A second year seminarian found himself an arm’s length away from the centre of attention on Friday night as more than 15,000 young people knelt down in Qudos Bank Arena in Adoration of the Lord.
Bijoy Joseph, a seminarian at Sydney’s Good Shepherd Seminary, was the ‘thurifer’ (the server who dispenses incense by swinging a ‘thurible’ or censer) who accompanied Bishop Columba Macbeth Green of Wilcannia-Forbes as he processed the Blessed Sacrament into the arena in an atmosphere of perfect stillness.
The former engineering consultant told The Catholic Weekly that it was a magical moment that he will always remember.
Bijoy was relieved to have performed his duties faultlessly in an evening widely-considered to be the best of the ACYF.
“When you’re kneeling there, there’s a lot of pressure,” Bijoy said.
“You’re trying to really pray and concentrate; you’re trying not to do anything wrong.
“Everyone was kneeling and as the Blessed Sacrament was passing by they would show their reverence, making the sign of the cross. And for me, that’s just the glory of the Lord.
“And Matt Maher, with his song too (Christ is Risen) – the moment was there.”
“It was incredible.”
All of the plenaries were streamed by xt3.com and are available on their YouTube channel.