Preparation for World Youth Day

The kids are on school holidays last week and next week. I worked last week so Katie was at home with the boys. I did have Wednesday off and took them for hair cuts and Thomas conned the hairdresser into having the front of his hair blonded. Watch out for that boy with the ladies in a few years time! He is very convincing. Mind you she liked that he knew what he wanted and took care about how he looked. Toby never got his hair cut, I never made an appointment for him and seeing as how his brother got away with having blonde foils he has asked for the same at his appointment next week. Just as well I work to pay for these extravagances!

Last night Katie and I attended Mass at the Christchurch Catholic Cathedral.

Before heading to Sydney for World Youth Day many international pilgrims arrived in Christchurch to take part in Days of the Diocese for a week before heading to Sydney this weekend. Last night was a mass for all overseas pilgrims and Christchurch Pilgrims. Wow, it was packed to overflowing with over 1000 people present. I told Katie it was just a taste of what was to come for her in Sydney next week but times the number of people present by 25!

The Bishop - Barry Jones - lead the service with many priests in attendance, many of them from other countries who had travelled here with their pilgrim groups. It was lovely to see all the other cultures and all wearing some form of WYD branded clothing from their own country to distinguish them from other groups.























































You can click on the above photos to get a closer enlarged view.