Workplace 32 - Crowded Control

A few years ago young Catholics from around the world descended on Sydney like a well behaved invasion. The overrun for those that didn’t fit in Sydney came to Brisbane and, presumably, other capital cities, for what was known as WYD SYD or World Youth Day. This is a catholic thing celebrating…youth? I’m not entirely sure. Oh wait, I have Wikipedia! Here you go:

“World Youth Day was initiated by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is celebrated diocesan level annually, and at a week-long international level every two to three years at different locations. The international level events attract hundreds of thousands of youth from almost every country on the planet. It is a major part of the upsurge in Catholic Youth Work in some countries over recent years; for example, the Director of Catholic Youth Services for England and Wales has said of the event that it would have far-reaching effects, not restricted to those who attended.”

Wow. New thing every day.

So as part of WYDSYD in Brisbane, henceforth known as WYDBRIS (hmmm…) there’s this epic walk of thousands of young people from all the major churches through the CBD ending up at a catholic funpark and concert in Roma St Parklands. Each of the churches and the route were all prepped ages in advanced, roads blocked off that sort of thing and I got to be the venue manager for Albert St Uniting Church on the corner of Albert and Ann St. 

Albert St Uniting is a BEAUTIFUL old church. Not big and cathedrally but very cute and full of gorgeous little touches, stained glass windows, massive old organ etc. And it’s been there for 160 years! So the city grew up around it and it’s now hidden in amongst massive hi-rises but it’s such a cute little church. You should go visit. Take your Mum.

Anyway. So we get there nice and early and the different schools/tour/groups of catholics from around the world start gradually arriving. About 50-100 people per group and I think I had 4 different groups. Regardless the church was paaaaacked! They held a mini service and did a heap of worship songs while they were waiting for the walking procession to reach us.

Albert St was the last church for the procession and so it was ungraciously dubbed Fat Alberts as all the groups that had people that couldn’t make the full walking route were sent there. Please don’t be offended by this, it was just too convenient to not do it.

I remember while we were waiting for the main group to arrive, I became quite concerned that the church was actually going to fall apart. There were SO many people squashed in, all around the balconys upstairs and sitting on the stairs – just anywhere they could get in. And they were dancing and stomping and clapping like crazy in the excitement of all being together and worshiping in a foreign country. There was a lot of shaking of the building going on and I wasn’t sure I wanted this beautiful old churches destruction on my conscience!  Fortunately those builders knew what they were doing as the church is still there. The walking procession arrived and we all piled out into the street to watch it pass and join in at the end. I think it took a good half hour for it to go past but was entertaining to watch. Each countries group was trying to be more decorative and outlandish than the next so there were some funny things going on. Finally we were going and walked slowly up to Roma St Parklands. My favourite was these three girls who stopped to get a photo and more and more people kept jumping in the shot so it ended up being a photo of about 30-40 people by the time she could take the picture. This happened to every photo anyone tried to take of their friends walking. Was hilarious seeing people hurl themselves at any posed group.

The actual WYDBRIS park event was great. Big stage, some of the more important Catholics talking, there were stalls and food vendors and some activities scattered around and hundreds and hundreds (thousands?) of young people just having fun. Awesome.

So, working on a one-off international event is fun but challenging in terms of communicating with people who speak other languages. And the fear of destroying a heritage building is a bit nerve racking. Being a part of an event with a thousand ecstatic young people that didn’t need security is fantastic tho. Fun, friendly vibes all round =)