Wheels Up!!!

Alright folks....ready or not here we come! As promised I wanted to share most of our itinerary with you. Please remember to pray for us. God is already working in very visible ways in our lives. We will keep all of you in our prayers as we go. Feel free to share prayer intentions with us in the comments section. I hope to post again in LA and then in a few days when we get settled into Brisbane. Here is the itinerary:

Saturday, July 5th
5:30 PM – Send-off Mass at STA; all teens and families will sit together for this Mass
6:30 PM – Pot Luck dinner in Zurek Hall

Sunday, July 6th
12:30 PM – Meet in Youth Room
1:00 PM – Depart for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Arrive at IAH and Check in for flight to Los Angeles
5:45 PM – Board Flight to LA departing at 6:15PM; Flight time is 3 hrs 25 min;
7:40 PM PST – Arrive at LAX and meet with group from Diocese of Phoenix, AZ
11:20 PM PST – Depart on Flight for Brisbane, Australia

Monday, July 7th
Day lost due to traveling International Date Line

Tuesday, July 8th
6:05 AM (GMT +10 hrs) – Arrive in Brisbane; Meet with officials from Quest and Harvest Travel groups for transport to St. Joseph’s Nudgee College for the Youth Arise Festival that begins on July 10th ; After arriving and getting settled into our accommodations the remainder of the day is available for sleep or sightseeing around Brisbane as a group.


Wednesday, July 9th
- After breakfast and Mass, we will travel by bus to the Australia Zoo. We will spend the day there to take in the sites and the sounds of Australia’s exotic animals. Pilgrims should bring approximately $30 Aus for lunch and dinner on this day.

Thursday, July 10th
Youth Arise Festival

Friday, July 11th
Youth Arise Festival

Saturday, July 12th
Youth Arise Festival

Sunday, July 13th
Youth Arise Festival concludes with a concert including Matt Maher. The event ends at 9:30PM

Monday, July 14th
3:30 AM – Depart for Brisbane airport; Transportation on our own as group
5:55 AM – Board and Depart on flight from Brisbane to Sydney, Australia
7:25 AM – Arrive in Sydney; We will be met by Quest Travel group representatives who will escort us to our transport to our accommodations. We will have a light orientation on the way.
UNK – Arrive at accommodations in Sydney, Australia. We will be staying at The McLaren Hotel. It is five minutes from Central by train and to Mary McKillop church where the pilgrimage walk will start. This hotel is just 20 minutes from the airport and less than fifteen minutes to the city where all the WYD Festivities will take place. This hotel is close to the Bridge & Opera House (15 minutes).

- The remainder of the day will be available for sleep and sightseeing around Sydney as a group

Tuesday, July 15th
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Youth Festival at sites throughout the city (no activities during the opening Mass)
4:30PM – 6:30 PM - WYD Opening Mass of Welcome by Cardinal George Pell at Olympic Stadium. A concert follows the Mass

Wednesday, July 16th
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Youth Festival at sites throughout the city
6:30 PM – A group of us (or all who are interested) will travel to Bondi Beach (about 45 min by city transportation) for a concert by Matt Maher with the Franciscan Friars at 6:30PM

Thursday, July 17th
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Youth Festival at sites throughout the city
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Arrival and welcome of the Pope at Bangaroo and City Sites

Friday, July 18th
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Youth Festival at sites throughout the city
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Stations of the Cross throughout Sydney

Saturday, July 19th
5:30 AM – 5:00 PM – Pilgrimage walk to Southern Cross precinct – Randwick Racecourse
8:15 AM – Gathering at The Domain with all U.S. Pilgrims
9:00 AM – Mass with all U.S. Pilgrims celebrated by Francis Cardinal George, OMI, President of USCCB
10:30 AM – Meet with Bishops from the U.S.
11:00 AM – Depart for Randwick to claim assigned spots for Papal Mass on Sunday
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Evening Vigil with the Pope at Randwick Racecourse and sleep under the stars

Sunday, July 20th
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM – Final Mass with Pope Benedict at Southern Cross Precinct – Randwick Racecourse

Monday, July 21st
- This day is available for sightseeing around Sydney as a group

Tuesday, July 22nd
1:25 PM – Depart aboard Flight to LAX.

9:45 AM – Arrive at LAX. Clear Customs and Immigration. Re-claim Luggage. Go to Terminal #6 for Flight to IAH
12:35 PM – Depart aboard Flight to IAH
5:59 PM – Arrive at IAH; Claim luggage and meet transportation at Baggage Claim at Terminal C
7:15 PM (Being optimistic here) – Depart for College Station
9:00 PM – Arrive at STA