Madison Diocese gearing up for World Youth Day

MADISON — Preparations are full steam ahead for our participation in the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) Madrid 2011.The dates are August 8 to 24. The Diocese of Madison is teaming up with St. Paul University Catholic Center to sponsor this pilgrimage to Madrid.

Information about the two itineraries we are offering can be found on www.madisondiocese.org/wyd

We encourage anyone who is still considering being a part of this trip to please register as soon as possible. We have only 12 spots left and registration is on a first come first serve basis.

WYD is an international gathering of young people convened by the Pope every three years. It celebrates faith, culture, youth, and the universality of the Church.

Participants attend a wide range of events, which include catechetical instructions given by a bishop or cardinal, Mass, Stations of the Cross, music festivals, community service, vigil and Eucharistic Adoration with the Holy Father, and a wide range of other events offered by the organizers.

The two itineraries offered by the diocese are like two arms of a river all coming together in Madrid.

The Camino de Santiago hike will take the participants from Barcelona and hike the Camino pilgrimage trail on their way to Madrid. The other itinerary will take the participants to Lourdes, with participation in Days in Diocese events in Zaragoza, before continuing to Madrid for the WYD week were they will be joined by the other participants.

After the closing Mass of the WYD 2011, the Diocese of Madison participants will make a brief stop in Paris on their way home.

Recently the founder of WYD, Pope John Paul II, soon to be Blessed John Paul II, was announced to be the official spiritual patron of World Youth Day 2011.

This is so fitting since his memory is always vivid in any WYD since his death.

We look forward to another successful WYD event this year. With only a few spots left, space is running out for anyone one who is thinking about going.

Visit the Web site www.madisondiocese.org/wyd and register today. Together let us make our way to Madrid to meet with our Holy Father.