ABOUT 2000 young Australians are expected to join the pilgrimage to Toronto, Canada for World Youth Day in July.
Diocesan representatives from across Australia are meeting regularly to organise the Australian pilgrimage.
Harvest Pilgrimages and the World Youth Day National Committee last met in Sydney on February 6.
Malcolm Hart from Parish Youth Ministry Services in Brisbane stood in for Michael Hart who is the Queensland representative on the World Youth Day National Committee.
The committee has been preparing for the big event for about 12 months.
National co-ordinator Selina Hasham from Harvest Pilgrimages travelled to Toronto last month to attend a four-day international conference.
She reported back to the national committee, relaying information about preparations and security measures in Canada.
During the Toronto conference, the official World Youth Day song Light of the World was launched.
The song is closely linked to the World Youth Day theme: ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’, contained in the Pope’s message to young people, inviting them to Toronto.
Light of the World was composed by Fr Robert Lebel of Quebec, a well known composer of religious music in the French-speaking world. The English lyrics were written by Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher, the youngest bishop in Canada.
World Youth Day from July 23-28 will include spiritual and cultural entertainment and social justice activities.
About 1 million young people from more than 150 countries are expected to join Pope John Paul II for the week-long celebration.
