World Youth Day 2016 – Day Seven

Pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016, Krakow, Poland

The Very Rev Christopher de Souza VG EV PP our Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar for Education and Formation is leading pilgrims from the Diocese of Parramatta to World Youth Day 2016 (WYD).

WYD 2016 will be a pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland for a week-long festival of faith with millions of youth from around the world joining Pope Francis for an encounter with Jesus.

WYD is a part of a tradition initiated by the late Pope John Paul II (now St John Paul) for the Church to be with the youth, for the youth. Pope John Paul II described World Youth Day’s objective as: “…to make the person of Jesus the centre of the faith and life of every young person so that He may be their constant point of reference and also the inspiration of every initiative and commitment for the education of the new generations.”

2016 will be a very special WYD. Krakow is where the founder, Pope John Paul II, studied and was Archbishop.

The Diocese of Parramatta WYD Communications Team will be capturing stories during WYD 2016. You can follow the pilgrimage below.


Destination Krakow via Wadowice

Pilgrims had the wonderful opportunity to visit Jasna Gora for a third time as they came together this morning for the celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Terence Curtin and fellow pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Upon leaving Czestochowa, the pilgrims set off for Wadowice, the town in which St John Paul II was born, where the Wojtyla family was situated, and where the future pope received the sacraments of initiation. Upon entering the town square, pilgrims were met with a most picturesque setting comprised of the Basilica of the Assumption, the John Paul II Family Home Museum and an array of period shops and restaurants. The interior of the Basilica housed the baptismal font in which the pope entered the church along with a magnificent and favourite image of the pontiff, the miraculous painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Pilgrims also noted the sundial on the exterior of the basilica which marks the time at which the saintly pope went to meet his eternal reward.

After eating a quick lunch and tasting the pope’s favourite desert, the now world renowned ‘kremowki’, pilgrims had an hour long tour of the aforementioned museum. It provided a wonderful and often moving memorial to the pope and saint who did so much to influence the course of his nation’s and ultimately, world history.

The last trip of the day saw the pilgrimage enter into Krakow where the pilgrims where able to settle in comfortably to the accommodation for the next week at the AGH University situated in the heart of the city centre.

Pilgrimage 1 & 2 are now combined. For more frequent updates and photos check out the CYP Facebook page

For day six, click here.

For day five, click here.

For day four, click here.

For day three, click here.

For day two, click here.

For day one, click here.


The Diocese of Parramatta will be a hosting a special WYD event in Greystanes on July 31.

Bishop Vincent will be celebrating Mass at 6pm, followed by a live stream at 7pm of the closing Mass with Pope Francis.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1021738987863548/

Essential details

  • 31 July, 6pm-9pm
  • Our Lady Queen of Peace, Greystanes
  • 6pm – Special WYD Mass with Bishop Vincent
  • 7pm – Food, live stream to the Closing Mass with Pope Francis, testimonies from past pilgrims, great music, Filipino and Polish flavours all round and video messages from our pilgrims in Krakow

Our friends at the Archdiocese of Sydney are also covering World Youth Day. You can keep track of their coverage below:

From the 27th to the 31st July the main events of World Youth Day 2016 (including the Australian Gathering) will be streamed on the Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic youth website www.Xt3.com

There will be a live online chat portal during the WYD main events and viewers can join the global conversation whilst they watch.

Visit www.xt3.com/live for all the webcast times and details.

Xt3.com also has a National WYD Blog with updates from pilgrims around Australia. Visit: www.xt3.com/wyd2016blog

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