Check out the press release just put out today:

All over New Zealand preparations for World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney this July have been in full swing for months. Much time has been given to spiritual retreats and gatherings to pray together and discuss the significance of WYD. The realities of fund-raising were also to the fore, being replicated all over New Zealand by the dozens of groups who are traveling to Sydney - sausages sizzles, weekly barbecues, film evenings, car washes, quiz nights, babysitting, karaoke evenings, St Patrick’s Day parties, garage sales and trivial pursuit contests to name but a few of the activities.    

**Check out the Gallery for photos of some events**

Early April marked the 100-day countdown to WYD, and in Auckland it was observed by an event at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. Among the dignitaries who spoke to the hundreds of assembled young people was former MP John Tamihere who discussed the importance and value of faith for young people. He spoke of the need to bring all cultures together and to learn to show leadership in sharing their ethics and values with other young people.

The fundraising thermometer of the young people at Auckland’s Onehunga parish shows that they have managed to raise a whopping $30,000.00 to date!

Around 300 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Wellington gathered on a Sunday afternoon in May to  prepare for the pilgrimage to Sydney.  Nick Wilson, a WYD veteran and teacher at St. Pat’s College, Silverstream, encouraged pilgrims to step outside their comfort zone, work together and meet new people with some great icebreakers like the Tightrope Walk (pictured).  Sr Sian Owen took the pilgrims through their paces with the patrons of WYD, saints and great Catholic figures like the late Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, our own Mary Mackillop and St. Maria Goretta.

Busloads of young pilgrims travelled from Christchurch to Temuka in April to reflect on the focus of World Youth Day. The Temuka pilgrimage gave all those who attended a rare opportunity to take an entire day to reflect on their relationship with God.  There were several trials during that day, including two buses breaking down, but the pilgrims did not lose heart, realising that the pilgrimage experience has its ups and downs and that there would probably be hitches and trials during World Youth Day itself.

The Diocese of Christchurch has also been working to bring a small group of New Caledonia pilgrims to World Youth Day, with a stop in Christchurch beforehand for the Days in the Diocese.  This is part of the Pilgrim Partnership Support Scheme (PPSS), enabling pilgrims from poorer nations to make it to World Youth Day.  The Diocese of Palmerston North has also provided support to the Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands under the PPSS.

The Diocese of Hamilton held a weekend Hui at Tokoroa to mark the beginning of their pilgrimage to World Youth Day. The weekend was planned to be a small representation of WYD itself. There were games and opportunities for everyone to interact and get to know each other a little. In the evening they were joined by the Bishop of Hamilton, Bishop Denis Brown in a session of prayer and worship.

On Sunday morning, they walked in procession with the local people for Mass at the Saint Pius X Church which is near the marae.  After lunch, the bishop addressed the pilgrims and they brainstormed what they would like to see after World Youth Day, discussing ideas about capturing and maintaining the WYD legacy.

The Diocese of Palmerston North also had a fantastic hui weekend with pilgrims from Taranaki, Whanganui, Palmerston North and from far parts of the Hawkes Bay.  Pilgrims covered everything from killer Australian animals to a beautiful candle-lit midnight mass.  Jane Dravitski, Palmerston North’s Kiwi Ambassador had this to say: “May we all take that enthusiasm we shared, back to the corners of our diocese and share it with our families’, parishes and friends. It has made my anticipation of World Youth Day even more powerful and the true excitement for WYD is brewing!”

Dunedin pilgrims were stashing the dosh with their Pennies for Pilgrims Variety Concert in May.  Organised by the Regnum Christi movement, the event covered a whole range of musical and dance performances. 

The Diocese of Dunedin also has a pilgrim ‘sleepover’ planned for late June with Steve Lawrence, the Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis at WYD, traveling from Australia to speak to the pilgrims.  One of the highlights of this event will be an night vigil of prayer with the Blessed Sacrament