WORLD YOUTH DAYis starting and the Holy Father asked for prayers for those attending, that they be a light to the rest of young people across the globe. Several youth from our area will be attending as will a priest close to the Community.
“A great many young people, from all continents, will experience the joy of the encounter with God and with their brothers and sisters, guided by the Virgin Mary, who after the annunciation “arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39).I entrust the World Youth Day pilgrims and all young people of the world to Her, shining star of the Christian path.
In these
troubling times, when our human family, already tested by the trauma of the
pandemic, is racked by the tragedy of war, Mary shows to all of us, and
especially to you, young people like herself, the path of proximity and
encounter. I hope and I firmly believe that the experience many of you will
have in
World Youth Day is an international gathering of young people, ages 16 to 35, with the Pope. It takes place every two to three years in different cities all over the globe. It has a strong Catholic identity and includes a celebration of Mass with the Pope, but it’s open to all.
In addition
to celebrating young people, World Youth Day is an “expression of the universal
Church and a powerful moment of evangelization for the world of youth.”
Thousands
and thousands of young people gather together for several days with
accommodations ranging from camping to lodging in churches. More than 400,000 young people have officially registered
to attend and take part in the 2023 International World Youth Day celebration
in
The most
highly-attended WYD was in