Postscript to World Youth Day in Australia

29-07-2008

27.07, [12:49] // Press-releases - This Tuesday the Most Rev. Dionisiy (Lyakhovych), Curial Bishop, returned from Australia. With a group of forty young people from Ukraine he took part in World Youth Day there.

The trip was divided into two stages. First the Ukrainian delegation took part in the days of the Eparchy of the UGCC in Melbourne. A great Liturgy took place at the stadium. On the feast of the High Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, after whom the eparchy is named, there was a great indulgence granted. During the Liturgy Bishop Dionisiy delivered a sermon. First of all he transmitted a greeting from His Beatitude Lubomyr for Bishop Peter and the whole eparchy. Consequently he turned the attention of those present to the theme-slogan of World Youth Day: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." What does this power of the Holy Spirit consist in, the power of God? And the answer is: love. "The Father is the primary source of all love and goodness. This love appears in Jesus Christ and with this love He heals the sick, drives out demons, resurrects the dead. Christ fulfilled His mission on earth, and ascended to heaven. The Holy Spirit continues in the Church and in persons this power of love, which originates from the Father, and operates in Jesus Christ and now descends on the Church. The Holy Spirit gives life, charisms, sets preachers on fire. We can recognize His operations through acts in which love, gladness, peace, kindness, tenderness, and long-suffering are demonstrated. This needs to be revealed to us in the works of the Holy Spirit, a place for Him needs to be opened in our heart. That is why it is necessary to use the divine grace from these days," the preacher noted. The Bishop noted the singing of the local choir; in fact, the musical score for an original youth Liturgy was written especially for these days.

After the completion of the days of the Eparchy in Melbourne, the Ukrainian delegation moved to Sidney, where there was a meeting with the Pope. Liturgies were celebrated in the Ukrainian parish in Lidcombe.

From Wednesday to Friday catechesis for youth was conducted. Catechesis was carried out by Bishops Peter (Stasiuk), David (Motiuk) and Dionisiy (Lyakhovych). It should be noted that on the first day 20 persons came for catechesis and for the last one 60.

The theme of the catechesis was "The role of the Holy Spirit in the Church." The first lesson was about the Holy Spirit as the third Divine Person, Who originates from the Father, Who is the primary source of all love and goodness. The next lesson developed a theme about the mission of the Holy Spirit.

On Tuesday the Ukrainian delegation took part in a Liturgy which was celebrated by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sidney, in the locality of Barangaroo in Sidney Harbour. On Thursday in Barangaroo they met the Holy Father. On Friday they took part in the "Way of the Cross" on the streets of the city of Sidney. On Saturday in Garden Terry Hills a Liturgy was held in which approximately 500 bishops from all over the world took part. In the evening in the area of Randwick, evening prayer together with the Pope took place, to which approximately 300 - 400 thousand youths came.

On Sunday, a Divine Liturgy which the Pope celebrated completed the celebrations of World Youth Day. More than 700 bishops and 1000 priests took part in the Liturgy.

"World Youth Day is an extraordinary festival at which the strength of Christianity appears. Never mind some discomfort, the journey to Australia turned out interesting and rich in memories. Similar events are important for youth, because youth from the whole world meet and a Christian spirit wakes up at that time. The youth feel that they are the Church. There is an opportunity to talk, to discuss, to learn more about God," noted Bishop Dionisiy.

http://www.ugcc.org.ua/eng/press-releases/article;7333/