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World Youth Day 2005
Our S+L team travelled to Cologne and beyond with Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), a Canadian campus ministry group dedicated to evangelization.
Here's what they experienced:
- Essen for the Youth Arise International Festival (Aug 8-14)
- Cologne for all the World Youth Day activities (Aug 15-21)
- Munich for reflections on St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Rupert Mayer (Aug 22)
- Pollone to visit the Frassati summer home and reflect on Blessed Giorgio Frassati (Aug 23)
- Mesero to meet the family of St. Gianna Molla (Aug 25)
- Rome for reflections on the saints (Aug 26-28)
- Assisi for reflections on St. Clare and St. Francis (Aug 29)
Fr. Thomas Rosica, Caroline Brandes, Gillian Girodat, Caolan Moore, David Naglieri and Richard Valenti brought stories and updates on all the festivities – it was truly an amazing pilgrimage of faith and adventure.
World Youth Day celebrations kicked off to a lively start in German Dioceses with thousands of young Catholics worldwide eagerly awaiting August 16 in Cologne. The 5-day diocesan celebrations allowed pilgrims to connect with German culture, while giving German hosts a chance to prepare for the main event by welcoming guests from abroad. The days in the diocese include one day devoted to charitable projects in the cities, and after celebrating the feast of the Assumption on August 15, participants made the move from different dioceses to Cologne.
The opening mass was celebrated simultaneously in Cologne, Bonn, and Dusseldorf on August 16.
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| Welcome Mass | The Summit | The Pope Arrives |
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| World Youth Day remembers Brother Roger |
Today is the big day -- the Pope is coming!
We've had an amazing pilgrim adventure in Cologne so far, with the very energetic Welcoming Mass on Tuesday at the Rhine-Energie Stadium. In a venue reserved for sports stars and mega concerts, thousands of pilgrims roared with songs and shouts for joy as they waited to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Both inside and outside the stadium, the throngs of people heard Cologne Cardinal Joachim Meisner say, "You are the future of the Church and the future of the World, because you are the children of God, brothers and sisters of Christ and the living temple of the Holy Spirit."
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August 18th p.m.
This afternoon most of our team mixed in with the crowd at the field by the Rhine where the Pope's boat made its first stop. When the Holy Father arrived, the crowd rushed to the waterfront, cheering and chanting as he gave his address. There was a real atmosphere of joy as people were excited to welcome and embrace our new pontiff.
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I just returned from the opening Mass to begin World Youth Day and what a rush! People packed the stadium in Cologne and were in full form, chanting, singing and praying with all their hearts. There were still thousands outside the stadium waiting to get in when the Mass began and thousands more celebrated around the city and at the two other opening Masses in Düsseldorf and in Bonn.
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We're finally getting into the habit of sleeping on floors here in Essen and today we will leave for Cologne for new floors and new faces. While leaving, I’m struck by the 2000 youth at the YAI conference who have expressed great joy and enthusiasm during the week, singing praises and sharing their faith with others from around the world. The faith feels truly universal when you hear the songs and see the different expressions from across the globe.
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Already, the Salt and Light Crew is surrounded by the captivating energy that is stirring in Germany. Spirits are on the rise in Essen, where the crew is participating in the Youth Arise International Festival that continues until August 14. David Naglieri shares with us the events and excitement that is mounting in anticipation of the Pope.
 Report for August 12th |
Powerful expressions of faith in Christ, deep-sharing, loud singing, fervent prayer, spontaneous shouts of "Giovanni Paolo" and "Benedetto," smiling faces of every nationality and race... those are just some of the many sights and sunds dominating our first week in Germany.
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