69 Day to Go!!
On Monday the WYD staff had a visit of very short notice from the new Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giueseppe Lazzarotto (pictured). The Nuncio is of course the national representative of the Holy Father and the Holy See and he resides in Canberra similar to the other foreign ambassadors.
His excellency was in town for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference plenenary which is happening at this moment and he wanted to visit the WYD office and greet us all. He celebrated a Mass for us a 3:30 in the Polding Centre Chapel (that's right we have Jesus in the building...a great blessing!). The Archbishop preached off the cuff for 10 minutes or so and I found his words very heartening and spirit raising. He deeply thanked everyone for their work and assured us that he was only echoing the thanks of the the Holy Father.
His excellency spoke of our work like that of a engine room within one of the old great luxurious liners that would sail the world. As great and beautiful as a liner may be it can go no where without the hard work, the heat, the coal and often the stress of those in its engine room. He spoke with great description and as a real father and one could see his great sincerity and joy to be with us. He also referred to us as an army, but not an army for distruction but indeed for the opposite, for building up something very beautiful for God and for the world.
After the Mass the Archbishop joined us for afternoon tea and he again spoke very encouragingly as you can see in the video below.
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