From 9-14 July, 2008, as part of the lead up to WYD08 Week (15-20 July, 2008), the Diocese of Wollongong will welcome approximately 2,000 youth from around the world in a cultural exchange in the context of faith. This cultural exchange is known as Days in the Dioceses (DitD).

The purpose of DitD is to give visiting international pilgrims an opportunity to join local communities in prayer and celebration, to experience the real Australia beyond Sydney, and to energise the Church in the places they visit as they prepare for WYD08.

DitD program of events – printable version
Days in the Diocese

DAYS IN THE DIOCESES PROGRAM OF EVENTS
(9 – 14 JULY 2008)

Wednesday 9 July to Thursday 10 July 2008*
Arrival Days
Time Activities Transport
All day - Pilgrim arrival - any time during the day depending on flights and transfers. Pilgrims arrive; go to local parish pick-up point. Pilgrims arrange their own transport from Sydney Airport to parish pick-up point.
6pm - Pilgrim pick-up – if pilgrims arrive at parish pick-up point during day, they will stay at parish until this time for pick-up by hosts (unless hosts can pick up earlier).  If pilgrims arriving after this time, special arrangements will be made with hosts for pick-up. Hosts arrive and are introduced to their pilgrims. Hosts or transport volunteers to drive pilgrims to host family home.
Evening - Settling in Orientation of house and sleeping arrangements etc.  

* If pilgrims have arrived on Wednesday 9 July, Thursday will be a designated rest day for pilgrims to re-group with their group and/or undertake their own local sightseeing with their group or with their hosts (if possible).

 
Friday 11 July 2008
Living Justly Day
Time Activities Transport

9.30am – 1pm

or

10am-1.30pm

“Living Justly” social justice events

COMPULSORY EVENT FOR PILGRIMS

Three regional events:

10am-1.30pm, University of Wollongong,

9.30am-1pm, St Michael’s Parish, Nowra

9.30am-1pm, Varroville.

Pilgrims participate in enriching social justice activities with local youth.
Events will be focussed on indigenous and ecological conversion issues.

Everyone (including hosts) is welcome to attend these events free of charge (lunch provided).

Details will shortly follow.

Illawarra region (Helensburgh to Albion Park) – hosts or transport volunteers will transport pilgrims to local train station.

Click on the appropriate link for train timetables:
Helensburgh to North Wollongong
Albion Park to North Wollongong (change at Wollongong required for Albion Park and Dapto pilgrims)

If host families live close to the University of Wollongong, hosts or transport volunteers to drop off pilgrims at the university.

Shoalhaven region (Shellharbour to Vincentia) -   hosts or transport volunteers will transport pilgrims to local parish drop-off point.  Pilgrims will then be bussed to and from the event.

If host families live close to St Michael’s Parish, Nowra, hosts or transport volunteers to drop off pilgrims at the parish.  This will be confirmed with hosts prior to hosting.

Southern Highlands region - hosts or transport volunteers will transport pilgrims to local parish drop-off point.  Pilgrims will then be bussed to and from the event.

Macarthur region – if there are any hosts in the Macarthur region, hosts will transport pilgrims to event.

1pm-6pm

Free time/tourist activities

Pilgrim groups may arrange tourist activities with their group or use the time for formation with their group.

Unless organised by pilgrim group leader beforehand, pilgrims that took the bus to the Living Justly event will be transported back to local parish by bus after lunch and free time/tourist activities will happen locally.

Click on the appropriate link for train timetables back to parish:

North Wollongong to Helensburgh

North Wollongong to Albion Park
6pm Pilgrim pick-up Hosts or transport volunteers to pick-up their pilgrims from the parish or train station.
7 pm

Evening Prayer Service celebrating Indigenous Australia

St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Wollongong		 Aimed at local pilgrims within walking distance of Cathedral or hosts that would like to attend the event with their pilgrims (transport to be provided by hosts).


 
Saturday 12 July 2008
Everything Aussie Festival & WYD Mass Day
Time Activities Transport
AM

Breakfast and Sightseeing

Local sightseeing activities with host family if possible.		  
12.30pm – 4.30pm

“Everything Aussie Festival” Lang Park, Wollongong

COMPULSORY EVENT FOR PILGRIMS

Come and celebrate our true Aussie Spirit as we put on a spectacular day full of entertainment, parish stalls, rides, Australian animals and loads more.

Join in the international sporting gala event.

Entry to this event is free but you will have to pay for food and rides.
Sausage sizzle between 4pm-5pm

Everyone invited to get a bite to eat before doors open at the WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong.		  
5pm

Doors open @ the WIN Entertainment Centre

Art Challenge in the WEC Foyer. 

Pre-Mass entertainment including music with the WYD Band and Choir commencing @ 5:15pm in the WEC.		  
6pm

WYD Commissioning Vigil Mass @ the WIN Entertainment Centre

COMPULSORY EVENT FOR PILGRIMS

Huge Diocesan Vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Ingham to commission our local and international WYD pilgrims for the WYD week.

Everyone from the Diocese is invited to attend the Mass.  There will be 5,500 seats (free of charge) so we want everyone there!

Mass will be accompanied by a 100 piece WYD band and choir!		  
Approx 8pm Transport from venue to host home.

Same mode of transport as arrival transport to venue.

Click on the appropriate link for train timetables:

Wollongong to Helensburgh

Wollongong to Kiama


 
Sunday 13 July 2008
NRL Game Day
Time Activities Transport
Morning

Sunday Mass

We will be asking pilgrim groups to have a primary role in the celebration of one of the morning Masses at each parish.

Arrangements to be made by parish and pilgrim groups locally.		 Host family or transport volunteer to transport pilgrim to local parish for Mass.
Late morning

Parish farewell activities after Mass

We are asking that parishes hosting pilgrims organise a farewell activity for their visiting pilgrims (eg, morning tea).		  
1:30pm – 4:30pm

NRL Game – St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders @ WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Rugby League match at WIN Stadium (St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders).  Kick off is 2pm.
Limited free tickets for pilgrims.

If pilgrim group does not want to attend the football, they will have free time with their group for the rest of the afternoon.

Pilgrims to travel with the host family either individually or in a parish/pilgrim group via public transport or private host family transport to WIN Stadium for Rugby League match.

Mode of travel to be determined by host family and pilgrim group leader.

If pilgrim group does not want to attend the football, no transport required.

Click on the appropriate link for train timetables:

Helensburgh to Wollongong

Kiama to Wollongong
Approx 4pmTransport from venue to host home.

Same mode of transport as arrival transport to venue.

Click on the appropriate link for train timetables:

Wollongong to Helensburgh

Wollongong to Kiama


 
Monday 14 July 2008
Departure day
Time Activities Transport
Morning

Transport to Sydney

Pilgrims travel up to Sydney for WYD08 week.

Host family or transport volunteer to transport pilgrim to local parish if pilgrim group is travelling up to Sydney via bus.

If pilgrim group is travelling up to Sydney via rail transport, host family or transport volunteer to drop pilgrim off at local train station.

Transport times to be arranged between parish and group.


 
 
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