74 Days to Go!
The last couple of weeks have been all consuming for me in the processing of those who have offered to assist in some way in the distribution of Holy Communion to the 150000 pilgrims at the opening Mass at Barangaroo and the 500000 pilgrims at the closing Mass at Randwick Racecource/Centennial Park. The faithful at the closing Mass have to be split due to the fact that our great city of Sydney dose not have an area large enough and well catered enough in the way of transport to hold 500000 people in one open space. So even though we will have huge numbers of priests conclebrating we will still need laity to assist us as acolytes, extraordinary ministers and escorts in distributing Holy Communion to the far reaches of the precinct.
Initially we popped out an email to all the national groups and movements but I soon got flooded with emails asking every question under the sun so we set up a spreadsheet and resent that out to all our people which makes life a little easier. The volunteers I am capturing are different to the 8000 volunteers that WYD still needs to help with everything from logistics to communication to lunch distribution. So if you are able to volunteer your services during the week don't forget to log on and put up your hand here.
So yes back to my volunteers...the task continues. Once we have all the people we need to need to work out the logistics of getting the good Lord out in 2000 ciboria to the faithful who have come to Mass and try and do all this within 30 minutes! It makes me wonder about Jesus feeding the 5000 men (not to mention probably 15000 women and children). Not only did he work that miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish but they managed to pull off the logistics of getting the baskets of food out and back! I think however they would have needed to commission some more disciples and baskets, I did the math on 12 apostles and distribution to 20000 people and based on six seconds per person (the distribution time we base Holy Communion to each person on) it would have taken them over one and half hours! Perhaps however they would have been a bit more patient than todays Catholic crowd.
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