ONE of the great legacies of Pope John Paul II was the establishment of World Youth Day. Preparations are well underway for the next international World Youth Day gathering to be held from July 23-28, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
World Youth Day offers young people an opportunity to share their faith and be rejuvenated by the faith and commitment of the thousands of other young people they will encounter.
It is a time when young people come to a greater understanding of other cultures and experience first-hand the universality of, and diversity within, the Catholic Church.
There are more than 60 pilgrimage groups being organised from Australia and New Zealand, with close to 2000 pilgrims expected to pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Rio.
This continues to demonstrate the impact that World Youth Day has had on Australia since it was held in Sydney in 2008.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge will lead a contingent of young pilgrims from Brisbane archdiocese to next year’s event in Brazil.
This pilgrimage will also include six nights in Santiago, Chile, where pilgrims will participate in a program organised by the Columbans and a local parish community.
This inspiring encounter in Chile’s capital will provide an insight into the life realities of a resilient people, rich in joy and faith.
One of the dimensions often overlooked in regards to World Youth Day is the element of pilgrimage.
There is an undeniable power in that act of pilgrimage.
Pilgrimages teach us that meaning is not found at the conclusion of the journey, but in the very journey itself.
There is a sense that we are a pilgrim people of God who are on a missionary journey to share the Gospel through the large and small encounters we have.
World Youth Day pilgrimages, in particular, provide young people with an extraordinary opportunity to encounter the sacred, take a journey of discovery and gain new perspectives.
While not all of us will make the physical pilgrimage to Rio de Janeiro next year, we can stay connected to the preparations for the event and, in some way, we can embark on our own personal pilgrimage through prayer and action.
There will be local events and parish celebration kits made available to assist people to take up the theme of WYD2013 “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations” Matthew 28:19.
In terms of finding more information about our local celebrations or the archdiocesan pilgrimage to WYD2013, there will be a series of WYD information sessions and briefing days held between now and early next year.
All the latest information can be found at www.cymbrisbane.org.au
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