From Kilmore to Krakow – World Youth Day 2016
Planning for participation by young people (aged 18-35) from the Diocese of Kilmore in World Youth Day 2016 continues.
At time of writing, Kilmore pilgrims will fly out to Warsaw on 18 July 2016 and travel to the diocese of Łódź to participate in the Youth Festival being organised there by the Chemin Neuf Community. We know that the Archdiocese of Westminster in London are also going there as are pilgrims from other English-speaking dioceses across the world. The Łódź Youth Festival will comprise of a programme of prayer, talks, sharing, visits and trips, cultural and sporting activities, fun and group activities, and social events. Accommodation will be in student halls of residence that are very close to the town centre and the Chemin Neuf Festival.
On Monday 25 July, the Kilmore pilgrims will move south to Krakow in a journey that will take around three hours. The opening ceremony takes place on Tuesday 26th which will be presided over by the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, who was Pope St. John Paul II’s private secretary. It is estimated that over one million young people will be in attendance.
Each morning from Wednesday to Friday, the Kilmore pilgrims will participate in English-speaking events where they will mingle with Americans, Canadians, Australian, British and other English-speaking pilgrims and listen to a variety of inspiring talks. During the afternoon, there will be opportunities to visit a range of spiritual, cultural and musical events scattered across the city and to participate in other religious ceremonies.
Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive on the Thursday and will deliver an opening address at a prayer service. There will be a special Stations of the Cross on the Friday evening. On Saturday morning, pilgrims will walk around 10 kilometres to the site where there will be an all-night Vigil which will begin at dusk and will be attended by the Holy Father. The pilgrims will sleep in the open air and then partipate in the Final Mass with Pope Francis and hear his thoughts on the World Youth Day coming to an end.
To avoid queues at the airport on the journey home and to extend the Polish experience a little more, Kilmore pilgrims will spend an extra day in the country and leave on Tuesday 2 August 2016.
World Youth Day 2016 will take place during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy which Pope Francis announced recently.
The total price of the pilgrimage will be around €750/€800 per person and will include all costs. Booking Forms will be circulated to parishes towards the end of September.
Parishes are being encouraged to promote the pilgrimage and to consider offering sponsorship to anyone wishing to participate in it.
It is hoped that at least 50 young people from the diocese will travel to Krakow.
If you have any queries or would like additional information, please contact Seán Coll on 049 4375004 (extension 102)
WORLD YOUTH DAY PRAYER 2016
God, merciful Father,
in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love
and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman.
We entrust to you in a special way young people of every language, people and nation:
guide and protect them as they walk the complex paths of the world today
and give them the grace to reap abundant fruits
from their experience of the Krakow World Youth Day.
Heavenly Father, grant that we may bear witness to your mercy.
Teach us how to convey the faith to those in doubt,
hope to those who are discouraged, love to those who feel indifferent,
forgiveness to those who have done wrong and joy to those who are unhappy.
Allow the spark of merciful love that you have enkindled within us
become a fire that can transform hearts and renew the face of the earth.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, pray for us.
Saint Faustina, pray for us.
