| Light to the Nations 2009 |
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 The Easter Vigil 24 April 2009 More than 800 people flocked to Galong’s Redemptorist Monastery on Holy Thursday to take part in the Light to the Nations Easter pilgrimage hosted by the Disciples of Jesus community and the Missionaries of God's Love. Every two years, young people and families pitch tents and celebrate Easter in a large tent erected in the grounds of the monastery. Missionaries of God's Love priest Fr Daniel Benedetti said the dramatised Stations of the Cross and the walk up Rosary Hill “were experiences of deep reflection and prayer for our nation”. As the principal celebrant of the Easter Vigil, Fr Benedetti said it was a “joy filled celebration with over 800 candles raised in the air during the singing of the Exultet.” “The celebration of an adult baptism, the baptism of a baby and the reception of a young man into the Catholic Church added to the joy and beauty of the night,” he said. “During the Easter Vigil those in the congregation who had never made a public commitment to follow Christ as an adult were given an opportunity to come forward to the altar. I was inspired by the response of about 50 people who came forward. “It’s wonderful to see people standing for their faith, especially young people. Many teenagers came forward to stand for Christ - this is a great sign of hope for our Australian Church.
During his homily Fr Benedetti referred to Pope Benedict’s World Youth Day message to “put our hope in the living God”, who inspires us to make a radical response. |