Sunday December 30, 2001, was a miraculous day at the Sacred Heart Church, Elphinstone. It was the arrival of the World Youth Cross in our little community that created a colossal stir among all that attended. It was a memorial evening, one that will be imprinted on our hearts forever. The most dramatic event was the reaction of our youth. Once the cross was brought through the door the youth took over. Twelve young men and women, carrying the Cross, processed slowly down the aisle, to the front of the church. As the Cross was slowly raised, the youth gathered in front of the Cross and with upturned radiant faces looked with reverence at the Cross as if they were seeing something that the rest of us could not see.

The whole church was quiet as we all looked on with the same awe as the youth. The silence in the church was overpowering. After several minutes the silence was broken by the cry of a small child. This brought us back to reality. Was the cry of the child symbolic? Remember what Jesus said," Let the children come to me and do not hinder them." The prayers that followed were passionately said by all that attended.

Each of us was given the opportunity to visit the Cross. In turn we approached the Cross, touched it, baring our souls. On touching the Cross, our innermost feelings became a feeling pf peace and tranquilness. A feeling that comes back again and again when we think of the cross. Following the prayers, all attending stayed for the luncheon. During the luncheon many comments were made about the Cross. Some of them were: I feel so uplifted! Would not have missed this for anything in the world! I still have that strange feeling of peace!"

The presence of the Cross has erased any doubts that the youth might have had about World Youth Days. Listening to their rhapsodic comments showed that they are bound an determined to be with Pope John Paul II in Toronto in July, 2002. The Cross remained in the church over night. After all had left, the lit candles at the base of the Cross were extinguished. They were double checked to make sure they were out.

In the morning when we arrived to take down the Cross, three candles remained burning all night.Coincidental! Who knows? The presence of the Cross was a very dramatic event in the community.

We must thank our Deacon Conrad Plante for its presence. We must also thank Jeannine Plante for her help in the preparation of the Cross' surrounding. As a last thought, the event took place at 10:00 p.m. A late hour but over 80 people were not concerned with the time. Their determination and devoutness was well worth because the event brought such an uplift. Just to see the radiant faces of our youth was enough to justify our attendance.