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Wherever they go in their epic pilgrimage across Australia, the symbols of World Youth Day 2008 - the Cross & Icon and an Indigenous Message Stick - are catalysts for local faith communities to draw on the unique character of their people and place.
From 14-16 April this year, these WYD symbols returned to the Diocese of Parramatta for the third time. The visit was marked by faith encounters that were fresh and diverse in character.
Reaching the Diocese by road, the symbols had by then journeyed almost 45,000km through more than 180 communities and been the focus of 400 prayerful encounters.
At Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in Penrith, the WYD08 symbols were received with joy and reverence by local Aboriginal people, whose numbers include members of the Stolen Generations.
Many Aboriginal families had come to participate and the rooms were filled with children of all ages who helped carry the symbols.
The Message Stick is an invitation from the Cadigal people of the Eora Nation to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to join in the celebration of World Youth Day.
An accompanying audio-visual presentation reminded this younger generation of Pope John Paul II's 1986 speech at Alice Springs and his pledge that the Church in Australia "will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life, and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others".
The most poignant moment of this visit was the staging of The Stations of The Cross. Led by Fr Phil Medlin CSsR, this was an Indigenous interpretation of Christ's passion, its text speaking to the pain felt by many of the Stolen Generations that in crucifixion Jesus "was dying in the wrong way - not on a death bed but on a cross".
Projected on to a wall were the striking paintings of the 14 Stations by Miriam Rose, an Ungunmerr-Baumann woman born near Daly River, NT, in 1950.
At Echo Point, Katoomba, the symbols were welcomed to country by smoking and water ceremonies conducted by elders of the Darug and Gundungurra people.
Young people from the local schools carried the symbols to the edge of the Megalong Valley, where the 3.6m cross was framed against the misty backdrop of the Three Sisters, whose very name refers to a Dreamtime story.
"As descendants of the ancient people who walked proudly in this land, we welcome you," said Lynette Stranger, a member of the local Land Council.
"Deep peace of the billabong, deep peace of the shining stars to you, deep peace of the shades of night to you, and the deep peace of Christ, the Son of Peace, to you all."
Accompanied by elders Dianne Usher, Geoff Cooper, Jacinta Tobin and her son Jasper, Lyn Stranger explained how this spectacular vista had an ancient association with Aboriginal women's business.
Water and gum leaves used for the women's and men's ceremonies had come from "the gully", a place at the headwaters of the Kadumba River, which Aboriginal people had continuously occupied until their forced eviction by local authorities in 1957.
The gully was later developed as a motor racetrack but Lyn said that its subsequent restoration to bushland and recognition as an Aboriginal cultural place by NSW National Parks Authority shows that attitudes do change for the better.
At few kilometres away at St Canice's Church, Katoomba, the arrival of the WYD08 symbols was celebrated with Mass and veneration, which saw the church filled to capacity with worshippers.
Parish priest Fr John Smith told the congregation that the Cross was "a symbol of the love of Christ for each of us personally - our salvation and everlasting story".
The Icon of Our Lady and the Christ Child, he said, is known as Salus Populi Romani - "the salvation and hope of the Roman people. But she is also the Salus Populi of Christian people everywhere".
At the conclusion of Mass, parishioners queued for veneration and private prayer with the symbols. Fr John expressed his gratitude at the presence of the Cross & Icon at St Canice's, where the parish has a special devotion to our Lady of Succour.
Another congregation of hearty mountain folk could be found further up the mountains at the small and historic church of St Paul at Mount Victoria in the parish of Blackheath.
Inside the weatherboard church the atmosphere was one of intimacy. The weather had closed in and although the prayer meeting and veneration occurred at mid-afternoon, a thick white cloud had settled over the town.
Due to a local power blackout the interior of the church was lit wholly by flicking candlelight, creating a contemplative atmosphere.
The Cross was too large to stand in the church so it was laid prone on the altar steps where worshippers approached individually.
Sr Lyn Eastmure OP, Blackheath's Pastoral Director, led the congregation in prayer and reflection. "For all we meet in our day's journey, empower us to love them as you love us, enlarge our hearts with compassion, bend what is rigid in us, relieve our confusion, give us your wider fresher vision."
In their personal venerations the parishioners were given the choice of native flowers to adorn the Cross and Icon.
