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  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 13

    Stations of the Cross

    August 9, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Our final day in Fatima started with a Mass in a small chapel beneath the Holy Trinity Basilica.

    We then walked the stations of the cross that lead to the small village where Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta grew up. Finally, we visited the church where they were baptised.Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 11

    The Three Secrets of Fatima

    August 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Mary told the children the first secret in July of 1917.

    The first secret described Hell as a horrible place where sinners’ souls burned. Mary said that to save these souls, acts of prayer and sacrifice were necessary.

    The second secret prophesized the end of the First World War, but also the outbreak of the Second World War if sinning was to continue. Mary also called for the Consecration of Russia or else peace would not occur. Many say she also predicted the rise and fall of Communism.

    The third secret was not revealed that easily. In 1943 Lucia was ill and asked by the Bishop to reveal it, but she said God had not authorized her to do so. The Bishop still ordered her to write it down. Lucia decided to write it in a sealed envelope that could only be opened in 1960. In 1960, the Vatican issued a press release stating that the third secret would remain sealed forever. For years, Christians around the world speculated on the content of the third secret and some even feared it could refer to worldwide nuclear annihilation.

    However, the secret was released in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The Vatican said the secret spoke of the 20th-century persecution of Christians, leading to the failed assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II in 1981.

    The text revealed said that Mary spoke of a “Bishop clothed in white” who prays faithfully. In her vision, he was making his way towards the cross passing through the bodies of those who were martyred, like priests and other religious people. This speaks to the prosecution of Christians. He then falls to the ground dead after hearing gunfire. This message was allegedly confirmed by Sister Lucia.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 11

    Fatima

    August 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Today we arrived in Fatima. I will admit, I knew very little about this town before arriving. Upon our arrival we visited the Sanctuary which is home to 2 Basilicas and 1 incredible story.

    The story of the Our Lady of Fátima miracle begins on May 13, 1917. Three peasant children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia were tending to their family’s sheep. The children under 10 years old were blessed with the presence of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. In Portugal, she is also known as Fátima. The children saw this beautiful woman, dressed in white and standing above a bush. The Virgin Mary told the children that world peace would occur if they spread the godly message of prayer.

    She visited the young children on the 13th for the next six months. She revealed to the children three secrets. The children were told to make sacrifices to save sinners. They were tight cords around their wrists and did not drink water on hot days. Lucia told the villagers that Mary asked them to say the Rosary every day in order to keep world peace.

    News of the apparitions spread throughout the village, some believing the children and some not so much. The Blessed Virgin Mary promised the children that one day a prophecy would occur that would show the village people that they were being truthful. These events culminated in the sixth final apparition “Miracle of the Sun”.

    In 2017, Pope Francis went on to officially recognize the Miracle of the Sun and even canonized two of the children, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, over 100 years after their death. This means that Pope Francis made the children officially saints!
    Lucia, the cousin of Jacinta and Francisco Marto passed away in 2005 and is being considered for possible beatification. This is the step right before sainthood and essentially signifies that she is blessed in heaven. However, this process could only legally start in 2010, at least five years after her death, and is not yet finished. Pope Francis has visited the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima multiple times.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    1111
    Day 9

    WYD Day 5/6

    August 5, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Each WYD there is an evening Vigil on the Saturday night followed by a sleep-out. This year the event was held at Campo da Graça.

    It was an extremely hot walk and when we arrived at 3pm, the sun would shine brightly for another 6hrs.

    At 8:30pm Pope Francis (Papa Fransisco) arrived! It was an incredible experience to attended a service with that many people! Follow the vigil there was music and a movie until late.

    A 7am wake up call was played by Padre Guilherme - a DJ!

    Pope Francis arrived again around 8:30am and at 9am we had our final WYD Mass.

    After a very hot walk back to the station and then on a loaded train, we made it back to the hotel.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 8

    WYD Day 4

    August 4, 2023 in Portugal

    This morning (following Mass), Miki and I travelled back to the aquarium to try and get into a WYD presentation.

    We watched an hour presentation about the history of our ocean and how human activity is impacting it. Following the talk we explored the exhibits!

    They had an incredibly large ocean tank with fish, sharks and rays. Off to the side they had other exhibits featuring penguins and my personal favourite, the otters.

    In the evening we travelled to the ‘Stadium of Light’ for a concert called The Change. We were especially lucky as we got to see Matt Maher singing ‘The Lord's Prayer’, a classroom favourite.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 7

    WYD Day 3

    August 3, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    This morning we started with small group sessions and Mass at the hotel.

    After Mass, Miki and I headed to the city centre to visit St Anthony’s Church and the Cathedral. On the way we also stopped in at the Mary Magdalene Church.

    In the city centre I tripped on the marble tiles and smashed my shin. Thank goodness for Nurse Miki!    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 6

    WYD Day 2

    August 2, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This morning we met up for our first ‘Rise Up’ session of WYD. Unfortunately the sound wasn’t great so we ended up leaving and heading back to the hotel for Mass - lead by Fr Andrew.

    After Mass we were free to go and attend any of the Youth Festival events across the city. Miki and I headed to the Aquarium for a presentation however the event filled just before we got to the front of the line.

    We decided to go on a round trip on the Skyliner instead. From the carriage we had an incredible view!

    After the skyliner we went back to the hotel for a rest, and then to dinner. We had a pilgrim meal at a small kebab shop. In the line we got talking to two Brazilian men and we shared stories of kangaroos in Australia and our dangerous birds. One of the men shared that he had recently done a 14 day mission to a group of indigenous people in the Amazon. While there, the camp was attacked by cannibals and a young girl was taken. Suddenly the Australian wildlife didn’t seem so scary!

    Miki and I took our dinner to the park and after eating had an easy trip back to the hotel for an early night.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 5

    WYD Day 1

    August 1, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Today we started by travelling to the ‘City of Joy (check out the photos of the crammed Metro). In the park space, pilgrims are invited to go to reconciliation/confession, adoration and view the many vocation tents. It was really cool to see the different orders from around the world represented.

    From the City of Joy we travelled to the Australian meetup. Here we got to meet all the different groups from all over Australia visiting Lisbon.

    Finally, we headed to the WYD Opening Mass. As the 100’s of 1000’s of pilgrims descended on Colina do Encontro it was incredible to see all of their flags waving and hear their chants, songs and celebrations. We were sat at the opposite end of the park from the stage, but in front of a large projection screen. Although the Mass was in Portuguese - it was still an uplifting experience attended a mass with so many people. Very different to our little Barcaldine Parish.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Youth Day 2023
    Day 4

    Salamanca

    July 31, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This morning we departed Avila for Salamanca. This city is home to two incredible cathedrals! We toured inside the old and new cathedral, then headed to Mass.

    Just like yesterday, we celebrated Mass with the Brisbane CE group. They have live guitar which makes the Mass that much more special.

    After Mass, we were given the task of finding lunch. Miki, Alice and I ate in a cafe off the main square. Miki was super impressed by the mini pizza cutter!    Read more

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