KCP - Catholic Diocese of Broome

A number of youth in the Kimberley have put their hands up to be pilgrims at the World Youth Day in Cologne. It promises to be an exciting pilgrimage for them as they join a million others in Germany to celebrate being young and being a pilgrim for God. The World Youth Day is an event that happens every three years.

The last WYD took place in Toronto Canada. A number of young people went from Broome and enjoyed the experience. One of them, Clifton Mamid, even had lunch with the Pope. Bishop Saunders said he was accompanying the Pilgrims this time as Tour Leader of a composite group of young people from the Broome Diocese, Darwin Diocese and representatives from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC). “I am very happy that many parishes have responded to the call to send pilgrims to Cologne for this event” the Bishop said. “It will be a significant time in the lives of these young people, something they will always remember. There is a very long tradition of pilgrimage in the Church that speaks to our spiritual heart. After all, we are a pilgrim people whose lives are a journey towards God and eternal life”.

The Group will leave from Darwin on 8th August and return to Darwin on 23rd August. Flying first to France the pilgrims will visit the Walled City of Carcassonne and then Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Travelling by Fast Train to Paris the group will explore the famous city before going to Luxembourg and then Cologne where the WYD week of unique experiences will happen. Pope Benedict XVI will be in attendance for part of this special time. The group will return via Lourdes.