World Youth Day Cross: January 2004

World Youth Day Cross in A&B

January 8-10 2004

The World Youth Day Cross is seen by over 2000 young people in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton.

Since its arrival from Switzerland into Crawley on Thursday 8th January The Cross and the Icon of Mary has been touched, kissed and prayed around by over 2000 young people in our diocese. Plus many hundreds of adults in our schools and parishes.

This has indeed been an historic occasion for England & Wales and for A & B as neither The Cross or icon have ever visited these shores before.

Having the Cross in our diocese for 48hours gave the opportunity to visit 8 different locations. Firstly the official reception of The Cross and Icon to England & Wales which took place at St. Wilfrid's School, Crawley. This was attended by Bishop Ambrose Griffiths of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese, our own Bishop Keiran Conry, representatives from The Dioceses of Brentwood, East Anglia, Southwark and Westminster. The Director and Assistant Director of Catholic Youth Services of England & Wales and members of the Diocesan Pastoral Team.

The Cross and Icon were then taken to Cardinal Newman School, Hove where they remained overnight. On our arrival we were greeting by an enthusiastic group of students each wearing there light blue A & B Cross sweatshirts. A service for students and staff was held in the school chapel followed later in the evening by Mass attended by 14 priests and parishioners from all over the Brighton Deanery and beyond including a group from Chichester. The Mass was followed by live music from a rock band and then an all night vigil of discussions, activities, prayer and relaxation. The vigil was attended by over 70 students from the school. At 7am on Friday 9th Mass for staff and students marked the end of the time of The Cross and Icon visit to Cardinal Newman School.

The journey then continued with a visit to St. Philip Howard School in Barnham for Mass followed by a time of quiet prayer around The Cross. On two occasions students gave testimonies about their faith journey and in particular about experiences of the World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002. Following these testimonies several students enquired about World Youth day in Cologne in 2005.

Later that morning Arundel Cathedral hosted a service for primary schools. This was also attended by staff and students from St. Joseph's school in Cranleigh and Chatsmore School in Goring who brought their samba band to accompany The Cross into the Cathedral. This service organised by St. Philip's School, Arundel had lots of participation for the young pupils including, music, mime, dance, a question and answer session with Bishop Keiran, lighting of candles to take to the foot of the Cross. Each pupil was given a small Cross to take away.

The next port of call was St. John the Baptist School in Woking, again a small army of students wearing the blue sweatshirts met us and eagerly helped with unloading the Cross and Icon. The service here was a very lively, fun occasion with upbeat music and song. With some beautiful solo singers in fine voice. Again two very well received testimonies were given about vocation and evangelisation.

Later that afternoon and after an unintentional tour of Wisley and Byfleet, St. John's Seminary at Wonersh became the first Seminary in England & Wales to recieve the Cross and Icon. The staff and students and visiting parishioners came together for a very moving service of song and readings. Two students gave their account of their time at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, Canada.

The day ended with the visit to St. Joseph's Church, Guildford. here a time of prayer and reflection took place for parishioners followed by an incredibly lively Mass attended by 9 priest's and parishioners from the deanery and beyond including a group from East Grinstead. Hand - in - Hand the Diocesan Drama group brought up the offertory gifts with dance and music to the beautiful hymn, Take me as I am. There followed an all night vigil of, music, song, prayers, reflection and relaxation.

The Saturday morning 10th January saw the end of our time with The Cross and Icon but not before holding a street procession with the Cross up the Guildford High Street for an ecumenical service at Holy Trinity Church. A good way I think to end with fellow Christians from different traditions with perhaps the most well known and profound symbol of our Christian faith.

I would like to express my deep admiration and appreciation to all the staff and students of the participating schools and parishes for the incredibly creative moving and joyful ways The Cross and Icon were welcomed and celebrated in our diocese. This last few days will live long and happily in my memory. Every service was a great expression of faith, fun and friendship and a fabulous expression of the skills, talents and levels of co operation that exists in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton.

On a personal level I have found a deeper appreciation of the meaning of the Cross in my own faith journey. I have been priviledged to have been able to accompany the Cross and Icon throughout their historic journey in our diocese. In 1982 when Pope John Paul II came to England I was a Police Officer stationed at Gatwick. This gave me the opportunity to be present at the foot of the plane steps as The Holy Father came down the steps and kissed the tarmac. It seems fitting that 22 years later the Cross that he gave to the young people of the world to for them to announce across the world the love of Christ for all humanity should first come to this diocese.

I pray that for all who come into contact with this particular Cross that their lives will be changed in beautiful ways and they will come to know in their own hearts the love Christ has for them.

Accompaning the Cross and Icon throughout every diocese in England & Wales and hopefully Scotland is a book. This book A3 in size was started by students of Cardinal Newman School in Hove. It is their express wish that wherever the Cross and Icon go people should have the opportunity to contribute an entry to the book as a way of expressing their thoughts and feelings of the occasion. It is hoped that the book may come back to Cardinal Newman School before being taken to Cologne for World Youth Day 2005.

In the first 3 days entries had covered 16 pages.

ray mooney
diocesan youth officer

For more information on World Youth Day see the Youth Day Page

World Youth Day Cross: January 2004