PRESS RELEASE
16 August 2011
GAA stars join Irish pilgrims in Madrid this week for World Youth Day
- Media contact information available for features, interviews and photos with Irish pilgrims
World Youth Day, which takes place from 16 to 21 August 2011, is a great worldwide encounter between Pope Benedict XVI and young people. WYD is celebrated every three years in a different country and takes place this week in Madrid, Spain. The theme chosen for WYD 2011 is ‘Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith’ which is taken from St Paul.
World Youth Day offers young pilgrims a unique way to deepen their faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, and to share this experience together with thousands of other young people with common interests and ambitions.
Some Irish pilgrims will be experiencing ‘Days in the Diocese’ i.e. staying with host Spanish families in advance. See www.catholicbishops.ie for a live blog, to be updated by Irish World Youth Day pilgrims, as well as Bishop Donal McKeown’s brief explanation of the purpose of WYD, the relevance of the 2011 WYD theme and the importance of young people to the Church.
For Irish media preparing features on World Youth Day, or seeking to arrange radio or press interviews with Irish pilgrims attending WYD in Madrid, please contact the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth on 00 353 1 5053017 or Martin Long 00 353 861727678.
The following is an overview of the Irish diocesan pilgrimages to World Youth Day 2011. Please note that this information is subject to change:
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 Clonmacnois 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 12 – 15 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
42 young people have gone from the Diocese of Down and Connor. 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 and three lay staff and five priests. The diocese’s youth agency, 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, accompanied by two priests and one lay leader.
Ferns
A group of 40 young people from the Diocese of Ferns travel to World Youth Day accompanied 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 in Madrid from the 15 to 22 August.
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 who will be staying in Collado Mediano.
Killala
Six young people will travel to WYD in Madrid from Killala Diocese along with one priest and one lay person.
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. Bishop Donal Murray, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese will be attending World Youth Day. GAA senior Limerick hurler Seamus Hickey will also be numbered amongst the Limerick pilgrims.
Meath
41 young people, including GAA senior footballer Joe Sheridan, are travelling from the Diocese of Meath accompanied by three priests and two lay volunteers. They travelled this morning, Tuesday 16 August, from Dublin Airport.
Tuam
A group of 30 young people will travel from the Archdiocese of Tuam to WYD. 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).
ENDS
Further information:
Catholic Communications Office Maynooth 00353 (1) 505 3017 and Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678
