Capital C

World Youth Day 2008
World Youth Day (WYD) is a six-day Catholic pilgrimage that cultivates spirituality and promotes identity among Catholic young adults all over the world. WYD is held every three years in a different country and celebrates young adulthood and Catholic faith. Millions of Catholic young adults, hundreds of priests, and Pope Benedict XVI will be participating in next year’s WYD.

The quick facts concerning World Youth Day
Location: Sydney, Australia
Dates: July 15-July 20, 2008
Cost: $3,500 per person
Travel: Various approaches

World Youth Day will be held next summer 2008 and hosted by the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia from Tuesday, July 15 through Sunday, July 20, 2008. These dates do not include the “Days of the Diocese” programs. Since World Youth Day will be so far and so expensive (approximately $3,500 per person) there will be no official trip planned through the Office of Young Adult Ministry, although I will most likely attend as the diocesan representative of Young Adult Ministry.

If individual parish young adult ministries decide to participate in the pilgrimage to Sydney then it would be highly recommend that fund-raising begin immediately to help defray the cost. It may also prove beneficial if several parishes coordinate their efforts within each deanery to have more “bargaining power” in negotiating airfare and hotel accommodations. Moreover, please keep in mind that there are many possible avenues for traveling to Sydney and the direct approach (Austin to Houston to Los Angeles to Sydney) might not be available due to the large amounts of people traveling from all over the world. Therefore, creative traveling may be necessary, for instance (Austin to Phoenix to Queenstown, New Zealand to Sydney) OR (Austin to San Francisco to Honolulu to Melbourne, Australia to Sydney). The point is that many traditional flight arrangements will not be readily accessible because of the pilgrims who will be flying in and out of Sydney. Finally, keep in touch with the Archdiocese of Sydney’s website (www. sydney.catholic.org) and the WYD website (www.wyd2008.org) for further information and details. In whatever you decide concerning World Youth Day 2008, know that I am praying for you and your ministry.

God bless and God’s speed,
Josie