austraLasia 1236
What did you had when you had no hope of getting to WYD? Ask the Solomon Islands!
GIZO (East Solomon Islands): 31st August 2005 -- and you thought WYD was over and done with. Just one more story. Many far-flung nations made it to Cologne, and little ones at that. But for some even littler places, it just wasn't possible. Gizo Diocese, Solomon Islands, was one such. Perhaps they'll make it to Sydney in '08; they're neighbours of a sort!
But if you can't get to Cologne - or Sydney - then you do it at home, and that's what Gizo youth did. Gizo is Dominican territory, not Salesian, by the way. And it's a real mix of cultures: you have many from Kiribati to the north (pronounced KIRIBAS; the -ti is 's' in that language), and just as many whose background is more associated with PNG to the west, plus the many different groups that make up the Solomons themselves, further east. The youth began with a Kiribati welcome on 17th, followed by a Mass next morning and the blessing of the WYD Cross (theirs might be stronger than the original at the 'other' celebration in Cologne - that one broke while being man-handled on the Rhine). Then with Cross, Statue of Mary and Bible, the youths all processed to the Maneaba which is the large ceremonial thatched hut in Kiribati custom - and there they saluted the Vatican, WYD and Solomon Islands flags. Then followed days of catechesis on leadership, Eucharist, youth in SI society, plus many other important reflective themes, opportunity for Reconciliation, prayer, meditation, singing....Cologne without the cold weather!
Gizo diocese is made up of many islands, so the events moved from island to island, from Gizo to Cannan and to Noro. Then the final mass and feasting and entertainment around three huge WYD cakes prepared by the Catholic mothers of Noro.
The youths reflections on this indicate they they were no less moved spiritually than their half a million other counterparts on the other side of the world: "I felt like a new plant growing in very rich soil", "I'd like to be the star that would lead other youth to Jesus in my community", "I know now that the Church looks to me to be the living salt and true light of my community".
______________________
What did you had when you had no hope of getting to WYD? Ask the Solomon Islands!
GIZO (East Solomon Islands): 31st August 2005 -- and you thought WYD was over and done with. Just one more story. Many far-flung nations made it to Cologne, and little ones at that. But for some even littler places, it just wasn't possible. Gizo Diocese, Solomon Islands, was one such. Perhaps they'll make it to Sydney in '08; they're neighbours of a sort!
But if you can't get to Cologne - or Sydney - then you do it at home, and that's what Gizo youth did. Gizo is Dominican territory, not Salesian, by the way. And it's a real mix of cultures: you have many from Kiribati to the north (pronounced KIRIBAS; the -ti is 's' in that language), and just as many whose background is more associated with PNG to the west, plus the many different groups that make up the Solomons themselves, further east. The youth began with a Kiribati welcome on 17th, followed by a Mass next morning and the blessing of the WYD Cross (theirs might be stronger than the original at the 'other' celebration in Cologne - that one broke while being man-handled on the Rhine). Then with Cross, Statue of Mary and Bible, the youths all processed to the Maneaba which is the large ceremonial thatched hut in Kiribati custom - and there they saluted the Vatican, WYD and Solomon Islands flags. Then followed days of catechesis on leadership, Eucharist, youth in SI society, plus many other important reflective themes, opportunity for Reconciliation, prayer, meditation, singing....Cologne without the cold weather!
Gizo diocese is made up of many islands, so the events moved from island to island, from Gizo to Cannan and to Noro. Then the final mass and feasting and entertainment around three huge WYD cakes prepared by the Catholic mothers of Noro.
The youths reflections on this indicate they they were no less moved spiritually than their half a million other counterparts on the other side of the world: "I felt like a new plant growing in very rich soil", "I'd like to be the star that would lead other youth to Jesus in my community", "I know now that the Church looks to me to be the living salt and true light of my community".
______________________
