Welcome Mates
Newcastle Herald
Saturday July 5, 2008
NEWCASTLE'S Elroy Aguiar, 21, and James Elliott, 22, are both hosting overseas pilgrims in their Newcastle homes and will go as a group to join in the celebrations of their faith.
"It's exciting to share our faith with others and learn about their faith also," Elliott said.Although he has taken part in previous religious camps and festivals, Elliott says World Youth Day "will be like nothing I've ever seen before".Three thousand pilgrims are expected in Newcastle before and during the celebrations and Aguiar's parish has many activities planned for their visitors.The Maitland-Newcastle diocese will stage a Corroboree at the Foreshore Park on Saturday, July 12, from 11am to 5pm.The pilgrims will also help out at Hunter Catholic primary schools, meet elderly people in nursing homes and attend local churches.Aguiar, who will be a pilgrim leader, is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to meet other young people."We all have the one faith, it's just that each culture shares a different style," he said.The final day of celebration is expected to attract 500,000 people at the mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.Just "the spirit of being there" will be enough for Aguiar.The two men will join hundreds of other pilgrims in the walk across the Harbour Bridge on July 19 and both say they are not worried about potential protesters."I'm quite accepting of people with a different point of view, as long as they don't interrupt our celebrations," Aguiar said. Natasha Squarey
© 2008 Newcastle Herald