World Youth Day Just a Month Away
With less than a month to go, it seems everybody is talking about World Youth Day. What is it and what does it mean for
Sydney?
World Youth Day is the world’s largest youth event. It is organised by the Catholic Church to bring young people around the globe together to learn more about their faith.
Who better to teach these people than the head of the Catholic Church? His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will make his first trip to Australia for the festivities.
It will be the biggest event Australia has ever hosted. Yes, bigger than the 2000 Olympics. 125, 000 visitors from all over the world are expected to touch down in Sydney.
It all kicks off with an opening mass led by Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo. Throughout the event there’ll be music, street performers, debates, and performing arts displays at venues around the city. The week will culminate in a final mass at Randwick Racecourse on July 20. The Pope will lead this event, which is the largest of the week’s celebrations.
Everyone is welcome to attend, so why don’t you get out there and see what it’s all about?
World Youth Day events will be held in Sydney from July 15 to 20. To learn more visit the World Youth Day 2008 website.
Image source: Madison Catholic website
Tags: Cardinal George Pell, Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, Sydney, World Youth DayRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Events
5 opinions for World Youth Day Just a Month Away
Ben Edwards
Jun 23, 2008 at 12:37 am
I really am struggling with this WYD bullshit. Australia as far as I am aware is a secular nation yet tax-payer monies are being used to fund a religious event!!! This event should not attract ANY State or Federal funding. I have no objection to any religious group wishing to hold a “get together” provided it is self funded. Please Australia, wake up. All these events will do is further promote exteamist views, bigotry and intollerance within our society. The Catholic church has a great deal to answer for.
Lauren
Jun 23, 2008 at 2:28 am
I think the funding idea is just because of the sheer volume of people it will bring in the country. Most folks won’t just stay for the 5 days - they’ll travel around and see a lot of the country so in that respect it’s great for tourism.
But I do hear you. I’m not religious so I’m not thrilled about paying for their party. However people who hated sport probably felt the same way about the Olympics (in fact, I seem to remember the same rumblings).
Ben Edwards
Jun 23, 2008 at 6:46 pm
i too remember some rumblings about Olympics cost at the time. However the Olympics are a secular event embrasing all (or suposedly anyway). The financial spin off from the Olympics was and is considerable. I dont see the same level of post event bonanza coming from WYD. Oh…and I wish the media would start refering to the event as World Catholic Youth Day as that is what it is….a Catholic event. History demonstrates that amoung the orthodox religions, the Catholics have a great deal to answer for in the past as well as the present.
Lauren
Jun 24, 2008 at 3:25 am
Yeah I hear you Ben, believe me I do. At the end of the day we might be secular, but the Catholic church is still one powerful entity, whether we like it or not. The only thing to do is just to put up with it … it’s just five days after all.
Maribel
Jul 8, 2008 at 5:20 am
This is very powerful. Gathering the nations to worship the lord… healing will take place if you believe.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: