Religious Icon crosses the paths of Dandenong’s youth

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE WORLD Youth Day Cross and Icon visited Dandenong on Monday and Tuesday as part of one of the biggest Christian celebrations to hit Australia.
In an Olympic torch-style tour of Australia, the Cross and Icon have traversed most of the country and arrived in Dandenong at 5.30pm on Monday..
After a procession to St Mary’s Church, where it stayed overnight as local church groups conducted services and had time for veneration with the Cross and Icon, the religious symbols made their way to St John’s Regional College in Dandenong North where they were greeted – quite literally – with arms wide open.
World Youth Day ambassadors from the college, as well as other students, helped carry the Cross and Icon into the school grounds.
Schools from within the parish attended to conduct reflections and prayer services.
Grade six students from local primary schools also attended the Cross and Icon event.
World Youth Day will take place in Sydney in June with the Pope Benedict XVI visiting to hold a special service with World Youth Day pilgrims from around Australia and the world.