Catholic Diocese of Broome

World Youth Day (WYD) 2008 is to be celebrated in Sydney. Preparations for a large contingent of Kimberley youth to attend the festivity is well underway in the Diocese. Erica Bernard from Broome has been appointed as Kimberley WYD Coordinator and she is planning a program for preparation and formation throughout the Diocese. Erica wants to visit each Parish to give a presentation to engender some enthusiasm and support for the event.

Bishop Anthony Fisher (of Sydney) spoke at length to the gathering of Aboriginal peoples at Alice Springs and gave some idea of what is to happen during WYD week.

There is to be an Opening Mass to mark the beginning of the week followed every day by activities including a number of Catecheses (on matters of faith) instructions given by a Bishop at a number of locations throughout the city. There will also be a variety of concerts, exhibitions, special devotions and other activities. Sydney-siders will no doubt experience the busiest days of their lives as a million youth from around the world gather in the harbour-side metropolis to celebrate and share faith moments together.

The presence of Pope Benedict will give the occasion an even greater significance. Those who went to Cologne in 2005 will remember well the excitement when the Holy Father, PopeBenedict, arrived by boat stopping regularly to bless the youth who packed the shoreline.

The WYD week will be exciting for all of those who attend and I hope it will also be fulfilling for those back here who will support the travellers. The formation leading up to the event is almost as important as the event itself. Such formation can benefit the entire Parish not just those who will go to Sydney as Pilgrims. In this way the faith communities grow too, along with the youth on pilgrimage who will visit Sydney with me in 2008. I am hopeful that the experience of WYD 2008 will be an exciting one for all of us.

The Days in the Diocese is the time leading up to WYD. Youth from overseas will visit a number of Dioceses throughout Australia. I am hoping that we in the Kimberley will play host to young people from various parts of the world as they make their way to Sydney. This will provide a unique experience for all of us. Text Box: Contact your Parish Priest or Pastoral Associate about World Youth Day now. WYD Sydney 2008, July 15th, is not far away.

Text Box: Contact your Parish Priest or Pastoral Associate about World Youth Day now. WYD Sydney 2008, July 15th, is not far away.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to stimulate interest in WYD. Valuable information can be downloaded on www.wyd2008.org and Erica will be in touch. But we need to select pilgrims who want to go and will be filled with enthusiasm.

[Erica Bernard, WYD Kimberley Coordinator, can be contacted on 9193 5032 or 0427 970 028.]