Parramatta’s streets fill with flags, palms, smiles and song

Annual Palm Sunday procession and World Youth Day celebrations.
The procession commenced at Parramatta Town Hall with the blessing of palms and ended at St Patrick's Cathedral. Photos: Adrian Middeldorp.

Posted on 21 March 2016

Parramatta CBD came to a standstill as hundreds of Catholics from Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains filled the streets for the annual Palm Sunday procession.

The procession commenced at Parramatta Town Hall with the blessing of palms and featured groups of young people from Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta schools and youth from parishes across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

To view photos of the event click here

The Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter G Williams, reminded the young people that Palm Sunday processions have been recorded as far back as the 4th Century AD.

The procession finished at 6pm with Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

A display of Polish dancing.

A display of Polish dancing.

After the Mass, 300 pilgrims who will be representing the Diocese of Parramatta at World Youth Day in Krakow in July celebrated with dinner and cultural performances of Filipino and Polish dancing.

In a suspense filled lead-up, Fr Andrew Fornal OP drew the winner of the WYD raffle. Fr Andrew is a WYD Krakow Chaplain and Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Parish at Kingswood.

Congratulations to all the prize winners.

First prize – M Alba: Toyota Yaris 5 door automatic (supplied by Terry Shields Toyota, Parramatta);

Second prize – A d’Souza: Cosmos European 2016 Tour for two to the value of $6000 (donated by Cosmos);

Third prize – D Bent: Apple iPad Mini (donated by Campion College Australia – offering Australia’s first Catholic BA, in the Liberal Arts);

Fourth prize – C Tolentino: Cash prize of $500 (donated by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu); and

Fifth prize – S Matic: Apple Watch (donated by Catholic Church Insurance Ltd).

Prize winners will be published in the April 2016 issue of Catholic Outlook, the official magazine of the Diocese of Parramatta.

The Diocese will be taking two pilgrimages to WYD in Krakow – one via the Philippines and one via Poland, the homeland of St John Paul II.

Full travel details, including pricing, are now available. Young people aged 16-35 are invited to register online here

For more information contact

Mark Tuffy, Executive Officer for WYD 2016 in the Diocese of Parramatta: mtuffy@parra.catholic.edu.au

James Camden, Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta: JCamden@parra.catholic.org.au

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