Palmerston North Diocese’s Hui was AWESOME!!!!

Since our Dio is so spread out, we had people coming from Taranaki, Whanganui, Palmerston North and also coming down from far parts of Hawkes Bay – and what can I say, all together, what a dynamic group and AMAZING bunch of people!

We came from near and far to unite centrally at Hato Paora College to spend time together, sleep on the floor, sing some waiata, learn about all the killer animals in Aussie (thanks A LOT Jonny Boon!) and play some interesting mingling games like SHAABANG – a very loud and unique arm movement game!

It was only 24 hours but we squeezed in so many memorable things - even a talent show and a beautiful candle lit midnight mass.
The Hui was a great time to get to know more of our fellow pilgrims, go over some details of our trip and even talk about what we want to come back to when we return from WYD.

It was very cool that our Bishop came out to spend some time with us too.

I left the Hui feeling really… well… TIRED! Haha, but importantly very excited and close to God. Thankyou to all those involved in the preparation – it was special and extremely worthwhile.
May we all take that enthusiasm we shared, back to the corners of our dio and share it with our families’ parishes and friends. It has made my anticipation towards World Youth Day even more powerful and the true excitement for WYD is forever brewing!
Thank you also to Hato Paora College – your facilities were fantastic and you were all sooo hospitable and welcoming.

Blessings, Jane Dravitzki

PS: I can't seem to find a good big group photo of us all but heres a nice photo of the Hawkes Bay group! If anyone in our dio has any good photos they'd like to share please do contact me - as you know i'm not too scary!

Haha, take care.

The journey continues....

I thought I would write a blog on the journey of the cross and icon, even thought they left our shores a long time ago...

When the cross and icon were here they had a huge impact on the thousands of people, young and old, who saw and touched it. The cross and icon served us in many ways. For some it bought enthusiasm for WYD. For others it gave an oppertunity to gather in out various communities. But most importantly, it bought to our country a powerful reminder of Gods LOVE and MERCY!

I wanted to remind you all that the journey continues. It has been having a profound effect throughout Aussie and has had an amazing effect on its communities.
It has travelled for 315 days, through 27 dioceses (including Military and Maronite), been involved with 30 communities and movements. It has travelled about 65 000kms (including flights, seen 2000 events and about 250 - 350 000 people have been directly present brfore the cross & icon. Pretty amazing huh?

So let us remember our Australian neighbours in our prayers and remember the buzz that the cross and icon bought to us.
Check out the video highlights - they are well worth watching (my fiancee made them!!)

http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/media__1/download_centre/jci_videos

hey howzit goin? frm B16 lol

Hey I saw something cool today...

Apparantly Pope Benedict XVI, or B16 in txt language, is going to be txting pilgrims messages of hope and inspiration throughout the WYD week! I think its pretty cool that he is going to be keeping in touch with youth in a way that most of us are used to.

This is a first for any WYD.

So while the Pope is making an effort to keep in touch with us, we should make an effort to keep in touch with Christ. Remember that while some of us send heaps of txts everyday, we often forget to send messages to Christ, through prayer.

Maybe everyday you could send a message to heaven, not in a "txt" but in a "pryr"!!