Pope John Paul II Beatification - Come and Celebrate

Katrina Lee, Director, Catholic Communications
28 Apr 2011

Sydney will have the chance to celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II this Sunday, 1st May.

A live cross to Rome on a super size screen in the forecourt of St Mary's Cathedral will be the highlight of a special festival event from 12 noon.

The live webcast from Rome with Pope Benedict XVI will begin at 6.00pm following an afternoon of adoration and festivities.

This will include food stalls, music and entertainment with Gary Pinto and Polish dancers, an international photographic exhibition of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in the Cathedral and JP II documentaries on the big screen.

Being Divine Mercy Sunday, a special day in the life of JP II and the day he died, 2nd April 2005, there will be a special service in the Cathedral at 3.00pm. Adoration will also be available.

At 4.00pm Cardinal Pell will bless the bronze statue of John Paul II outside the western wall facing College Street. Then at 4.30pm Cardinal Pell will celebrate Mass with a number of Sydney's Polish priests and parish priests concelebrating.

John Paul II had a great affection for young people, initiating World Youth Day. It is then only appropriate for young people to play a significant role in this Mass. Some will carry the World Youth Day Sydney Cross into the Cathedral while others will take part in the readings.

John Paul II was admired by people of all faiths and even no faiths, evidenced by those who were in St Peter's Square for his funeral, still the largest funeral to be held anywhere in the world.

Hence those from many other faiths will be attending the Mass and watching the live webcast on Sunday where they will honour and respect not only a great Pope but a great world leader who helped deliver many thousands their freedom and their dignity.

Many from the Italian community and also the Polish community will be attending including Poland's Consul General, Daniel R. Gromann.

The beatification is also significant for Jewish people given Pope John Paul II's recognition of Holocaust memorials and religious sites and the importance he placed on Jewish and Catholic relations.

The President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Yasir Miller will be attending the Mass and the screening.

Just prior to 6.00pm we will cross live to Rome for the start of the Beatification Mass with full English commentary.

This webcast can also be seen live on the Archdiocese social network xt3.com or http://vioca.st/jp2beatification as well as on the Archdiocese website www.sydneycatholic.org .

So if you are anywhere in Sydney, Australia or the world you can watch this event.

However for those in Sydney who want to be part of the celebration of a man who has been called the greatest Pope of all and now on his way to sainthood, come and celebrate this Sunday, 1st May from 12 noon onwards. Bring your family, friends, people of other faiths and even non-believers - and a picnic blanket! Celebrate a man who touched millions.