The WYD Cross Arrives in Dublin

The World Youth Day Cross arrived on schedule yesterday (Saturday November 8th) at Dublin Airport. Following a wonderful welcoming ceremony with prayer, music and drama, Fr. Philip, John Cahalin from Idrone and Ciaran and Martin Cunniffe from Knockcullen helped the enthusiastic crowd of some 100 young people carry the Cross all the way from the airport to Whitehall Church, accompanied by Garda outriders and the Order of Malta. Later they accompanied the Cross to a very moving Taize style Young Adults Mass in St. Kevin's Oratory at the back of the Pro-Cathedral.

CYC were most grateful to our own Fr. Paddy who slaved hard on Friday night to provide approx. 26 litres of delicious fresh soup (several varieties and none of your packet stuff either - is there any end to this man's talents!!) which was transported from the presbytery in flasks and given to the young pilgrims at a bitterly cold airport before the trek to Whitehall church began.

Another significant Carmelite contribution to yesterday's proceedings was the presence of the famous "Thérèsemobile" - the same silver Mercedes Sprinter van which transported the sacred relics of St.Therese of Lisieux all around the country in 2001. The Carmelites have kindly given it to CYC to transport the WYD Cross over the next three weeks.

Yesterday the Thérèsemobile, which has been in cold storage in Kildare since the relics visited ended two years ago, became a soup kitchen for the young pilgrims who received their hot cup of Fr.Paddy's delicious soup and breadroll from the back of it. No doubt St.Thérèse, who is such a young saint and inspired so many young people to venerate her relics while in Ireland, will ensure that the WYD Cross visit will be just as successful and full of blessings as her own unforgettable pilgrimage turned out to be.

For further details, contact Fr. Philip: Tel: (01) 494 1204; Email: pbrennan@carmelites.ie

Further information about the Cross is available at www.cyc.ie