Go to Roads to Rio Go to Mission Chile Go to Project Peru
SUNDAY 21ST JULY 2013 – RIO DE JANEIRO Transfer from hotel accommodation to WYD Week Accommodation. Rio de Janeiro - Managed Basic Lodgings - 'Aussie Central'** - 8 night stay ** 'Aussie Central' - this is a privately contracted cluster of central waterside function warehouses at Pier Maua, separated by gender and including basic mattress on floor and 24/7 security protection (own sleeping bag & pillow will be required).
Important notes: All arrangements remain subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstances outside of Harvest WYD Tours' control.
WED 17TH – SAT 20TH JULY 2013 – SANTIAGO MISSION During our stay in Santiago, we aim to include the following pilgrimage, mission and cultural activities: • Visit to the iconic hill of San Cristobal which overlooks the city. At the peak, there is a church with an amphitheater, and a 22 metre statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. • Tour of the city including the Metropolitan Cathedral containing a recumbent wooden statue of San Francisco Javier. Visit the San Francisco Church and Museum, the oldest church in Santiago. • Visit to the Sanctuary of St Alberto Hurtado, a renowned pioneer for the cause of the working poor and youth in Chile. He founded the widespread ‘Homes of Christ’ that provided houses for thousands of under-privileged children, including hospices for men and women, rehabilitation centres and homes for the aged. He was Canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 (becoming Chile’s second Saint) and his tomb now lies in the Sanctuary. • We will spend time during these days learning about and working with the Columbans here in Santiago. Their work outreaches to the poor and under-privileged in various ways through different missions on the South American continent. This experience will draw us into a deeper understanding of the ministries work of the Santiago Archdiocese, as well as providing us with time to reflect upon the call of the missionary in our own world. [Mission component arranged by the Victoria Dioceses.]
SUNDAY 21ST JULY 2013 – SANTIAGO TO RIO DE JANEIRO • Fly from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro - Managed Basic Lodgings - 'Aussie Central'** - 8 night stay
** 'Aussie Central' - this is a privately contracted cluster of central waterside function warehouses at Pier Maua, separated by gender and including basic mattress on floor and 24/7 security protection (own sleeping bag & pillow will be required).
DAY 7: MONDAY 22ND JULY – ARRIVE RIO DE JANEIRO • Morning arrival into Rio de Janeiro. • Rio de Janeiro - Managed Basic Lodgings - 'Aussie Central'** - 8 night stay
Shots from Praise and Worship with Fr Rob Galea, Mass celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart and all the colour from the Carnivale celebration!
Here is the latest World Youth Day 2013 Official Australian Pilgrimage Promo...
Planning has begun for our World Youth Day 2013 “One Year To Go” celebration. Fr Robert Galea will lead a special praise and worship session at St Mary Star of the Sea Church in West Melbourne followed by Mass celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart. After Mass the celebrations will continue with a huge Brazilian Carnivale, giving everyone the chance to experience the amazing culture of Brazil.
This event is open to all those from around Victoria who want to start getting ready for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, whether they will be able to attend World Youth Day or not.
It will be held on Friday 27th July with Praise and Worship starting at 6.30pm and Mass at 7.30pm. The Carnivale, with food, drinks, prizes and entertainment will begin at 8.30pm.
Put this date in your diary and stay tuned for further details. Make sure you are on our WYD Mailing list below to be kept up to date with all things World Youth Day and join our Facebook page at “Wyd Rio Victoria”
“Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt 28:19)
By Beth Doherty
Brazil's most well-known tourist attraction is the huge Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro on top of Mount Corcovado. A striking symbol of the world's most populous Catholic country, its situation and placement has a message to convey. Mount Corcovado where the statue is placed is characterised by a rich side with mansions and palm trees, and a poor side which is a hill-side slum, heavily populated by Brazil’s poorest living in dilapidated houses.
In the 1990s, photojournalist Mev Puleo attributed traveling on an air-conditioned tour bus to see the statue as a catalyst for her conversion. She peered out the window and was suddenly starkly aware of the sheer inequality she saw before her. As a committed Catholic, she couldn’t reconcile this inequality with her faith.
"Suddenly, the chair was too soft, the air conditioning was too pleasant, and the scenery too breathtaking. Her eyes glanced upward to see Jesus standing with his arms stretched wide in the gap between comfort and fear. She feared that though Jesus had been lifted above both sides, it seemed that he had only become a convenient way to avoid looking at the needs of the poor from the comfort of affluence. So, Mev made a decision that day: she decided to change the world”.
The Christ statue is very much representative of Brazil, and indeed the Catholic Church. It is a symbol of the Church wishing to reach out her arms to all, rich or poor, to unite themselves with Christ. Fortunately as Australia looks to the next WYD 2013, conditions of security and safety seem to be well and truly covered by the authorities. One Australian Bishop who has just returned from the Rio remarked of feeling quite safe during his time and that the city is “very attractive” and “full of life”.
Brazil’s World Youth Day (which will take place from 23-28 July 2013) will be one of the largest projects they have ever undertaken and will no doubt, bring challenges not seen by European, American and Australian World Youth Days. Perhaps the experience would only be rivalled by Manila’s World Youth Day which saw over four million pilgrims attend the final Mass. This said, it will likely be a true, deep and conversional type of pilgrimage for those who attend. The Catholic Culture of the country of Brazil and its South American neighbours will give it a powerful authenticity also. It will be instructive, challenging, and perhaps just what young Australian Catholics need.
Managing Director of Harvest Pilgrimages Philip Ryall is committed to giving pilgrims an authentic Christian experience as they travel to World Youth Days and preparations were underway before pilgrims even left Madrid last year. The catch phrase “pilgrims not tourists” is frequently used, and says much about the vision that Harvest has for passing on the faith. “South America holds a unique appeal that will draw our youth into a deeper encounter with the people, faith and cultural realities that they experience. Whether it is rebuilding a church in a poor area of Lima, praying at the Jesuit missions of Posadas or witnessing God’s creation at the Iguasu Falls, all roads will lead to the one sacred highpoint in Rio where the Holy Father will join with hundreds of thousands of youth from every tribe and nation”, he said.
Pilgrims should not expect first-class air travel, but they should expect to be moved beyond their wildest dreams. They shouldn’t expect luxury sleeping quarters, but should expect to be warmed by the love of Christ made manifest around them. “For us, it is not just about being a tour operator – in fact, logistics are only a very small part of what we do. We provide pilgrimage journeys that integrate the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of faith”, said Philip.
Harvest is the official tour provider for Rio 2013. This article has been supplied by Harvest Australia. The AOY will be co-ordinating pilgrimages to Brazil with the assistance of Harvest. Stay tuned for further details or contact us with an expression of interest.
If you're in a youth group or just an excited parishioner, download our Pilgrim Fundraising Pack full of ideas and suggestions to help you fund your journey to Rio de Janeiro!
Pilgrim Fundraising Pack