World Youth Day 2011

07 Aug 2011


Planes, trains and automobiles will lead to Madrid in Spain this Summer from 16 – 21 August for the celebration of World Youth Day 2011. The theme chosen for World Youth Day 2011 is ‘Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith’ which is taken from St Paul.

In the above video Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor explains what World Youth Day is, talks about the relevance of the theme chosen and talks about the importance of young people to the Church.

Information on Irish diocesan pilgrimages to World Youth Day 2011:

The following is an overview of the Irish diocesan pilgrimages to World Youth Day 2011. Please note that information will be added as it becomes available:

Achonry
Ten young people will travel from the Diocese of Achonry accompanied by two priests and one female lay leader. The venue for the ‘days in the diocese’ is St Nathy’s Pastoral Centre, Charlestown, Co Mayo.

Ardagh and Clonmacnois
Eight young people from the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise will be attending World Youth Day with one lay leader. The days in the Diocese will be spent in the Diocese of Segovia.

Armagh
The Archdiocese of Armagh will be bringing 130 young people to Madrid, with seven priests, two Deacons and 25 lay staff (leaders and helpers). Cardinal Seán Brady will also be attending also.
The venue for the Archdiocese of Armagh’s days in the diocese will be Terrassa Diocese, Barcelona, from the 12th – 15th August.

Clogher
66 young people will travel from the Diocese of Clogher to the World Youth Day event in Madrid. They will be accompanied by one priest and one lay leader.

Clonfert
14 young people will travel from the Diocese of Clonfert accompanied by one priest and two lay staff. Bishop Kirby will attend also.

Down and Connor
There will be 42 young people going from the diocese of Down and Connor to the World Youth Day. They will be accompanied by eight priests and lay staff including Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, Fr Raymond McCullough, Fr Tony Fitzsimons and five lay co-ordinators. The group will be staying in the parish of Porto during the “days in the diocese from 11 – 14 August.

Dromore
22 young people from the Diocese Dromore will attend WYD. The group will also include two seminarians and the Diocesan Youth Director.  The group is not taking part in the days in the diocese; they are involved with the Irish Jesuit group in the Magis programme.

Dublin
151 young people will travel to World Youth Day from the Archdiocese of Dublin accompanied by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Bishop Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin three lay staff and five priests. Catholic Youth Care will be animating the English catechesis sessions during World Youth Day.

Elphin

30 young people from the Diocese of Elphin will be attending World Youth Day inMadrid. They will be accompanied by two priests and one lay leader.

Ferns 
A group of 40 young people from the diocese of Ferns will travel to World Youth Day accompanies by four priests and lay staff.  Bishop Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns will also be attending.

Galway
A group of 30 young people from the diocese of Galway will travel to World Youth Day accompanied by one priest, one seminarian and the diocesan youth ministry coordinator.  Bishop Martin Drennan will also be attending.

Kerry

The Diocese of Kerry has a group of 32 participating in World Youth Day, made up of one priest, one lay staff and one adult volunteer as leaders, with 29 young adults. The group will be inMadridfrom the15th to 22nd Aug.

Kildare and Leighlin
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin has 128 confirmed to travel including seven  priests, three seminarians from Kildare &Leighlin, three religious sisters and the Diocesan Youth Ministry team. The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is not doing the days in the diocese and will travel straight to Madrid where they will be staying in Collado Mediano.

Killala
Six young people will travel to WYD from Killala Diocese along with one priest and one lay person. They are not partaking in the days in the diocese.

Killaloe
Seventeen young people from Killaloe are attending WYD with one priest and one lay person. The group will be partaking in the days in the diocese in Toledo.

Kilmore
Twenty young adults from the Diocese of Kilmore, including a Diocesan Youth Worker, will participate in the events of World Youth Day.

Limerick
The Diocese of Limerick will have 34 young people going to World Youth Day and they will be accompanied by nine priests and lay staff. The Diocese of Limerick is not doing the Days in the Diocese. Bishop Donal Murray, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese will be attending World Youth Day.

Meath
Thirty-seven young people are travelling from the Diocese of Meath including accompanied by three priests and two lay volunteers. They will not be involved in the ‘days in the Diocese’ but are travelling directly to Madrid. Bishop Smith won’t be travelling with them but the diocese and parishes are providing support to those travelling.

Tuam 

A group of 30 young people will travel from Tuam to WYD Madrid on August 15th. The group includes three priests and is being led by Fr. Tod Nolan Director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese. In preparation for their pilgrimage the group has met at monthly intervals since Christmas – climbing Croagh Patrick, Walking the Way of the Cross at Killary, watching and exploring movies (The Way and Of God’s and Men) and even bowling. Archbishop Neary will not be accompaning the group.

IEC2012

Staff from the IEC2012 office will be going to World Youth Day in Madridin August to spread the word about the 50th International Eucharistic Congress inDublin in June 2012. They will have an exhibition stand at the WYD event and they will also be focusing on areas where English-speaking pilgrims are to share material with them.

Other useful links

Pope Benedict XVI’s message for World Youth Day 2011

Link to the World Youth Day website

Link to special Vatican feature on World Youth Day 2011

Fr Liam Morgan on World Youth Day