Final WYD Mass

Tom at Cuatro Vientos

Hi all, Tom B here from Huon Valley Parish.

The Final WYD Mass was an incredible experience.  Whilst it was slightly uncomfortable and we couldn't always see what was happening, when two million people went completely silent during the Consecration, I felt the presence of God as I had never before.  Suddenly, the fact that the freezing night (filled with rain, thunder, lightning and very loud Brazillians) felt very worth it.  The evening, and following morning and final Mass, was still filled with many more challenges and highlights, so read on for a full account of our adventures and misadventures of the night before.

Things seemed to go pear shaped as soon as we walked into Cuatro Vientos (where the final Mass was to be held).  The Spanish organisers (being spanish), seemed to have underestimated the numbers, and the main venue where we had supposed to have been staying was already full when we arrived and the police had closed it off.  As a result, we had to sit in the unregistered area, further away from the action than originally anticipated.  However, we were right next to a speaker (which was at times a hinderence as it kept me awake for half the bloody night), we could also see a screen showing what was happening on the main altar etc, and close access to water and toilets.

Being away from the action was a pain, but we still managed to have a lot of fun!  We had a water fight and danced very badly to the music that was playing for the next couple of hours, and tried to start conversations with the Spanish girls sitting next to us.  However, they didn't speak english....it got awkward.

One of my favourite parts of the night was the thunderstorm.  About an hour after it got dark, we heard a loud rumble from the horizon, followed by a brilliant flash of lightning.  Several minutes later this was followed by driving sheets of rain.  Ironically, this became the best part of the evening, as we huddled together under anything waterproof that we could find.  The garbage bags that we had used as picnic rugs were converted into makeshift shelters and blankets pretty quickly.  There were a lot of interesting conversations happening that night.

The only really bad part of the evening was finding out that since some of the chapels bearing the blessed sacrament were destroyed in the thunderstorm, we would not receive the Lord the following morning during Mass.  We were all very saddened by that.

When the rain finally stopped and we had all snuggled deep into our garbage bags, we had one more challenge to overcome.  At about 1am, about a hundred or so Brazilians decided to start a dance.....with drums!!  I had some very unchristian thoughts at that time, however, after half an hour I thought 'what the hell' and joined in.  I didn't go back to bed for another hour.

The next morning we had the Mass, and it all became worth it.  When two million people just stop talking all at once, it is an eerie but awe-some experience.  And when they all kneel to worship our Lord in the Eucharist, a sense of the presence of God comes through in a way that is impossible to describe with words.

Anyways, I've gotta go, the group is about to move and if I keep droning on, I'll lose them.  Goodbye everyone, see you very soon.

God bless,

Tom