World Youth Day

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For the International Youth Day holiday, see International Youth Day. World Youth Day 2000 in Rome

World Youth Day (It. La Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù) is a youth oriented Roman Catholic Church promotional event aimed at young people. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, young people are invited without discrimination.[1] World Youth Day is not associated with International Youth Day or any of the international observance days.

World Youth Day was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1984. It is celebrated on a diocesan level annually, and at a week-long international level every two to three years at different locations. The international level events attract hundreds of thousands of youth from almost every country on the planet. It is a major part of the upsurge in Catholic Youth Work in some countries over recent years; for example, the Director of Catholic Youth Services for England and Wales has said of the event that it would have far-reaching effects, not restricted to those who attended.[2]

1 Origin
2 Purpose
3 World Youth Day 2008
4 Chronology of celebrations
- 4.1 International
- 4.2 Diocesan
5 Typical schedule of events (International level celebrations)
6 References
7 External links

Origin

Antonio María Rouco Varela speaking in a catechesis during the Pope's visit in Bavaria

In the months before the Extraordinary Synod, John Paul II took the occasion of the United Nations' International Youth Year to launch one of the signature initiatives of his pontificate-the World Youth Days that would draw millions of young people on pilgrimage to Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Oceania.[3]

The idea of the World Youth Day, the Pope remembered, could be traced back to his young friends in Srodowisko and their exploration of the personal and vocational dynamics of adolescence and young adulthood.[4] His early papal pilgrimages, in Italy and abroad, had convinced him that a pastoral strategy of accompaniment with young people was as valid for a pope as it had been for a fledgling priest.

Srodowisko[5], a term suggested by Wojtyla himself in the 1960, is now used as a self-description by a group of some 200 men and women, many of them married couples with grandchildren, which first began take shape during his university Chaplaincy at St. Florian's Church in Krakow's old town, in Poland. Srodowisko does not translate easily. "Environment" is one possibility, but John Paul II prefers more humanistic "milieu." In any case, what would later come to be known as Srodowisko involved the fusing of several networks of young adults and young married couples with whom Father Wojtyla worked. The earliest of these called it self Rodzinka, or "little family." A later group of Wojtyla youngsters called themselves Paczka, "packet" or "parcel." Srodowisko saw youth groups evolve into networks of intellectual conversation. Both youngsters and intellectuals got involved in vacation excursions. The word itself maybe hard to translate, but that this network of friendships was crucial in shaping the ideas and the ministry of Karol Wojtyla the priest, the bishop, ultimately, the pope, is indisputable.

John Paul II marked the UN's International Youth Year and his Palm Sunday, 1985, meeting with young people in Rome with an Apostolic Letter, To the Youth of the World, which mixed reminiscence, exhortation, and the Pope's phenomenological approach to anything human in fairly equal proportions.

Beginning in 1987, and continuing biennially, World Youth Day was celebrated with the Pope at an international venue to which the young of the world would be invited. On the even-numbered "off" years, World Youth Day is celebrated in the dioceses.[6]

Purpose

Vatican City €2 commemorative coin of 2005 celebrating the Cologne World Youth Day

The stated purposes of World Youth Day are:

Gathering together
Putting trust in the young
Meeting the international world on a human level

World Youth Day 2008

Main article: World Youth Day 2008

Australia was chosen as the site of the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations. The decision was made by Pope Benedict XVI during the conclusion ceremonies of the 2005 World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany.[7]

The occasion will mark only the fourth Papal visit to the country, and has been commended by the then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.[8]

The theme of World Youth Day 2008 will be "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts1:8)

World Youth Day 2008 will be held in Randwick, Sydney. Most activity will occur within Randwick Racecourse which has been given to the Roman Catholic Church to use for the event. Although holiday accommodation is scarce in this area, tens of thousands of international visitors are expected to stay in the 'WYD08 Allocated Accommodation' for the event.

