Editorial

Significance of World Youth Day 2008

Michael Gilchrist

Contents - Jul 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Significance of World Youth Day 2008 - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: Archbishop Coleridge calls for an end to liturgical experimentation - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Abortion: A false concept of moral equivalence - Babette Francis Selective tolerance: Queensland University Student Union censures Catholic student group - Allison Atkins WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008: Juventutem Australia: young people devoted to the traditional liturgy - Alice Woolven WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008: Authentic Catholicism: a fertile ground for vocations to flourish - Fr Anthony Denton FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH: Jesus: how do we know he was God? - Br Barry Coldrey CFC Religious faith and the power of music and song - Andrw Kania Liturgy: Why Paul VI saw liturgical abuses as the 'smoke of Satan' - Cardinal Virgilio Noe WORLD YOUTH DAY: Turin Shroud display in Melbourne to coincide with World Youth Day - Max Crockett Letters: Anne Lastman's Remarkable book 'Redeeming Grief' - Fr Raymond Wells Letters: Culture of life - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Vatican II - John Schmid Letters: Buddha in church in South Brisbane - Richard Stokes Letters: Climate concerns - Dr Brian E. Lloyd Books: Cardinal Pell's new Mass Book - This Is The Mass Books: TURMOIL AND TRUTH, by Philip Trower - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: SERMONS PREACHED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, by John Henry Newman - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: The Real Presence: 'an essential element of the deposit of faith' - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

International religious events in Australia have been few and far between over the past century. One recalls the Eucharistic Congresses and papal visits of past years which provided opportunities for thousands of Catholics to demonstrate or rekindle their faith and for the Church to have an evangelical impact on the rest of the community through the secular media's coverage.

There is no doubt the upcoming World Youth Day in Sydney, from 15-20 July, will go down in Church history as one of a handful of religious events in Australia of international significance.

The difference from the past is that this event is aimed specifically at young people, both in fortifying those who believe and practise and in re-evangelising the vast unchurched majority. In light of the massive fallaway of school leavers over recent decades, an event of the scope of WYD is urgently needed to arrest the slide - something Cardinal George Pell well appreciated when he first campaigned for Sydney to host the event.

The spiritual dividends of past World Youth Days have been noted by the bishops of dioceses where they were held. These have included increased interest in priestly and religious life, a return to practice by many of the lapsed and more inquiries from non-Catholics.

The massive scale of the events, the large attendances, including thousands of overseas visitors, and Pope Benedict's presence, will all ensure a constant coverage by the secular media over the course of a week. Given the Church's own modest media resources, this coverage will be priceless in presenting Catholicism in a positive light on TV, radio and in the newspapers.

The presence of thousands of young Catholics enthusiastic in their faith will be a potent antidote to the all-too-common sour, negative images of dissent that tend to populate secular media reports.

Two articles (pages 8-9) provide some indication of what can be expected in the coming weeks. This journal wishes Cardinal Pell and his many helpers every success with their efforts and prays that the spiritual fruits of WYD in Sydney will be considerable over the coming months and years.

Michael Gilchrist, Editor of AD2000
(email address available on request)

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 6 (July 2008), p. 2