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WORLD YOUTH DAY

World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Roman Catholic Church event celebrated all over the world. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, invitation to attend is non-denominational.

World Youth Day (or WYD, as it is commonly referred to) was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1986. It is celebrated on a diocesan level annually and at a week-long international level every two to three years in different, hosting cities. The international level events attract hundreds of thousands of youth from almost every country on the planet. Participants gather for activities over the span of the five-day festival, ultimately leading up the most anticipated event of all: a Sunday morning mass, said by the Pope himself.

The youth of St. Thomas a’Becket have had the privilege of attending the past three international World Youth Day festivals:

• WYD 2011 (celebrated in Madrid, Spain)
• WYD 2008 (celebrated in Sydney, Australia)
• WYD 2005 (celebrated in Cologne, Germany)

WYD 2013 will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our pilgrims are already busy fundraising to offset the cost of their trip. Your support of our Calendar Raffle and our Scrip program makes it possible for the future of our Church to attend this inspiring program. Thank you for your support!

JMJ 2013 (for Journees Mondiales de la Jeunesse,
in French, the official international lanuage)

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