After a four year hiatus, I am happy to announce the return of Onward Pilgrims! – the official World Youth Day newsletter of St. Catherine of Siena Parish.
Each issue of this newsletter will contain helpful information about our up-coming World Youth Day pilgrimage. Here you’ll receive practical info about our itinerary, the costs and payment schedule, and helpful travel tips. Also, I will include important updates from the WYD planning committee in Madrid and any specific info for U.S. pilgrims given by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Onward Pilgrims! Does not have a regular publication date. However, starting in August of next year, new editions will probably be published at least once a month.
What is World Youth Day?
WYD is a celebration of the “Young Church of Today”. But most of all, it is a celebration of Christ and an opportunity to encounter Him in the Sacraments and in the Universal Church.
World Youth Day was first started by Servant of God, John Paul the Great in 1986. Every two or three years, Pope John Paul II (and now his successor, Pope Benedict XVI) has summoned the youth of the world to gather with him in various countries.
In the years that World Youth Day is not held in an international level, it is celebrated locally in each diocese.
What are the themes of the next World Youth Days?
2009: “We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God.” (1 Tim 4:10)
2010: “Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?” (Mk 10:17)
2011: “Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith.” (cf Col 2:7)
When & where is the next international WYD?
The next international WYD is scheduled to take place AUGUST 16-21, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.
For our St. Pat’s pilgrims, we are scheduled to arrive back in California on August 24 and most likely school will start the week of August 14. In planning for WYD 2005 in Cologne, I spoke with your principal, Ms. Ryan. She was very nice and more than willing to accommodate any student from St. Pat’s who wished to go to WYD. I have no doubt that assuming Ms. Ryan is still the principal in 2011, she would support and assist any student who will be absent because of WYD.
What is the age requirement to attend WYD?
Due to the spiritual and physical intensity of this pilgrimage, World Youth Day is designed for youths who are at least 16 years old. So, you must have celebrated your 16th birthday by August 2011 to attend WYD without parental supervision. However, if you are younger than 16 in August of 2011, then you may be able to attend, but at least one of your parents must accompany you on the pilgrimage.
What can I expect of WYD?
First, expect to do a lot of walking…I mean A LOT!!
Secondly, expect to be challenged in many ways; it could be from the crowds or the different cultures you will encounter or personalities of the other pilgrims traveling with you or the challenge of the Gospel that our bishops will present to us during our catechesis.
Thirdly, expect to be swallowed up in a sea of people the likes of which you’ve probably never seen. At my first WYD in Toronto, there were 800,000. In Cologne there were 1,000,000. In Sydney, there were over 400,000. And it is estimated that there will be 2 to 3 MILLION people in Madrid!!!
Other than these three, I say don’t have any expectations. Approach this pilgrimage with an open mind and heart.
Where can I get more info about World Youth Day?
http://www.CYMVallejo.com
http://www.wydmadrid2011.es
http://www.jmj2011madrid.com
http://www.vatican.va/gmg.html
http://www.usccb.org/laity/youth/wyd.shtml
How much will this pilgrimage to WYD cost?
Who could ever put a price tag on a priceless experience? Or what’s the value on an invaluable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Apparently, the answer is thousands of dollars!!
The following are estimates from various travel companies based on:
♦ The proposed itinerary (See the right column ---->);
♦ 41 pilgrims;
♦ 3-star hotels with breakfast every morning;
♦ 20 double rooms; 1 single room (for our priest)
♦ Transportation, tours, gratuities, and entrance fees included
Exchange rate as of 7/10/09:
$1.00 = €0.72
Classic Pilgrimages
At least $4000*
Quest Travel Group
$4,796
206 Tours
$4,499*
$1,299 – single supplement
Bravo Tours
Between $3,989* and $4,289*
$700 – single supplement
Youth in Europe
$4,990
$600 – single supplement
$100 – ½ day tour to Ávila.
* NOT including WYD Registration fee which will probably cost between $250 and $300.
If you have any contacts with any travel companies or independent travel agents, please feel free to provide them with this information. And please forward any price quotes to me. Thanks!
What Sean will and won't do
I am so excited about going to France and Spain in a little over 2 years!!! And for me, part of the fun is the preparation. Thus, I am happy to help get you ready to become pilgrims and not mere tourists. But first, I’ve got to make some things clear.
My role in this planning process will be the following:
1. Contact travel companies to get pricing quotes.
2. Create an itinerary.
3. Update our blog and periodically publish editions of Onward Pilgrims! focusing on information from the WYD planning committee and the USCCB.
4. Hold enrichment meetings to inform the pilgrims about the cultural, historical, artistic, and spiritual value of certain places, events, and objects, as well as the socio-political significance of WYD and of the Catholic Church in Spain.
5. Prepare the pilgrims spiritually before the pilgrimage and coordinate the prayers and liturgies during the pilgrimmage.
However, I will not:
1. Sign contracts.
2. Be the official “main contact” for any travel company.
3. Coordinate fundraisers.
4. Discuss fundraising at the enrichment meetings (formerly Ach So meetings).
4. Apportion any funds raised.
5. Collect or keep track of payments.
Read more...
The crown represents the crown of our La Virgen de la Almudena, the female patron saint of Madrid (San Isidro [St.Isadore] is the male patron saint). According to legend, when the Moors controlled Spain, the Catholics hid this statue of Our Lady within a "fold of a wall" ("almudaina" in Arabic) or in a nearby storage for grain ("almudit"). When Alphonse VI reconquered Madrid, the statue was miraculously discovered, and it is now venerated in Madrid's Cathedral. Supposedly, we are Mary's crown, for the youth of the world will gather with our Holy Father to stand with Mary at the foot of the Cross.
