SYDNEY, Australia, OCT. 11, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The World Youth Day team in Sydney has just released plans for the Vocations Expo, an exciting and dynamic exhibition for exploring all vocational states of life.
The international youth days are renowned for providing an exceptional platform for hearing Christ's call to holiness at a variety of levels. I know several young people who discovered their vocation to the priesthood or religious life, not to mention those who have met their future spouses at the event. Then there are others who have shared the fruits of their personal renewal with their parishes as single laypeople.
The youth event in Sydney next July won't be an exception. In fact, the archdiocese here has gone out of its way to cater for all criteria for discernment of the various calls to holiness: priesthood, marriage, family, and religious and consecrated life.
The director of the Youth Festival for World Youth Day, Claire Atkins, told me that "a vocations expo of this caliber is unprecedented."
She said that the "Vocations Expo will feature over 200 exposition stands representing communities and congregations from across the globe to inform and encourage young pilgrims in their journey."
The event will be held at the beautiful waterfront setting of the Sydney Exhibition Center -- Australia's premier venue for conferences and special events.
The expo is in walking distance to major World Youth Day events including the opening Mass, the arrival of the Pope, Stations of the Cross and outdoor Youth Festival concerts.
Atkins explained that "exhibitors will represent the rich variety of vocations in the Church; priesthood, consecrated religious, consecrated lay communities and communities or societies for married couples."
As a part of the vibrant Youth Festival program, the Vocations Expo, according to Atkins, "will also be a space for inspiring presentations and dynamic performances relevant to a vocational calling," and to provide "opportunities that bring about a sharing of culture and faith.
"The Youth Festival in general," she added, "is an important platform for pilgrims, artists and keynote speakers to express their giftedness in creative and thought-provoking ways as performers and presenters."
This young mother of two encouraged all who feel their community has something to offer the hearts of the pilgrims to sign up: "Those generously giving their time as exhibitors will bear witness to the gifts of the Holy Spirit --charisms -- entrusted to their community for the good of the Church."
The Vocations Expo presents a rare opportunity for religious and lay communities to engage in meaningful dialogue with more than 250,000 young pilgrims discerning their vocation.
Potential exhibitors can apply from Oct. 15 until Nov. 30 by submitting an online application form at www.wyd2008.org.
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Wide Open Doors
World Youth Day is an extraordinary experience for all who attend as pilgrims. But over the years, due to distance and cost, many young faithful haven't been able to share in the graces of the event.
The Sydney youth don't want anyone to miss out, and it's fascinating to observe the variety of groups getting active to enable their brothers and sisters from around the globe to attend.
They tell me that "it's not about size. Whether you're a parish, a prayer group, a community or family, it's all about enthusiasm, responding to Christ's call and taking up our responsibility to welcome young faithful to our nation."
Auxiliary Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney has also noticed this attitude.
"The young people of Sydney are very conscious that they are in the unique position of hosting the youth of the world in July of 2008 […] so it's been wonderful to see people across the archdiocese get enthusiastic and involved," he told me. "Many of them are seeking ways they can personally contribute to the World Youth Day."
As an example he directed me to one such group.
The Sydney branch of the International Emmanuel Community is composed of only 30 people, but they've put all their energy into raising funds to help bring to Australia those faithful from developing nations who wouldn't otherwise be able to share such an experience.
Agnes Coleiro, the fundraising coordinator for Emmanuel, told me that "it would be a year's wage for many young people to come to World Youth Day, so we are wanting to help fulfill their dreams."
The community's leader in Sydney, Robert Tonkli, added that it's just a part of our average Christian calling to evangelize where possible: "World Youth Day is an international movement, and evangelization is for the whole world. So it's important for us to go out and encourage and help others to come and be part of this because that's part of evangelization."
And Agnes has discovered how certain fundraising endeavors can achieve more than just raising money.
"We've come up with a few good ideas," she said. "We've had a few car-boot sales and garage sales and markets with people's stuff, and raised quite a bit and had fun and when people asked us what the money was for, they became fascinated with our explanation, and some have since gotten more enthused about World Youth Day which they hadn't heard of before."
In just one gala dinner, which included a series of fabulous auction items and a performance by one of the co-composers of the World Youth Day theme song, Gary Pinto, the group received $14,000 Australian dollars (US $12,551).
And the fruits of the Emmanuel Community's labors can already be noted in registrations. Not a single youth from Papua New Guinea appears on youth day registries since the youth days began in 1986. For 2008, some 1,000 are already signed up.
Robert Tonkli insisted that it's just an example of how "where two or more are gathered in Jesus' name, anything is possible."
But the Emmanuel Community still has a way to go as an estimated $80,000 is still needed to help all those who have made requests. The Emmanuel Community would like to inspire all communities to get involved in fundraising for World Youth Day participants.
Your support in bringing out as many youth from developing nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands as possible would be welcomed by making a donation:
BSB: 062784 Account No: 9205204
Account Name: Emmanuel Community World Youth Day Fundraising
Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Branch: 48 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
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On the Net: To meet the people behind this article, see YouTube -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KkNJLfwLYE
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Catherine Smibert is a freelance writer in Sydney, Australia. She can be reached at
ZE07101104 - 2007-10-11