Back To The "Real World"

So here we are, back in beautiful California telling our wonderful stories and experiences to everyone we came back to. Although, I have found that each time I tell mine, I want more and more to go back to Sydney. I miss the bigheartedness of everyone I happened to meet, or just the faith that everyone had that seemed to blow me away. So because of all this, I have decided to bring Sydney back home with me, to live out what I had experienced there, here, in California (or wherever else I may go). I want to show all the love, faith and kindness that I had received and given out to people I met everyday. I do believe the holy spirit has done some work on my life, and I want to show it to everyone. And thank you all again for your money, time, support, and prayer for making this trip possible. I would like to share with you that before this trip I was not at a good point in my life, I had just lost two very close people and wasn’t dealing with it very well. I found myself drifting away from God and the church, and becoming more angry that God had taken them from me. But being in Sydney, seeing the pope, and feeling the faith of everyone, made me realize that these things happen for a reason, sometimes unknown. I began to find peace with myself and God, and because of that my faith grew stronger. I still miss them, but I know their here with me watching and waiting for the day we will meet again. God had shown me that he will always be there for me, through all the people that were their helping me through this. He has worked in such mysterious ways that I would not have expected to help me return to him. So again thank you all for this life changing experience, you have know idea the restoration it has done on me.

R.I.P. Danielle & Grandma

-Meghan Taylor

Numbers 14, 18, and 28 Are Home

Now our pilgrimage is complete. Mike, Joe, and Judy are all back home safe and sound. Mike went to the hospital and spent about six hours getting fluids and care. They landed at LAX early this morning and are now home resting. Maureen Finley says Mike is doing better and will soon be on his feet again. Our prayers for a safe return have been answered.

We Are Home

After over 25 hours of traveling we are finally home. At least most of us. Mike Finley was pretty sick and could not make the flight. He made the first flight to Melbourne but wasn't doing well enough for the 14 hour flight from there. Mike, his brother Joe, and Judy stayed back so that he could get some medical attention and hydration. They will be flying out on a later flight and will arrive tomorrow morning. For the rest of us this is the end of a life transforming pilgrimage but the beginning of a life of renewed service to Jesus and our community. Everyone, youth and adult, has been changed by this experience. We are all filled with the Holy Spirit and want to better witnesses for Christ on earth. Our thanks to everyone who has supported us in prayer, financially, physically, and with your love. We will be at the 10:30 Mass this Sunday sporting some of the items that we received from other pilgrims and with stories to share. We look forward to seeing you there.

Phil

Coming Home

Leaving for the airport at 4:00 am

Happy arrival at LAX

Off to the airport

It's 3:30 am and we're off to the airport. We arrive on Qantas flight 93 from Melbourne at 7:30 am. This has been a great trip and there are lots of wonderful stories to tell. Hope everyone has enjoyed reading the blog. We appreciate all the love, support, and prayers from our family and friends. We plan on being at mass on Sunday with some goodies to show and stories to tell. See you then.

Phil

Jenova Caves

Group pictures at Jenova Caves

Down in the caves

Mass with a group from Canada in the caves

Trip to the Blue Mountains

Dear Friends,

We checked out of our hostel this morning and left for the Blue Mountains. On our way we stopped at Featherdale Wildlife Park. We then went to the village of Leura for lunch and shopping. Leura reminded us all of Solvang. Next we went to Echo Point to see the famous Three Sisters Rock formation. Our next stop was at Scenic World where we rode on the railway and skyway cable car from the top to the bottom of the rainforest and back. Both are the steepest of their kind in the world. The skyway cable car is over 1,000 feet above the valley floor. We finished the day with a BBQ dinner at the motel and night time walk for a few of us to see the Three Sisters light up at night. We're enjoying the nice soft beds in our motel and the heat in our rooms. I'm watching rugby as I write this blog entry. Interesting game.

I've posted a number of pictures on our photo album. Just click on photo album link on the right of the page to see them. I've also added some blog entries with photos. Just click on pictures under labels.

Tomorrow we are off to the Jenolan Caves and will have mass with a group from Canada in one of the caves. We're all having a great time but look forward to seeing our families soon.

Phil

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Checking out of the Hostel

Bondi Beach

Today we went to Bondi Beach

Already leaving Sydney

Well tomorrow is akready our last day at Sydney. I can't believe that it's all over. Let me tell you, that washing all of those cars and doing all of those fundraisers, was WAY WORTH IT! Also thank you very much for all of those donations. We all really appreciate it and really feel blessed to have witnessed such a wonderful week of peace and love. Seriously, this week was HEAVEN ON EARTH! To tell you the truth, I don't really want to go home because I am having the time of my life. Meeting people from other countries, different races and we are all here for one thing, seeing the Pope. And we all were Catholic. I have been very moved and touched by this amazing experirence. And really, I, we, could not have done it without all of your support. We love you all and see you guys when we get back. And please still keep praying for my mom. I love you and I miss you very much mom. Bye.

John Espinoza

what an amazing time

wow, this trip has gone by so incredibly fast! but it has been a journey i will never forget. seeing the pope and getting his blessing was one of the most spiritual moments of my life. just being surrounded by so many people with the same beliefs and so much faith is indescribable. i can definitely feel the holy spirit around me as i have been here. All the love joy and faith that has been shed, throughout all the countries, how can you not believe there is a God? all i can really say is this is incredible!
-meghan

We saw the Pope!

Hello again from Sydney! We just spent an amazing weekend at the WYD vigil and mass with the Pope. Being among 200,000 pilgrims at the vigil was amazing. There was an electrifying energy for 24 continuous hours. The Pope's message the evening of the vigil and at mass was envigorating. We definitely have have work to do. He gave us a mission! He is an amazingly insightful man and an eloquent speaker. I wanted to absorb every word...every piece of the message, but there was so much to digest. I'm anxious to read a hard copy of his speeches so I can contemplate his wisdom. We've definitely been energized to go back and continue our journey by spreading his message of hope and peace.

Today we went to Bondi beach and some of the youth went for a swim. It was cold, but they just had to experience the Sydney beaches. We have one more day in Sydney and then we're off to the Blue Mountains for 2 days before heading home.

We've had a beautiful experience, and we have felt the love and support from our parish and families. We have been so blessed with this opportunity and we are grateful to all of those people who have helped make this possible. You are in our prayers!

God bless,
Mary Fennell

On Top of the World

World Youth Day was absolutely fantastic! From everything from praying with the Pope, to the teens on a mission to meet other teens from countries all over the world, to learning to pray and more about or own personal faith, no one wants it to end. The Holy spirit is with us all. The next few days will be filled with local activities and site seeing before we head back. Tonight a group of teens and adults climbed to the bridge in Sydney. That means a climb with a guide to the very top of the structure, 440 feet above the water! What an amazing experience to look down on the city and famous Sydney Opera House. Our teens are glowing, you will know when you see them.

Thank you all again for your support.

Jim