WYD Cross & Icon Visit the Vietnamese Catholic Community

Friday, December 14th 2007

I was emotional when I watched the promotional clip for the WYD Cross & Icon of Mary for the very first time. It gave me goose bumps to think that in a couple of weeks, mine too would be one of those hands touching and carrying that same Cross. It is wonderful to think that the Cross had been touched and was presented by the late Pope John Paul II to many young Catholics like me, as his gift. It was also overwhelming to see how far and wide the Cross & Icon had travelled, how much love, peace and hope it had brought to so many people, especially in times of harmony and tragedy around the world.

Friday the 14th December, 2007….

It finally arrived! The WYD Cross & Icon of Mary was welcomed into our community, with a resounding welcoming dance, comprising of over 60 dancers, all in colourful traditional costumes, moving to irresistibly catchy beats. The aim was to showcase traditional Vietnamese dancing with a modern twist. Let me tell you, it was great fun to salsa in an ao dai, while waving a fan around, working hard at looking graceful, not tripping on all that material, or worse, popping all those buttons around the chest area. If you can imagine a bollywood dance choreographed Paris by Night style, then you’ve got the right idea. All in all, it was definitely an exciting start to a memorable weekend.

Things got down to a serious note, with Passions of the Christ. The yelling of the crowd and guards, the weeping of Jesus’ followers, the scraping sounds of the cross and the gasping at Jesus’ hardships made it overpoweringly real and devastatingly emotional. It was almost impossible not to be touched or reminded of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of His life, to save us.

Then it was the moment I had been waiting for. I was to be part of the first group to touch and carry the Cross & Icon for the first part of Stations of the Cross. It was larger, shinier and heavier than I had imagined. The Cross was solid, warm, and reassuring. I rested my head on The Cross as I carried it and cried tears of joy at the privilege. To have and hold a tangible gift of love from God was an unbelievably nourishing experience. I realise that God never gives us a cross too heavy to bear, with the love and help of our brothers and sisters, our daily crosses can never be too heavy.

The Stations of the Cross was spread out among the trees and lake in Bringelly. The Cross was in turn carried by different organisations within our Vietnamese community. Thanh Nien, Thieu Nhi, Choir, Vietnamese Mothers group and other parishioners alike. It was wonderful to see the community’s love and anticipation in carrying the Cross & Icon.

As The Stations of the Cross came to an end, the Cross & Icon were brought into the Good Shepherd Hall where we prayed together as a community. We were asked to share the power of the Cross by laying our hands on each other and transferring its strength from those who were touching it outwards to those at the very edge of the crowd. We became one with The Cross. It was a spiritual, powerful and uplifting moment.

We, the youth, were very privileged and lucky to have so much time and opportunity to spend with the WYD Cross & Icon of Mary. Each person that came too shared with The Cross & Icon in their own special way. May it be through touch, a loving stroke, hugs and kisses; or taking photos to treasure for years to come; or maybe through a quick prayer; or just basking in its presence, but some of us chose to sleep beneath the Cross for the night and under the ever watchful gaze and security of our Mother Mary. Although, I’ve heard stories that there was very little sleep to be had.

I suppose it may have been a shame to sleep after enjoying the evening concert, as it had many varied performances from different groups in our community. There was a fantastic performance by the Plumpton group re-enacting ‘The Grease Mega Mix’ medley which was a huge hit with the crowd. Also, the marvellous Thanh Nien group’s Mission Impossible/Men in Black and Evolution of Dance shows got resounding applause. The concert was also serenaded with traditional song and dance acts by Thieu Nhi, Choir members and other Vietnamese groups throughout the evening.

Before we knew it, our first day with the WYD Cross & Icon of Mary was coming to a close. The night-time prayer service was beautifully choreographed with the room aglow with candles and red streamers hanging from the Cross. It was a good chance to settle down, reflect and refocus on the true meaning of the Cross and how we carry our own cross in our individual lives.

Written by Diane Le