Broken Bay’s World Youth Day pilgrims have received a final blessing just a few days out from their three-week long pilgrimage to Lisbon, Portugal.
Hundreds of pilgrims and families from across the Diocese gathered on Friday to farewell young faithful, as they prepare to journey through Italy and Portugal, and join in Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.
The whole of the Diocese was represented at the event, held at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, with pilgrims coming from across the parishes and schools in all three deaneries.
The evening began with a commissioning Mass, celebrated by Bishop Anthony Randazzo.
During his homily, Bishop Randazzo said the pilgrimage was about being messengers for the Gospel and the pilgrims would transformed and converted by their experiences.
The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Sam French, Fr Roger Delmonte, Fr Aldrin Valdehueza and Fr Stephen Wayoyi, who will accompany Bishop Randazzo as the chaplains for the pilgrims.
Following the Mass, the pilgrims and families descended to the Light of Christ Centre where they enjoyed dinner, collected their pilgrim packs and mingled with others set to embark on the same journey.
Bishop Randazzo also gave those gathered one final message, thanking the families and carers for their support of the pilgrims, asking for their prayers throughout the pilgrimage.
“We’re about to begin a wonderful pilgrimage,” he said. “My prayers and thoughts are with you all. We’re all on a journey and none of us can say what will happen at the end of the journey.
“All we can do is look at the step we’re on together, right here, right now, and if we do that, I can assure you the Lord will hold us together, in his love and in his care.”
The majority of pilgrims will depart on Friday, 21 July to begin their pre-World Youth Day pilgrimage in Italy.