For information about
the Passionists and the 2008 World Youth Day
Email wyd2008.cp@passionists.com
Two Young Australians wearing
Sydney 2008 World Youth Day jackets, kneel in front of Pope Benedict XVI
during an open-air Mass to celebrate the Palm Sunday in St. Peter's square
the Vatican, Sunday, April 9, 2006
| LETTER
OF PASSIONIST SUPERIOR GENERAL |
The Superior General of the
Passionists, Fr. Ottaviano D'Egidio, C.P., has written to the Passionists
about the 2008 World Youth Day.
In the letter Fr. Ottaviano
spoke of a special program to be offered for young people coming to Australia
from Passionist parishes, Shrines, Retreat Houses, youth groups and monasteries
around the world.
Read the letter of the Superior
General, Fr. Ottaviano here
| THE WORLD
YOUTH DAY CROSS AND THE ICON OF MARY |
The World Youth Day Cross
and the Icon of Mary which accompanies the Cross. The Icon is a representation
of the Icon "Salus Populi Romani" (Protectress of the Roman People) from
St. Mary Major in Rome. Before this Icon of Mary in September 1721
St. Paul of the Cross made a vow to promote the memory of the Passion of
Jesus and to work to gather companions to do the same.
Read more about the Icon
of Mary here
| NEW OFFICIAL
SITE OF 2008 WORLD YOUTH DAY |
The 2008 World Youth Day
is to be held in Sydney Australia from 15th - 20th July 2008.
The theme of the gathering
will be "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)
Visit the new official Site
of the 2008 World Youth Day here
| PROVINCE
2008 WORLD YOUTH DAY COMMITTEE |
The Holy Spirit Province
has appointed a 2008 World Youth Day Committee to prepare for the many
Passionists and young people who will be gathering in Sydney from Passionist
parishes, communities, shrines and retreat centres around the world.
The committee comprises of
Fr. John Pearce, C.P., (Endeavour Hills Community), Agnes Lichtor (Melbourne),
Michelle Reynolds (Youth Worker, St. Brigid's Parish, Marrickville), Fr.Gary
Perritt, C.P., (Marrickville Community) and Fr. Peter Gardiner, C.P., (Port
Augusta Community).
For more information about
the work and plans of the committee email
the coordinator, Fr. John Pearce, C.P. at the Passionist Community, Endeavour
Hills (Victoria, Australia).
Do you have any good ideas
for the Passionist gatherings which will take place at the 2008 World Youth
Day?
It would be very helpful
for the Province Committee to receive suggestions and ideas for WYD2008.
If you have a good idea (or at least think it is worth sharing) then please
email
it to the Committee.
| 21st WORLD
YOUTH DAY MESSAGE - 9th APRIL 2006 |
Read the message of Pope
Benedict XVI to the youth of the world on the occasion of the 21st World
Youth Day on 9th April 2006 - here
"And now, as the living presence
of the of the Risen Christ in our midst nourishes our faith and hope, I
am pleased to announce that the next World Youth Day will take place in
Sydney, Australia, in 2008. We entrust to the material guidance of Mary
most holy, the future course of the young people of the whole world" -
Pope Benedict XVI, 21st August 2005.
| WHAT IS
WORLD YOUTH DAY AND HOW DID IT START ? |
World Youth Day was an initiative
of Pope John Paul II, inspired by massive gatherings of young people in
Rome celebrating the Youth Jubilee in 1984 and the United Nations International
Year of Youth in 1985. He wanted to bring together young Catholics from
around the world to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular
basis. At that time Pope John Paul entrusted to the world's youth a symbol
of Christ's love for humanity "to be carried throughout the world": the
colossal wooden crucifix, now known as the 'World Youth Day Cross'.
The first World Youth Day
was held in Rome in 1986 on Palm Sunday, and each year World Youth Day
is celebrated at a Diocesan level on Palm Sunday. But every 2-3 years a
massive international gathering celebrates in a different "host city" -
Buenos Aires, Paris, Toronto, Manila and Denver have all been hosts. The
International World Youth Days are marked by a week long series of events
attended by the Pope and hundreds of thousands of youth from all over the
world.
| 2005 WORLD
YOUTH DAY IN COLOGNE, GERMANY |
At
the last World Youth Day in 2005 in Cologne, the German people saw a witness
of faith, hope and love on an unbelieveable scale when it welcomed: 435,000
registered pilgrims from 197 countries; 800 Bishops and Cardinals; 7,000
international journalists. An incredible 1.2 million people attended the
Final Mass.
| 2008 WORLD
YOUTH DAY IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA |
Sydney's World Youth Day
will be held from 15 - 20 July 2008, providing the forum for the inaugural
visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.
Its theme, handed down by
the Pope, will be "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)
World Youth Day 2008 will
commence with an Opening Mass, celebrated by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop
of Sydney. It will involve many elements of faith including Days of Encounter
in Dioceses throughout Australia, Catechesis, Adoration and Reconciliation,
Stations of the Cross and a Youth Festival. One highlight of the pilgrims'
overnight Vigil culminating in the Final Mass with the Pope. It is anticipated
that as many as 400,000 people will attend this Final Mass.
| 2008 WORLD
YOUTH DAY SCHEDULE |
Prior to Monday 14th July
2008
Days of Encounter spent
in the Dioceses of Australia
Monday 14th July 2008
Pilgrims arrive in Sydney
Tuesday 15th July 2008
Opening Mass celebrated
by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, followed by concerts.
Wednesday 16th July 2008
- Friday 18th July 2008
Catechesis by Bishops of
the world in language groups in 200-300 different venues throughout Sydney,
followed by Mass. Music, drama etc are used to animate the catechesis.
Thursday 17th July 2008
Official welcome to Pope
Benedict XVI at Circular Quay. The Pope will then travel up George
Street and give an address at the Town Hall
Friday 18th July 2008
Stations of the Cross held
in the streets of Sydney.
Saturday 19th July 2008
Pilgrimage to Homebush Olympic
Site over 5 bridges. Vigil with the Pope. Sleep overnight at the venue.
Sunday 20th July 2008
World Youth Day Mass with
Pope Benedict XVI
| AFTER SYDNEY
... PERHAPS KOREA ?? |
ROME, MARCH 30, 2006 (Zenit.org).-
Seoul's new cardinal has proposed the Korean peninsula as a candidate to
host a World Youth Day.
"[It] could give a considerable
boost also to priestly vocations among youth, who may consider the North
of the country as a field for their ministry," said Cardinal Nicholas Cheong
Jin-suk, archbishop of Seoul and apostolic administrator of Pyongyang.
Cardinal Cheong, 74, said
that he will "do everything possible" to have Korea host the next international-level
World Youth Day, after the 2008 event in Australia, reported AsiaNews.
In an interview with Chosun
Ilbo, the new cardinal said: "If South Korea manages to host World Youth
Day, we would naturally invite the Pope to come to visit our entire country."
Cardinal Cheong also commented
on the economic scandals that recently hit South Korea, in connection with
the alleged corruption of the management of Hyundai and other multinationals.
"The problem," the cardinal
said, "is that people are becoming too greedy and too attached to money."
Harvest
Youth Pilgrimages
Photos
of 2005 World Youth Day
Tourism,
New South Wales, Australia
Archdiocese
of Sydney, Australia
For information about the
Passionists and the 2008 World Youth Day
Email wyd2008.cp@passionists.com
HOMEPAGE