Most World Youth Day pilgrims will say the highlight of the international event is closing Mass with the pope on Sunday morning. St. John Paul II began the tradition in 1985. It has been continued by Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis. “The closing Mass was great,” said Sarah Leahy, youth minister for Our […]
Father Michael Johnson, currently parochial vicar of Family #29 in the Southtowns/Lakeshore area, served as chaplain for the Buffalo crew at World Youth Day in Lisbon. While others toured the capital of Portugal, Father Johnson offered to hear confessions at Reconciliation Park. He spoke with Aussies, New Zealanders, Brits, Scots, as well as people from […]
World Youth Day pilgrims have returned home full of joy after having Mass with Pope Francis and walking to grounds where the Fatima visionaries once roamed. World Youth Day is an international event that gathers Catholics for Mass, catechesis, and reconciliation. From Aug. 1-6 an estimated 1.5 million Catholics gathered in Lisbon, Portugal to hear […]
Pope Francis delivered three key verbs in his closing homily at World youth Day on the morning of Aug. 6. “Shine, listen, do not fear,” he said to the estimated 1.5 million people who attended the international festival in Lisbon, Portugal. The Gospel of Matthew describes Jesus’ face shining like the sun as he was […]
LISBON, Portugal — Pope Francis wrapped up his World Youth Day visit with one word, rendered in Portuguese as “obrigado,” thank you – literally, “I am obliged.” The Holy Father closed the international celebration at a Mass celebrated with an estimated 1.5 million pilgrims earlier this morning, but before leaving Portugal, his last public address […]
DENVER — As World Youth Day approaches and pilgrims from all over the world pack their bags and prepare to embark on their journey, we compiled a list of answers to all your questions about WYD. What is World Youth Day? WYD is a weeklong celebration that attracts hundreds of thousands of young people from […]
LISBON, Portugal — More than 600,000 people have started the registration process. Nearly 3 million lunches and dinners have been ordered. Ten thousand priestly vestments are being made. And at least 7,000 host families have volunteered to open their homes to pilgrims. These are among the latest statistics released by organizers of World Youth Day, […]
World Youth Day will take place Aug 1-6 in Lisbon, Portugal. For one week, young people from all over the world gather for prayer, socializing and recreation. Those not headed to Portugal can still enjoy some WYD fun at OLV National Shrine & Basilica for a domestic World Youth Day party. Mass, confessions, food trucks, […]
World Youth Day 2023 is now less than a year away. Lisbon, Portugal, not far from the site of the Fatima apparitions, will host the international Catholic event Aug. 1-6. World Youth Day is a worldwide encounter with the pope celebrated about every three years in a different country. Events include Mass with Pope Francis, […]
Pope Francis released his third message for the 37th World Youth Day on Monday. In this final message of a trilogy, the Holy Father recalls the theme of the last WYD, held in 2019 in Panama: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). […]