10 May 2008
The Journey of the Cross and
Icon through the Melbourne Archdiocese is coming to an end
Saturday 10 May with an official send off at Port Melbourne.
Crowds will wave farewell to the World Youth Day Cross and Icon as
they continue their journey across Bass Strait to the Archdiocese
of Hobart on the Spirit of Tasmania.
The Cross of Christ, the global symbol of hope and faith, has
travelled around the globe since Pope John Paul II entrusted its
protection to the youth of the world in 1984. Reaching out to young
people worldwide, the Cross and Icon have travelled through a
diverse range of cities from Ground Zero in New York, the scenes of
genocide in Rwanda, to the oppression of life behind the Iron
Curtain.
Tens of thousands of Melbournians have been involved in a whirl
wind of spiritual celebrations over the past two weeks. The events
on Saturday welcomes all Melbournians to encounter the Cross and
Icon for the last time before they set off on the continuation of
their journey, arriving in Sydney for the World Youth Day Festival
in July.
Young representatives from fourteen multicultural groups will
lead the crowd away from Our Lady of Mt Carmel at 12:30pm in the
Closing Walk down Beaconsfield Parade. They will pass the Cross and
Icon to young people from parishes across Melbourne as they proceed
towards Station Pier.
The Cross and Icon will arrive at the Spirit of Tasmania at
2:00pm to a crowd awaiting the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart,
who will handover and entrust the Cross and Icon to the Archdiocese
of Hobart in a special Handover ceremony to occur at the dock at
Station Pier.
A group of youth representatives from the Archdioceses of
Melbourne and Hobart will carry the Cross and Icon up the Sky
Bridge and onto the Spirit of Tasmania at 2:30pm for its voyage to
Tasmania later that evening.
The Archbishop of Melbourne, The Most Rev Denis Hart will
officially farewell the Cross and Icon for it to continue its
journey around Tasmania.
"Today we see the Cross and Icon leave Melbourne to continue its
journey in the Archdiocese of Hobart and onwards to Sydney. We wish
that all pilgrims in Hobart will encounter and engage with the
Cross and Icon in the same meaningful way that pilgrims from
Melbourne have during its time here.
We look forward to all our pilgrims coming together for the
upcoming celebrations of Days in the Dioceses Melbourne and World
Youth Day Sydney in July" said Archbishop Hart.
Spirit of Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Charles Griplas
invites members of the public to join in the grand finale handover
ceremony as the Cross and Icon's journey throughout Victoria comes
to a close.
"I am looking forward to extending a warm welcome to the Cross
and Icon, the Archbishop of Melbourne, youth representatives from
the Archdiocese of Hobart, pilgrims and the public as the Closing
Walk procession arrives at Station Pier tomorrow," Mr Griplas
said.
"It is an honour to be invited to participate in this spiritual
event of global proportions.
"We are only too pleased to open the gates at Station Pier and
to offer Melbournians a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
come along and be part of the handover ceremony.
"We wish all pilgrims an enjoyable sailing experience to
Tasmania and extend our best wishes for the Cross and Icon's onward
journey," he said.
Millions of young people around the globe have had the
opportunity to experience the spiritual power of the Cross and
Icon, which is seen as a beacon of hope and inspiration, assisting
young people to come to terms with racial injustices, religious
barriers, civil unrest and acts of terrorism.
This year the Cross and Icon has been accompanied by an
indigenous Message Stick, which has been offered as a gift from
indigenous communities in Sydney to invite the youth of Australia
to make the pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2008. They too recognise
the inherent value of our young people, and celebrate their vital
contribution to Australian communities.
The Journey of the Cross and Icon will be followed through an
online blog and image gallery, allowing young people who have
experienced this powerful symbol of youth achievement to document
its incredible journey across Melbourne. For further information,
please visit www.did08.com
For any information about attending any of the events and
for all media inquiries, please contact:
Lauren Zammit
Tel: 9694 1113
Mob: 0414 655 142
Email: lzammit@wrights.com.au
Karen Piil
Tel: 9694 1140
Mob: 0417 019 730
Email: kpiil@wrights.com.au
