BRISBANE will host four Days of Encounter for pilgrims from across the globe coming to Australia for World Youth Day in 2008.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Youth and Children’s Ministry team expects 5000-10,000 overseas visitors will descend on Brisbane for its Days of Encounter which will take a more cultural and family focus, unlike World Youth Day which focuses on a spiritual experience.
Days of Encounter will run over from July 10-13 and will include parish and school events and activities and a day of social service for pilgrims in parishes.
The archdiocesan youth ministry team is hoping families will billet overseas visitors and parishes and school communities will consider sponsoring a community from a developing country and invite them to be guests.
Partnerships should be developed 12-18 months before World Youth Day.
The archdiocese hopes to organise a number of major events and activities at South Bank, the city centre and Roma Street Parklands and will host spiritual centres around the city and support parish and schools in organising events.
There is no registration fee for Days of Encounter but host families will need to raise funds to cover the costs of providing hospitality for overseas guests while they are in Brisbane.
Pilgrims will have to organise their own transport to Sydney for World Youth Day.
