Volume 19, Issue 11-12

Central to the Days in the Dioceses program will be the Commissioning Mass, a rich spiritual, artistic, creative and faith-filled experience for all Melbournians to share with our many visitors.

When you step into the Telstra Dome you will be joined by more than 50,000 pilgrims, parishioners and volunteers, to be treated to an occasion of togetherness and a deepening of purpose for the commencement of your pilgrimage.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist will be one of the first experiences of the World Youth Day journey in Melbourne and will provide every pilgrim with a spiritual reference point that will hopefully remain in their mind for years to come. The thousands of kilometres that will be travelled to reach the destination in Sydney will require preparation. The Commissioning Mass provides pilgrims with preparation for their journey to Sydney. The Archdiocese of Melbourne’s gift to the pilgrim is to give each individual an opportunity to engage in and exchange their faith in an open and loving environment, as is present here in this Archdiocese. The Commissioning Mass engenders with pride our central message of witness, journey and sharing.

The journey is the very essence of the pilgrim’s experience and our Archbishop has planned the Commissioning Mass as a gift to wish all pilgrims well on their journey. It will form the central event for the celebration of our Catholic Faith. The journey to World Youth Day is an embodiment of the World Church coming together as one and the young people are the future of that Church.

For the design and preparation of the Commissioning Mass, Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart has brought together a team of liturgical advisors complemented by creative experts, musical directors and young choristers; their talents have been engaged to set the tone and flow of the Mass. The visionaries behind the Mass comprise some of the finest artistic talents of Melbourne. They represent the incredible cultural diversity and uniqueness that is distinctive to being Australian and Melbournian.

As a feature of the Mass, the performers will bring the congregation to a place of stillness, peace and reflection through a dynamic combination of sound, lighting and poignant words. The congregation will be treated to an artistic representation of the Living Church in action here in Melbourne. This part of the Mass will evoke a presence of thought, of sharing in each other’s experiences and a moment of togetherness.

Young people from right across the Archdiocese of Melbourne will form the cast that has been selected to sing and perform in this multi-purpose venue for the Mass.

In celebrating the Eucharist, Archbishop Hart will reflect on the many blessings we have been given by having this opportunity to join together in Melbourne. The Mass will follow the theme of ‘Receive the Holy Spirit...become witness to the Holy Spirit in the world’ in an uplifting liturgy that will capture the imagination of the pilgrim.

Going on the journey of pilgrimage to another country reminds us of the message Jesus sent to us all before He ascended to heaven: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This message, also the WYD theme, will resonate strongly with the 25,000 young international pilgrims present at the Mass and participating in Melbourne’s Days in the Dioceses. By travelling such incredible distances to come together on pilgrimage allows all individuals to put into action the literal expression of this message. 

Fast Facts of the Mass
Did you know DID08 has:
•    4 visiting Cardinals
•    100 Bishops
•    1,000 Concelebrating Priests (international and Australian)
•    300 Australian Priests
•    300 Extraordinary Ministers to assist with Communion
•    300 Choir, soloists and band from Melbourne and Victoria
Communion… did you know?
•    12 minutes for distribution of Communion
•    Over 600 Priests administering Communion
•    Over 50,000 hosts (sacramental bread)

Fast Facts of the Mass
Did you know DID08 has:
•    4 visiting Cardinals
•    100 Bishops
•    1,000 Concelebrating Priests (international and Australian)
•    300 Australian Priests
•    300 Extraordinary Ministers to assist with Communion
•    300 Choir, soloists and band from Melbourne and Victoria