Magis08 Pilgrims from different experiments arrive and gather at St. Ignatius College in Riverview, NSW. It is a time for the 12,000 Magis08 pilgrims to gather as one community, sharing their varied experiences and celebrate them in liturgies, workshops, concerts, talks, catechesis, and fun parties with a lot of food and dancing. More pictures? Find photo album Phase 2 Ignatian Gathering by clicking here.
An excerpt from my journal:
12 July 2008. We arrived at 9:30 AM, Australian time, which is two hours ahead of the Philippines. We left at 8:30 PM at the Centennial Airport, boarded Philippine Airlines, took a brief stopover at Melbourne, and proceeded to Sydney. Tom SJ and the staff of Magis met us at the airport and brought us to the bus that took us to St. Ignatius College in Riverview. The campus is lovely with a panoramic view of the Lane Cove River.
At Riverview, we were brought to the school dormitories with central heating and hot water in showers and lavatories, a true comfort from Australia’s nippy winter. Dormitories had recreation rooms where we congregate and socialize. Breakfast food like cereals, milk, fruit preserves, bread, and Meadowlea low-fat butter lie in abundance. An internet room was available and a laundry area with washing machine and dryer was open for us to use. Divided into two groups (not necessarily male and female), we were billeted at Kevin Fagan Hall and at St. John’s. Confessors were regularly available. There were spaces for mass for groups who wish to celebrate the Eucharist together. And a canteen was open for extra snacks and basic necessities.
Once settled, I went to a short meeting for group leaders. The schedule was light because many groups from different countries were still arriving. He World Youth Day cross and icon arrived at 4PM, and the pilgrims brought the cross to the Gartlan Center with a liturgy with Australian indigenous welcome. This was the first time we gathered as a big group. It was unbelievable to be with other people who may be strangers to us, but share our own spirituality. At the Second field overlooking the River, dinner was a “barbie”: an outdoor steak barbecue with a lot of dancing and entertainment. Dancing was almost a necessity — or else you would freeze. It culminated with an experiment concert at Ramsay Hall: a short presentation of experiment groups from different continents. The pilgrims were able to know the experiments of the other groups.
I saw a lot of beautiful photo. Nice.
At Riverview, I saw a reflection of what heaven will look like- the cultural diversity, the love, the joy, the one family that I never thought would come together. I have never removed my Security tag- I refuse to; I will be with it magis (the more)
The organization was perfect, better run than international conferences.
Thanks a lot Magis!!!