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Palmerston North Youth to Melbourne & World Youth Day

Matt Sissons

Well, how can I do a write up for the most amazing experience of my life?

I know I’m meant to be writing more about my experience at World Youth Day. But how can I, when my most awesome part of the two weeks in Australia was the Passsionist Youth Encounter in Melbourne. I spent from the 8th to the 13th of July at Endeavour Hills in Melbourne. This week actually outdid World Youth Day in Sydney by far for me.

It was so much fun and I actually experienced God through the people at this retreat. The whole atmosphere at Endeavour Hills was just so amazing; I got to know so many extraordinary people, hearing their stories and experiences. I was so moved by how loving everyone was and just how we all seemed to just ‘click’. “The passion of Jesus to me is feeling the love from others and how Jesus is present through others kind and caring actions. To receive Jesus’ passion you just need to be willing to accept it.” (Quote from my journal while at Endeavour Hills)

From this experience I have learned that, No!!! we Catholics aren’t different no matter where we are from. We hold the same values and the same beliefs. I made many lifelong friends that I am sure I will catch up with at the next World Youth Day and at the next Passionist Retreat. Us five Kiwis had the most awesome host family. They were so kind and generous. I celebrated my 16th birthday over in Melbourne and it was a great birthday, my host parents made me pancakes and got me a cake. That same day was the Mass at the Telstra Dome with forty thousand other people from around the world. It was a truly amazing experience, especially on my birthday that I will never forget.

Now lets get on to Sydney and the week of World Youth Day.

This week was awesome all my mates arrived and then it was time to hang out and share stories with them about my awesome time in Melbourne.

While in Sydney I attended daily catachesis events with amazing bishops from around the world and it was very cool how they shared their stories it was truly inspirational.

We stayed in a school in Sutherland (about 45minutes out of Sydney by train ) for the week, having to use communal showers and sleeping in one room on the floor. (We did have our airbeds.) Sharing the space with a few hundred people was all part of the fun.

The best part of Sydney and World Youth Day would definitely have to be the night at Randwick Racecourse, this night was just the best. I was so moved about the sheer number of people and just how we were all there to celebrate our faith together with the Pope.

These two weeks in Australia will always be with me and I will never forget this truly amazing experience. We spent about a year fundraising before July 2008 and now it has been worthwhile. Now we are back we are going to speak about our WYD experience at Mass and other groups in our Parish.

Thank you very much to all those who have made all this possible for me, may God always watch over you and be with you. Matt