MORE than 1800 young Australian pilgrims and 16 bishops will participate in World Youth Day Rio from July 23-28 themed “Go and make disciples of all nations”.
This will be the first WYD for Pope Francis and is expected to draw several million youth from around the world.
Almost 40 Australian groups are making pilgrimages to WYD in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The largest will be from the Archdiocese of Syd-ney, host of WYD 2008 in Sydney.
More than 450 will travel with Cardinal George Pell and three auxiliary bishops from Sydney.
Bishop Anthony Fisher of Parramatta and director of WYD08 is leading the second-largest pilgrimage with more than 250 pilgrims.
There is wide representation from around the country including a group of Indigenous pilgrims from Darwin and a Vietnamese group from South Australia.
Many groups have included immersion and mission experiences as part of their pilgrimage plans.
Forming partnerships with organisations such Catholic Life Movement, Caritas and the Columbans, pilgrims will help to build stairs in rough terrain, activity centres and even a chapel.
“WYD continues to engage the young of our Church in Australia, with WYD Rio being our largest pilgrimage to a non-European WYD,” Australian Catholic Bishops’ Delegate for Youth Bishop Fisher said.
“The Holy Spirit is at work in the Church and in the lives of young people.
“WYD Rio is a unique opportunity for youth to serve in mission experiences in South America, and to meet our first South American Holy Father, Pope Francis.”
During the week of WYD, four Australian bishops – Cardinal Pell, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Bishop Eugene Hurley of Darwin and Bishop Fisher have been asked to give catechesis.
Australia will also supply catechesis animating teams from the Sydney and Perth archdioceses.
These teams co-ordinate catechesis sessions on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings of WYD week, including animation activities and a Mass with bishops.
A special event in Rio for Australian pilgrims will be the Australian gathering on July 24.
To be held at the centre for English-speaking pilgrims, Vivo Rio, from 2-4pm, the event will celebrate Australia’s participation in WYD and seek to build identity and foster communion among pilgrims.
The event was a highlight for many pilgrims at WYD 2011 and is set to be another great experience in Rio.
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life senior youth ministry projects officer Malcolm Hart has great expectations for the Australian gathering.
“The Aussie gathering in Madrid was so exciting and really created such a sense of purpose for our week together,” he said.
“The focus of this year’s gathering will be a reflection on the Year of Grace and how we move from this period of reflection to action as we are called to go out and make disciples of all nations.
“Most of the program will be a surprise for participants, but this year I can say that we will hear from a number of young Australian pilgrims, bishops and emerging Catholic musicians.
“We will also welcome an international musician set to visit Australia later in the year for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.”
