Thousands of believers are expected at the Australian diocese of Maitland-Newcastle from today to next Tuesday, July 31st, for welcoming the Cross and the Marian icon, the symbols of WYD. The believers are fulfilling their pilgrimage in the Australian territory, and they will arrive in Sidney for the beginning of WYD, which is going to open on July 15th, 2008 (until July ). The appointment is today in Aberdeen, where the Cross and the icon will be welcomed by over 600 students of local schools. From there, the symbols carried by the young will be taken to the peasants in the area where the peasant’s lands were recently devastated by violent floods. A procession and a more traditional aboriginal smoke ceremony are also scheduled. On July 31st, the young from Maitland-Newcastle are delivering the Cross and the icon of WYD to the people of the same age from the diocese of Lismore. According to its site, the diocese of Maitland hopes to host over three thousand young, including those from North America, Holland, England and South America. To better prepare themselves, catecheses, solidarity and volunteering actions are being carried out in this month of July.
