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The Arlington Diocese, July 08, 2005 - Tomorrow nearly 200 teens and young adults from the Diocese of Arlington will begin their 30-day countdown to departure to the 20th World Youth Day, to be held in Cologne, Germany, August 16-21. The pilgrims and their chaperones – who range in age from 16 to 60 and hail from 15 parishes and three area universities – are preparing spiritually through daily prayer. Pope Benedict XVI will attend, his first trip abroad as pope.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde said, 'World Youth Day continues to be a light to the world. This year our diocese is privileged to send over 200 of our own youth. Our prayers will be with them as together, we take to heart this year’s theme, ‘We have come to worship Him’ (Mt. 2:2).' Over 15,000 youth are active in youth ministry programs offered at nearly every parish in the 400,000-member Diocese of Arlington.
Kevin Bohli, Director of the Office of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Arlington, said, 'With this being Pope Benedict’s first World Youth Day, we are obviously excited. For us, this will be a spiritual pilgrimage in which we will all journey to the cross.'
To pay for airfare and accommodations, youth held bake sales, carwashes and other fundraisers. Many received donations from their parishes.
On August 9, 50 youth will depart for Krakow, Poland, where they will walk “in the footsteps of John Paul II” before joining an estimated half million youth for World Youth Day in Germany; other Arlington pilgrims will depart for Cologne on August 14th. The pilgrimage schedule is available online at www.arlingtoncatholicyouth.org/events/WYD2005.asp
All Saints Parish in Manassas will send 47 pilgrims, including 12 teens from St. Louis Parish in Alexandria, the largest group from a single parish this year. Others include 25 youth from St. Agnes Parish in Arlington; 12 from St. William of York Parish in Stafford; five from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria; nine students from Mary Washington College; 15 from Marymount University; and 10 from the University of Virginia. Arlington pilgrims will be joined by five seminarians from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; 10 pilgrims from the Military Archdiocese; and 14 youth from the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware.
Over 23,000 young pilgrims and 70 bishops from the United States will attend the World Youth Day. The Arlington Diocese has sponsored a pilgrimage to every World Youth Day since Pope John Paul II visited Denver in 1993.
The World Youth Day program includes Masses, a welcome by the pope, vigils and a closing Mass. Throughout the three days there also will be morning catechetical sessions, a pilgrimage to the cathedral in Cologne, a youth festival and other activities planned by each local group.
World Youth Day, started by Pope John Paul II in 1985, is intended for young people ages 16-30. The first official World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986. Since then World Youth Days have taken place every two or three years in a different central location around the world. The official World Youth Day website is at http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=6&si=1 |
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