Area kids off to Oz for World Youth Day

Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie
News Release

********************

Once again, the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie is preparing to send a delegation of young people from the diocese to the world's largest adult Catholic faith event, World Youth Day (WYD) 2008. This Festival of Faith will take place in Sydney, Australia.

The Holy Father invites young adults, between the ages of 18 and 35, to gather with him every three years to celebrate their faith with young adults from over 190 countries. World Youth Day, 2008, is the 23rd World Youth Day since its inception in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. WYD has been held in Buenos Aires (1987), Santiago de Compostela (1989), Czestochowa (1991), Denver (1993), Manila (1995), Paris (1997), Rome (2000 Jubilee), Toronto (2002), and Cologne (2005).

World Youth Day, 2008, will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted, and will attract more than 125,000 international visitors. For the youth from the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, WYD08 consists of a seventeen day pilgrimage, including four days in Melbourne for “Days in the Diocese”, and eleven days in Sydney, including the five for World Youth Days.

“World Youth Day gives young people an opportunity to share their faith in a real world experience”, says Fr. Pat Woods of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. “Young, like-minded people share a common experience, and bring faith and cultural traditions home to their respective Diocese”.

The theme of WYD08 is taken from the Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses”. WYD08 includes catechesis, prayer, music, presentations and skits. The festival culminates with a pilgrim walk to a place of prayer where all the young people will gather together for a vigil prayer service, music, and fellowship under the stars. WYD08 concludes with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's message to the pilgrims during the Papal Mass and the announcement of location of the next World Youth Day.

How will WYD08 compare to previous World Youth Days? “The Holy Spirit meets us where we're at. The experience of this year's WYD will be as beneficial as any other”, responds Fr. Woods.

The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie will be sending a youth delegation from Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and North Bay to journey to Sydney, Australia on July 8, 2008. WYD08 will undoubtedly be the experience of a lifetime for all.

********************