Pilgrimage to world youth day Sydney 2008

Welcome Program Outline 10:45 – 12:15 Timeline checkpoint Information from Sydney QLD Gathering Survival Tips Pastoral Liaison Team Media & Communications briefing BNE Secretariat in Sydney Pilgrim Staffs

Timeline Checkpoint 8 Mar Training Day #3 All individuals from your group are registered All registration payments are finalised All transport and accommodation payments are finalised Leadership group formation and role clarification Formation and preparation of pilgrims Medical Information Forms completed and information compiled Information session/package for parents of U18 pilgrims Code of Conduct / Community Agreement negotiated All Risk Assessment and Child Protection documentation completed

Timeline Checkpoint 14 June Training Day #4- 31 days to go!!!! June Receive Package A Accommodation information and Catechesis allocation (week beginning 23 June) Finalise Child Protection, Risk Assessment, supervision rosters, communication chains Pilgrim Formation & Preparation Prepare individual contact information for pilgrims in Sydney Collaborate with local parish / community about farewelling / blessing / commissioning pilgrims on Sunday 13 June Prepare for post-WYD events, celebrations and de-brief of pilgrims

Information from Sydney Package A accommodation and Catechesis allocations due week beginning 23 June –(School groups need a communication plan in case info needs to be passed on after term finishes) Pilgrim passes and Festival Guides will be collected at accommodation in Sydney Booking for Mary MacKillop Place Event Timings etc:

Tuesday 15 July Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell QLD Gathering Youth Festival events pm at Barangaroo 12-2:00 pm pm at Sydney CBD locations

Wednesday 16 July Catechesis (teaching) sessions QLD Gathering Youth Festival events 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm 2-10pm at Sydney CBD locations

Thursday 17 July Catechesis (teaching) sessions Welcome of the Pope on Sydney Harbour Youth Festival events 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm Commences at 2.45pm - Sydney Harbour / Barangaroo pm at Sydney CBD locations

Friday 18 July Catechesis (teaching) sessions Stations of the Cross Youth Festival events 9.00am-12.00pm OR 10.00am-1.00pm 3-6pm at St Mary's Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Domain pm at Sydney CBD locations.

Saturday 19 July Pilgrimage walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse Evening Vigil with the Pope and sleep out 'under the stars' 5.30am starting at Sydney Harbour Bridge through city to Southern Cross Precinct 7.00pm-9.00pm at Randwick Racecourse

Sunday 20 July 2008 Papal motorcade Final Mass celebrated by the Pope Announcement of next host city Youth Festival events Commencing in Centennial Park at 9am 10am at Southern Cross Precinct 12.15pm pm at Southern Cross Precinct

QLD Gathering Tuesday, 15 July Hordern Pavillion, Lang Rd, Moore Park Arrive at 12:00 for a 12:30pm start Finish by 2:00pm

Advice to Pilgrims Travel light (physically & emotionally) Take togs and thongs for showers No hairdryers Take power boards for phone chargers Eat right and drink plenty of water. Eat the meals provided! Pack some portable food/snacks Don’t take valuables you’re not prepared to lose (consider banning MP3 players as they isolate individuals from the group)

Advice to Pilgrims Live in the moment (Be fully present in Sydney, not constantly on the phone to Brisbane) Travel in pairs or threes at all times. Do not expect that whole groups will always get on the same transport service. Plan to meet up if necessary or plan to not do things as one large group. Alcohol is banned from Package A accomm as are inebriated people. Luggage – keep it basic (take only what you can carry) jeans & comfortable shoes are the order of the day Carry necessary medication at all times – getting back to it at the accommodation may be impossible

Advice to Leaders Establish who is in charge and work out how to deal with them directly e.g. Venue liaison people – deal with them and try to get around having to deal with the volunteers Learn the system as you go along and adapt to make it work best for you (e.g. distribution of meals) Speak with pilgrims about how they will/can access money Establish expectations about relationships within the group - set boundaries; not being exclusive; this is a short term experience of community Warn pilgrims that all cultures are not the same – be accommodating and forgiving

Name, accommodation address and group leader contacts attached to lanyard and worn at all times Plan ahead. Send someone ahead if possible to reconnoitre Assure pilgrims there will be reasonably safe chaos Have access to emergency money to deal with problems (e.g. needing to buy a meal for all pilgrims) Manage expectations (e.g. probable that someone in group will get lost; probable that you won’t be able to access everything you want to do; travel will take a lot longer than you expect) When things are getting overwhelming (and they will), slow down and deal with the essentials. Identify what are absolutely essential elements for your group to be together and what they can do independently or in small groups (allow choice) Trust your pilgrims! Trust in your preparation

All group leaders should carry copies of medical information and emergency contacts at all times. Have a duplicate copy with someone in Brisbane Be prepared that you will not always be able to travel in a big group Be flexible Work at building and maintaining community Sort it out later – deal with the problem at hand and sort out the cost (and the permission) later Keep connected with your pilgrims (talk to them about their experiences) Find time to pray (individually and as a group) Day One will be the worst!

Pastoral Liaison Team 1.Introduction of the PLT 2.Contacting the PLT – via Brisbane Secretariat in Sydney 3.PLT at Catechesis

Media & Communications Briefing by Bernadette Kreutzer

Secretariat Office in Sydney Based in Radisson Hotel, Liverpool St Hours of operation: 8 am – 6 pm Phone contact: 13 XXXX Point of contact for Group Leaders (drop in) Provide group number when you call Will make courtesy contact with group leaders All requests for PLT assistance made through the Secretariat office.

Pilgrim staffs Briefing about distribution of staffs at Mass this afternoon

Questions?