A week of worldly youth
If you’re a Sydneysider and have battled your way through thousands of flag wielding tourists this week, I won’t have to remind you that this week is ‘World Youth Day’. Yes I know it runs for 6 days so why is it called World Youth Day? Amanda Dee wondered the same question and was told:
“The official World Youth Day is Sunday 20th July where the pilgrims and anyone else interested gets to have mass with the pope. Apparently World Youth Day was originally held on Palm Sunday in 1986 and has been celebrated on a Diocesan level every Palm Sunday ever since.” More…
World Youth Day has actually stimulated quite a bit of debate for Australians. Some are worried about the amount of money that the NSW Government has spent on hosting the week. Answerer Mandy M gave a very succinct response, stating points such as promoting tourism and the potential that the young people could eventually return as international students, bring much needed dollars to a very lucrative industry.
A lot of people are also debating the new laws that were passed a few weeks ago empowering emergency service workers to stop people who are engaging in conduct that causes annoyance or inconvenience. Some parts of the law were overturned in an eleventh hour court case yesterday, the Federal Court ruling the definition of ‘annoyance’ to be too broad.
Of course, many of us Australians are still hoping there will be at least one ‘annoyance’ during the week, the Chaser boys may indeed plan some sort of prank to amuse us all. Nikita asked for some suggestions of what sort of mischief they could get up to. Some popular ideas include:
“They should make their own ‘Pope Mobile’ and drive it around…Maybe make it into a bit of a float… ‘the Pope Floater’….Gross.” Girl Goes Back to the Future
“I think they should volunteer.” HerbalPhil Wellness Warrior!
“The should perform some miracles, including 1. Water being turned into Wine. That’s always a winner with the youth of the world. 2. Resurrection. 3 days is probably a bit too long in our fast paced world. 3 hours would be pretty impressive.” Anthony C
A few too many mixed meanings in there for my liking but we’ll be interested to see if the Chaser boys decide on any of your suggestions this week. Let’s just hope our pilgrim friends see the funny side!
Caitlin
Community Manager
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How about if they along with everyone else stopped acting like a bunch of immature dills and let the international and Australian Catholics freely express themselves without being abused and/or taunted? Religion is one area that ought to be off limits to their kind of humour. I enjoy some of their stunts but this one would be totally out of place and would lose them any respect and credibility that they actually have stay away from this event altogether . How would you like it if someone pulled a prank on a event that you really cared about and believed in? You would be shattered. You really don’t know how some of these people feel about this experience because it’s a ONCE IN A LIFETIME chance. These are just a bunch of nice young people who believe in something valuable, maybe you should try it sometime.
Why don’t they just call it bugger up Sydney for a week.
I think we should have had the right of say if we wanted them here. Us the Tax payers funded this event for over $200 million dollars when the Catholic Church is the riches corparation on this earth they should have funded their own event, they are just recruting the youth of today. What starts in Rome should stay in Rome!
Love & Blessings
Milly
All i see are alot of young people going to sydney but not to see the pope and get in touch with their religious side, more to have fun let loose and act like a bunch of idiots.
The World Youth Day does not restrict to Catholics or Australins, therefore all Christians have the right to be part of this great event. These young pilgrims may lead their country to a health life style and maybe even teach us something. If we host another event like this then the government may look at improving the management side for future outcomes, overall the event was a success which helps the Australian economy also reflects great media reviews all over the world.
I’m a non catholic who is currently in the process of converting.
Regardless of anything this a celebration of all things good and decent in the world. With all the violence we see and here about on all media outlets shouldnt we just be gratful were not hearing about another family who has been slain. These bad things rightly cause an outcry in the media for action to be taken. So why are so many people complaining about WYD08. Give us a break we are celebrating our Faith.
They certainly won’t be getting a free ride out of me. I’m tired of running into people in bright clothes, backpacks and sporting their countries flag, only for them to shove it in my face and prance around like their the main attraction in town.
This is just going to create a religious fad for everyone who will claim to be apart of it and then when it’s over and the funs gone, realise the hypocrisy of the Church.