitts asked me if I wanted to go to Australia.
Hold on...repeat that, please. Australia?
I wasn't actually too sure until the night of the informational meeting, when I told my parents I'd like to attend. I attended, and signed up. I was on board. Oh, the things I was on board for...
We sold calendars, raffled off countless Sox tickets, manned (womanned?) the yard sale, and served an Irish dinner to the parish...after which we had a special dance party with Wally, the Green Monster.
So why did we raise so much money? What's it all about, Alfie?
I should probably figure out if I quoted that song correctly.
The fundraising is for our pilgrimage to Australia. Note: I said pilgrimage. Not vacation. We'll be meeting up with Catholic youth from around the world to celebrate our faith.
Let's stop and reflect on that. Catholic youth...from around the world! Maybe my high school French will finally come in handy!
But in all seriousness, I am very much looking forward to our journey. From the who-even-knows-what-time-it-is flights to an overnight vigil on a racetrack with the pope, I know every part of this pilgrimage will hold something amazing for at least one (or maybe even sixteen) of us Dragaroos (a rare species that comes into form when a dragon becomes friendly with a kangaroo).
I can't really describe what it will be like, except I know it will be a wonderful experience.
And with all this 90 degree weather we're having, I can't wait for Australian winter!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
alt="Click for Sydney, New South Wales Forecast" height=108 width=144>Facebook Anyone?
If you have a facebook account, search for the Dragaroo group. For the link, click here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24576148104
Assignments for Blogging
At our meeting last night we agreed (in principle) with having each of the pilgrims and chaperones blog on a specific day during the trip. Each day will be represented and we will all post our post trip experiences. Check back throughout the trip for photos and updates. Thank you for supporting us with thoughts, prayers, money, and good wishes.
List of scheduled Bloggers:
Pre Trip Joanne
10-Jul Kevin J
11-Jul Sean L
12-Jul Diane
13-Jul Bill
14-Jul Phin
15-Jul Kevin C
16-Jul Joanna
17-Jul Patti
18-Jul Sean E
19-Jul Paul
20-Jul Charlotte
21-Jul Stephen J
22-Jul Maria
23-Jul Leslee
24-Jul Peter
Post Trip Everyone
List of scheduled Bloggers:
Pre Trip Joanne
10-Jul Kevin J
11-Jul Sean L
12-Jul Diane
13-Jul Bill
14-Jul Phin
15-Jul Kevin C
16-Jul Joanna
17-Jul Patti
18-Jul Sean E
19-Jul Paul
20-Jul Charlotte
21-Jul Stephen J
22-Jul Maria
23-Jul Leslee
24-Jul Peter
Post Trip Everyone
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