World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope, that began in 1986. The Diocese of Darwin, under the leadership of the Bishop, has been sending young people from all communities across the Territory, funded in part by generous donations from the Darwin community. This year, two groups from Darwin, including 37 from the Neocatechumenal Way and Sisters from the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, had participated.
WYD is not just a gathering, it is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church, an instrument for evangelisation and transformation of the Church, a place of birth for vocations to marriage and consecrated life, and with young people as its protagonists, WYD promotes peace, unity and fraternity among peoples and nations around the world. Although its Catholic identity is clearly evident, WYD opens its doors to everyone, no matter how close to or distant from the Church they are.
The event lasts for one week and young pilgrims from all over the world are welcomed by the Pope to one city. The week is filled with prayer, sharing, walking, leisure and various WYD initiatives in different locations across the host city. The highlights are the 6 primary celebrations for which the Pope is present, such as the welcoming and opening ceremony, the Way of the Cross, the vigil and on the last day, the closing mass. The “Days in the dioceses” precedes the week of WYD and involves integrating and accommodating young people from all over the world into Church communities and families or public organisations across Portugal.
Stay tuned for more interesting information on World Youth Day.