St. Mary's World Youth Day 2011 Delegates

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A word from Father Bloom on World Youth Day 2011:

"I am excited that we have such a good number of enthusiastic candidates from our parish.

It is a big investment to send a young person to World Youth Day, but I am convinced it is one of the best investments that a family can make. In our World Youth Day meetings we have been talking about working on fund raising so the experience can be open to as many young people as possible.

The delegation will represent our entire parish. On our way to Madrid we will spend a few days in Italy. There we will pray at the sacred sites, such as the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome and the tombs of St. Francis and St. Claire in Assisi. I want every parishioner to feel a part of this pilgrimage as we bring your intentions with us."

Here is the itinerary:

Mon Aug 15: Upon arrival in Madrid, we enjoy a panoramic tour of the classical and modern squares of the city on our way to our WYD accommodations.

Tue Aug 16: We collect our accreditation and backpacks with the remainder of the day free to explore the city on our own. About 5:30 pm, we celebrate Mass in Madrid´s Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD. About 9:00 pm, we have the first activities of the Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program begins, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, etc. (details to be determined.)

Wed Aug 17: Today, we have catechesis session, organized by linguistic groups, with bishops from all over the world. These sessions take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid. This evening, we participate in the Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program.

Thu Aug 18: Catechesis session during the day. About 5:00 pm, we receive and welcome the Holy Father in Cibeles Square. WYD Cultural Program in the evening around 9:00 pm.

Fri Aug 19: Catechesis session during the day. Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program at 5:00 pm. At about 9:00 pm we participate in WYD Via Crucis. Fourteen "pasos" of the Spanish Holy Week, from different points of the peninsula, go out in procession through the streets of Madrid around Cibeles Square.

Sat Aug 20: Preparatory ceremony in Cuatro Vientos 4:00 pm: Pilgrims arrive, little by little, at the Four Winds aerodrome and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.), to prepare for the Vigil. At about 8:00 pm, the Pope arrives and Eucharistic adoration begins. Planned is an address by the Holy Father. We then spend the night at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where we can adore the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Sun Aug 21: This morning, the Pope concelebrates Mass with thousands of bishops and priests and he will address young people and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next World Youth Day will be held. The remainder of the day is at leisure for pursuits on our own.