Rorate Caeli

Juventutem's Sydney launch: Countdown to WYD


Members and friends of Juventutem Australia converged at St Augustine's Church Balmain (Sydney) last Saturday (24th May), to mark the final preparatory phase before World Youth Day. Appropriately, Our Lady Help of Christians (24th May), is the patronal feast of Australia and the 4th anniversary of the founding of the Juventutem movement in 2004.

Solemn Mass was celebrated at St Augustine's Church Balmain by Fr Glen Tattersall (Spiritual Director of Juventutem Australia), assisted by Fr Terence Naughtin OFM Conv, and Fr Michael McCaffrey FSSP.




The beautiful church of Saint Augustine, built in 1907 in the arts and craft style, is conveniently located in an historic inner suburb minutes by bus, car or ferry from Sydney's CBD. St Augustine's will be the official Church of Juventutem during WYD in Sydney. For further photos and a history of the church, please visit the parish website .


A magnificent program, commencing in Melbourne on Thursday 10th July, and continuing in Sydney from Tuesday 15th July, is now in place for Juventutem. Highlights include:

Week 1: Days in the Dioceses in Melbourne
(St. Aloysius' Church, 233 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield North)

Thursday, 10th July
Chant Workshops, 7.30pm Solemn Pontifical Mass (Bishop Basil Meeking), Exposition of Blessed Sacrament overnight until Friday morning.

Friday, 11th July
Low Masses, Chant workshops, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and Compline.

Saturday, 12th July
11.00am Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Throne (Archbishop Denis Hart).

Sunday, 13th July
11.00am Solemn Mass (Fr Glen Tattersall), 4.00pm Solemn Vespers.


Week 2: World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney
(St. Augustine's Church, 3 Jane St, Balmain)


Tuesday, 15th July
Chant workshops, 7.30pm Solemn Mass (Fr Denis Buchholz ICK).

Wednesday, 16th July
9.00am Catechesis, 11.00am (approx) Solemn Pontifical Mass (Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett), 2.00pm Chant Workshop, 4.00pm Solemn Pontifical Vespers at the Throne (Cardinal Pell).
Thursday, 17th July
9.00am Catechesis, 11.00am (approx) Solemn Pontifical Mass (Bishop Peter Elliott), Compline.

Friday, 18th July
9.00am Catechesis, 11.00am (approx) Solemn Pontifical Mass (Bishop Basil Meeking), 8.00pm Solemn Mass (Maternal Heart Chapel, Lewisham), Compline

Juventutem is not only for those already committed to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, but also seeks to introduce young Catholics who have not yet experienced this liturgy to their own heritage of worship, and the spirituality and culture that are part of this. This will be done in a way that is “user friendly”, with talks and literature aimed at educating and assisting those who are experiencing this liturgy for the first time. Everyone is welcome!

A special feature of Juventutem at this WYD will be chant workshops led by Scott Turkington. In particular, on Wed 16th July at 2.00pm, Mr Turkington will be conducting a special chant workshop for all pilgrims at St. Augustine's, an official WYD Youth Festival Activity. In preparation for this, Juventutem Australia will be holding a series of introductory chant workshops in Sydney during June titled “The EnCHANTment Project” which all are invited to attend – please visit www.juventutem-australia.com for further details.


In addition to pilgrims from around Australia, Juventutem now has participants registered for its WYD chapter from New Zealand, France, the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. We are still waiting to hear from our friends in the UK and Ireland, and a few other countries! It is still - barely! - not too late to register, but we need you to act now!

To register with Juventutem, go here.

Venite, fratres et sorores in Christo! Let us rendezvous in Melbourne, and then gather around our beloved Pope Benedict in Sydney. Godspeed!