Chronology of celebrations

International

v • d • eWorld Youth Day International level celebrations 1984 · 1985 · 1987 · 1989 · 1991 · 1993 · 1995 · 1997 · 2000 · 2002 · 2005 · 2008

International level celebrations Year Dates Location Attendance1 Theme Theme Song (Anthem) [Languages]2 1984 April 15 Rome,
Italy
Final Mass held at Piazza San Pietro300,000 Holy Year of Redemption NO ANTHEM 1985 March 31 Rome,
Italy
Final Mass held at Piazza San Pietro300,000 International Youth YearResta Qui Con Noi

[Italian]

1987 April 11–12 Buenos Aires,
Argentina900,000 We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves (1 Jn4:16) Un Nuevo Sol

[Spanish]

1989 August 15–20 Santiago de Compostela,
Spain
Final Mass held at Monte do Gozo 400,000 I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn14:6) Somos Los Jóvenes

[Spanish]

1991 August 10–15 Częstochowa,
Poland1,600,000 You have received a spirit of sonship (Rom8:15) Abba Ojcze

[Polish Italian Spanish]

1993

August 10–15 Denver,
United States
Final Mass held at Cherry Creek State Park 900,000[citation needed] I came that they might have life, and have it to the full (Jn10:10) (We Are) One Body

[English]

1995 January 10–15 Manila,
Philippines
Final Mass held at Luneta Park4,000,000 [current world record of the largest single event one-day assembly of humanity in history][citation needed] As the Father sent me, so am I sending you (Jn20:21) Tell the World of His Love

[English]

1997 August 19–24 Paris,
France
Final Mass held at Longchamps1,200,000 Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see (cf. Jn1:38-39) Maître Et Seigneur

[French]

2000 August 15–20 Rome,
Italy
Final Mass held at Tor Vergata2,000,000 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn1:14) Emmanuel

[Italian English French Spanish]

2002 July 23–28 Toronto,
Canada
Final Mass held at Downsview Park800,000 You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world (Matthew5:13-14) Lumière Du Monde/Light Of The World

[French English Spanish Italian]

2005 August 16–21 Cologne,
Germany
Final Mass held at Marienfeld1,200,000[9][10]We have come to worship Him (Mt2:2) Venimus Adorare Eum

[German Latin French Spanish English Italian]

2008 July 15–20 Sydney,
Australia
Final Mass to be held at Randwick Racecourse500,000 expected[11]

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses. (Acts 1:8)

Receive The Power

[English Italian Spanish French]

1Attendance numbers reflect the total number at the closing Mass which includes many locals who attended only that one event. Unless otherwise referenced, the numbers are quoted from the USCCB website. 2This lists languages used in the main international version of the anthem. Local versions of the anthem in other languages (and alternate versions) may have also been produced.

Diocesan

Diocesan level celebrations (celebrated on Palm Sunday each year) Date Theme March 23, 1986Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you (1Pt 3:15) March 27, 1988Do whatever he tells you (Jn 2:5) April 8, 1990I am the vine, you are the branches (Jn 15:5) April 12, 1992Go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Mk 16:15) March 27, 1994As the Father sent me, so am I sending you (Jn 20: 21) March 31, 1996Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68). April 5, 1998The Holy Spirit will teach you all things (cf Jn 14:26 ) March 28, 1999The Father loves you (cf. Jn 16:27) April 8, 2001If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Lk 9:23) April 13, 2003Behold, your mother! (Jn 19,27) April 4, 2004We wish to see Jesus (Jn 12:21) April 9, 2006Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path (Psalm 119:105) April 1, 2007Just as I have loved you; you also should love one another (Jn 13:34).

Typical schedule of events (International level celebrations)

Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Morning Day of Welcoming Arrival and Welcome Catechetical Session w/ participating bishops Catechetical Session w/ participating bishohps Catechetical Session w/ participating bishops Pilgrimage to Vigil Site Closing Liturgy w/ Holy Father Afternoon Opening ceremony afternoon and evening shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities afternoon and evening shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities afternoon and evening shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities. The pope arrives and celebrates mass with the pilgrims Evening Stations of the Cross Vigil Celebration & sleep over

References

^ WYD08 FAQs - About... Q2, and Attending... Q1
^ [1] - Quotation from Helen Bardy.
^ Weigel, George. "Youth and the Future." Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, pp.493-494, 2005
^ George Weigel's conversation with Pope John Paul II, September 30, 1997.
^ Weigel, George. "Srodowisko." Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, pp.98-102, 2005
^ George Weigel's conversation with Pope John Paul II, September 30, 1997.
^ "Australians delighted at 2008 World Youth Day"
^ "Australians delighted at 2008 World Youth Day"
^ WYD08 FAQs - About... Q6
^ New South Wales Parliament Hansard - [World Youth Day 2005] culminated in Pope Benedict XVI announcing on 21 August 2005 before 1.2 million people in Cologne, Germany
^ WYD08 FAQs - About... Q6