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World Youth Day - Australia 2008
Since 1984 there have been World Youth Days each year on both an international and diocesan level. In 2008 the World Youth Day will be celebrated in Sydney. Never before has WYD been held in Oceania, and only once has it been held in the southern hemisphere. By being in this region, the Church and her young people throughout this region will be able to participate in and be renewed by WYD in a way never before experienced. WYD08 will be held in the Land of the Holy Spirit - The first European explorers called Australia "The Southern Land of the Holy Spirit". In July 10 young people from our Parish will be travelling with Fr Martin to Australia for World Youth Day, in total there will be 80 young people from our Diocese there.
"Now thanks to your support and generous donations our young people have raised enough to take them all to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008."
Over the past 18 months our young people have been working hard to raise funds to contribute to their fares. Fund raising events over these months have included: Cake Stalls, Quizzes, Barbecues, Raffles, and Sponsored Events. Now thanks to your support and generous donations our young people have raised enough to take them all to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008. A staggering £10,000.00 has been raised for which they thank you all.
Their Pilgrimage starts on July 5th so please keep them all in your prayers.
Prayers for World Youth Day 2008
God Our Father,
we consecrate to you the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.
Guide and protect Pope Benedict and all the leaders of the Church.
Inspire and direct all those leading and planning the World Youth Day. Unite and protect them by your fatherly care.
Amen
Lord Jesus Christ,
before you ascended to the Father,
you promised to send your Holy Spirit so that we might be your witnesses to the end of the earth.
Bless and multiply the efforts of all our staff and volunteers.
Help us to take up our cross and follow you
under the heavenly sign of the Southern Cross.
Amen
Holy Spirit,
pour out your grace on this Great South Land
of the Holy Spirit and grant to us a New Pentecost.
Make of this land a true place of welcome
for the young people of the world.
Grant to those young people who come conversion of life,
a deeper faith, and love for all.
Enable them to build a new civilization of life, love and truth.
Make them true witnesses to your power and grace. Amen
Itinery
Saturday 5 July - Flight with Qantas Airways from London to Sydney
Monday 7 July - Arrival Sydney and onward flight to Townsville
Tuesday 8 July to Saturday 12 July - Days in the Diocese of Townsville including Masses with Hosts and at Townsville Cathedral, Billabong Sanctuary visit, Social Service Activities and Island Tour via bus and ferry
Monday 14 July - Flight from Townsville to Sydney
Tuesday 15 July - WYD programme in Sydney including Opening Mass at site of the Olympics.
Wednesday 16 July - WYD programme in Sydney.
Thursday 17 July - WYD Sydney including official welcome of Pope Benedict XVI.
Friday 18 July - WYD Sydney including Stations of the Cross.
Saturday 19 July - Depart for overnight vigil at Randwick Race Course.
Sunday 20 July - Final Mass with Pope Benedict XVI.
Monday 21 July - Free day in Sydney and Farewell dinner
Tuesday 22 July - Flight from Sydney to London.
Catch up with our pilgrims' news on the Diocesan Youth Service blog »
Our pilgrims
Fr Martin
David Cardy
Lizzie Cheesman
Kilian Collender
Ryan Davis
Stephen Dunne
Paul Gorzelak
Bethan Herlihy
Laura Herlihy
Gloria Whisenant
Henry Whisenant
The facts
In 1984, Pope John Paul II announced 1985 as a Jubilee year for the Catholic Church. In an effort to recognize the growing youth of the Church, he invited them from around the world to travel to Rome for Palm Sunday. He declared that day to be the first World Youth Day, and that the youth should go back to their home towns and communities and celebrate their new-found fellowship and continue the tradition for each year to follow.
Since then there have been World Youth Days each year on both an international and diocesan level. In 2008 the World Youth Day will be celebrated in Sydney.
World Youth Days in the past have been celebrated all over the world. Past WYD venues include Cologne in Germany, Rome in Italy, Toronto in Canada, Paris in France, Manila in the Philippines and Denver in the U.S.A.