Heather Carroll, the WYD organiser for Blackheath, noted in the logbook carried by the WYD team, "You've travelled all around the world, but don't you look lovely dressed in green and gold."
At the afternoon tea that followed, parishioner Carmen Beard said there was no precedent for the visitation of the Cross & Icon.
"I didn't really expect they would bring them to our tiny church. These are icons that have travelled so far for the faith, it's a great gift and a blessing to have them with us.
Carmen was at World Youth Day in Czestochowa, Poland, in 1991 and said it was one of the most amazing experiences of her life.
She has registered for the HomeStay program for WYD08 and will host some of the Lithuanian Franciscan Youth pilgrims in her home during the festivities.
At St Monica's Parish, Richmond, the theme was ecumenical. For parish priest Fr Walter Fogarty, the arrival of the Cross & Icon in the Hawkesbury was an opportunity to involve the wider community in the WYD pilgrimage.
"You can't stage anything in Richmond without involving the whole community, so we invited the other churches and civic leaders to join us in celebrating our universal symbols," Fr Walter said.
Mayor Bart Bassett gave a civic welcome at St Monica's Primary School where students in Years 5 and 6 carried the symbols into the church.
Louise Marcus MP, Member for Greenway, was also in attendance, and Pastor
Ralph Parnwell from Life Christian Centre read one of the prayers.
This year Richmond parish celebrates 150 years since its foundation, and it was on the shoulders of the next generation that the WYD symbols were carried.
Along with traditional Anglo-Celtics, were by youth of Filipino, Indonesian, Maltese and Lebanese descent. There was the participation of many extended families too, including great-grandparents.
About 700 parishioners came to the church to pray and reflect. There was symbolism too in the passing-on ceremony, as the Culican family, being one of Richmond's youngest families, passed on the Cross & Icon to the new parish of Rouse Hill
"The linkage is between old and new, and the sense of shared faith and fellowship that we pass on with the Cross," Fr Walter said. "Just as we are 150 years strong in our faith here in Richmond we pray that the new community at Rouse Hill will be blessed and grow in faith that is just as strong."
Storm clouds did not dampen the spirits of the faithful who gathered to welcome the Cross & Icon at the site of the new parochial district of Our Lady of the Angels, Rouse Hill, on 16 April.
A crowd of about 200 gathered on the vacant corner block to welcome the WYD08 symbols, carried by local children. Priest in charge, Fr Warren Edwards, blessed the site, praying with the people for God's guidance in this new venture.
"Father, through the spirit of your Son you form us into a spiritual house where you make your dwelling place. Inspire in us, from hope, that the building we will be commencing, with your blessing, will be brought to completion with your protection. Labour to shape and polish us into living stones until you make us worthy to be built into a new and holy Jerusalem."
The Catholic community has been worshipping in nearby St Gregory's Armenian School. Pending final approval by Council, work on the new site on the corner of Commercial and Withers roads will see a temporary church erected this year, with the completed church to open in 2010.
Flanked by the Cross & Icon, Fr Warren spoke of "the new evangelisation" involved in founding a new Christian community "that can be a very beacon of light to the people of Rouse Hill".
He prayed for the intercession of Mary "in the building up of this church" named in her honour.
As the surrounding housing estates show, Rouse Hill is still expanding, and transforming from a rural to a suburban community.
Parishioners such as Mary Stenning, a teacher with young children, look forward to the day when the church and parish school are completed.
"We want very much for this community to grow and develop," she said. "There are a lot of young families in the area now, and sending our children to a Catholic school is a priority. Today's visit by the Cross & Icon really affirms our hopes for the future."
Later that day, the Cross & Icon travelled to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Greystanes, where testimonies were followed by the Stations of the Cross. Nine priests from surrounding parishes assisted in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
There was also the opportunity for private veneration of the Cross & Icon. All of the activities were well attended, with many worshippers staying for the entire night's events.
The evening culminated with Mass concelebrated by Fr Chris Ryan MGL (leader of the Journey of the Cross & Icon team), Fr Gerry Iverson (parish priest of Greystanes), Fr Robert Riedling (assistant priest), Fr Geoff Dickinson, and Fr Darko Znidarsic OFM, rector of the Slovenian Catholic community at Merrylands.