Sunday July 20th. 2008
Our Diocesan Youth
Representative in Sydney
I received an e-mail and photograph from Deirdre MacDonald during the week telling me of the visit of Fiona and herself to the Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent at Mount Street, Sydney, accompanied by their host, Ann McKeon.
They were given a wonderful welcome by the Sisters, and with Deirdre being related to Blessed Mary on both sides of her family, they were treated as VIP guests, They were invited to bring up the gifts at the offertory of the mass, and then they had a very emotional visit to the tomb of Blessed Mary. They knelt down, said their prayers, remembered us all and laid the petitions from our parishioners on the surface of the tomb,
It was a sacred moment for them, for we have talked so often about Blessed Mary here in Roy Bridge, and there they were at the tomb where her remains lie at rest.
This weekend, Pope Benedict will also kneel and pray at the tomb of Blessed Mary, and it is our prayer that very soon he will proclaim her Australia's first saint.
This weekend, Pope Benedict will also kneel and pray at the tomb of Blessed Mary, and it is our prayer that very soon he will proclaim her Australia's first saint.
If the canonisation were to be in Sydney, rather than Rome, it would be a wonderful opportunity for a visit to Australia for the occasion! Deirdre and Fiona are among 250,000 youths from all over the world who have come to Australia to welcome Pope Benedict and to share their common faith with each other as they join in the masses celebrated by the Holy Father.