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World
Youth Day
World
Youth Day (It. La Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù)
is the Roman Catholic Church's gathering for and
with young people - all young people across the
world are invited without discrimination, whilst
the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith.
It was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1984.
It is celebrated on a diocesan level annually,
and at a week-long international level every two
to three years at different locations. The international
level events attract hundreds of thousands of
youths from almost every country on the planet.
It is a major part of the upsurge in Catholic
Youth Work in some countries over recent years;
for example, the Director of Catholic Youth Services
for England and Wales has said of the event that
it would have far-reaching effects, not restricted
to those who attended.
Purpose
The
stated purpose of World Youth Day is:
1. Gathering together: World Youth Day is a coming
together of young people from all over the world
and a strong reminder of the strength and confidence
the young bring to the Catholic Church today.
A calling for the world's youth to come together
as one people.
2. Putting trust in the young: World Youth Day
is not simply a gathering for the young people
of the world, but a time to put trust in the world's
youth.
3. Meeting the international world on a human
level: It is still a marvel in this the 21st Century
to exchange with others and to be a part of an
international experience. International events
are able to stir much hope but also many fears
(increase in fundamentalism, nationalism and other
new conflicts). The Catholic Church and Christians
feel themselves to have a role to play in preventing
the development of these fears, and in aiding
each person in finding their way and discovering
hope.
World
Youth Day 2008
Australia
was chosen as the site of the 2008 World Youth
Day celebrations. The decision was made by Pope
Benedict XVI during the conclusion ceremonies
of the 2005 World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne,
Germany.
The
occasion will mark only the fourth Papal visit
to the country, and has been commended by the
then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and
the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.
The
theme of World Youth Day 2008 will be "You
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts1:8)
(Credit:
Wikipedia)
News
Articles
Ray
Martin to host Youth Day broadcast - 28th March
2008
(Credit:
The Australian)
Ray
Martin had just been named host of the World Youth
Day broadcast when he called on divine intervention
for his footy team.
Martin
was today named as host for the World Youth Day's
English-speaking broadcast, which will be fed
to SBS and Sky in Australia, and to about 500,000
people internationally.
The
gathering of Catholic youths will be held in Sydney
from July 15 to July 20, and will mark the first
visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.
The
event is expected to attract 125,000 pilgrims
from overseas, and 100,000 from Australia, while
a further one billion are expected to watch the
event on television.
World
Youth Day will culminate in the Pope's mass at
Randwick Racecourse, only the fourth time a pontiff
has given mass in Australia.
Sydney's
Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, said
the church was "delighted" to have a
professional of Ray Martin's stature as host of
the English-language broadcast.
"He's
covered many diverse and wonderful occasions -
the Commonwealth Games, the 1988 Bicentenary spectacular,
the funeral of John Paul II," he said.
"Another
significant factor in our choice of Ray for this
role was the many good works that he has done
for philanthropic causes around Australia, especially
for indigenous reconciliation and also for the
Fred Hollows Foundation."
Martin
has been contracted by the church for the role,
while global media giant IMG Media will beam the
telecast around the world.
He
will cover five live events, including the Pope's
mass at Randwick Racecourse on July 20 and his
arrival in Sydney by boat on July 17.
Martin,
who quit the Nine Network in February after 30
years with the station, admitted he was excited
and a little nervous about the scale of the event.
"I've
never had an audience of half a billion before,
so we'll see how nervous that gets on the day,"
said the former host of the Nine Network's A Current
Affair, The Midday Show and Sunday.
"I
won't think of that too often, I'll tend to think
of one or two people.
"It's
not quite World Cup, but it's up there with it,
isn't it?"
World
Youth Day would show "the face of Australia,
and the face of Australian Catholicism and Christianity
around the world", he said.
Once
the brief press conference and photo opportunity
with Cardinal Pell was over, Martin couldn't help
appealing to a higher power to help his winless
NRL favourite.
"There
were no questions about football," he said.
"Perhaps the Pope can do something for South
Sydney."
"They'll
need someone of his stature," Cardinal Pell
fired back.
Press
Release
World
Youth Day 2008 goes to print with official newspapers
- 29th April 2008
World
Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) organisers are pleased
to announce The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday
Telegraph as the official newspapers of the event.
Sydney's
two biggest-selling metropolitan newspapers, The
Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph are published
by Australia's largest media organisation News
Limited.
The Daily Telegraph is the leading newspaper in
NSW with around 375,000 copies sold and a readership
of 1.12 million* every day.
The
Sunday Telegraph is Australia’s most widely
read newspaper, with 670,000 copies sold daily,
equating to 1.75 million* readers.
“We
are delighted to be partnering with The Daily
Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph,” said
WYD08 Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey.
“They
have a great track record in partnering with other
high profile community events held in Australia,
such as The Royal Easter Show, Sydney Festival,
Sydney Swans games, the NRL and Taronga Zoo.
“This
is furthered by their experience with other major
events including the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games,
the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and Australia
Day,” he said.
As
the official partner, The Daily Telegraph and
The Sunday Telegraph will be the ultimate information
source for WYD08, both in print and online.
“The
Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph look
forward to being part of Australia’s largest
ever event and helping Sydney keep up to date
with the latest WYD08 news,” said Michael
Wilkins, managing editor of The Daily Telegraph
and The Sunday Telegraph.
“More
than 100,000 Australians are expected to attend
World Youth Day and many more will be interested
in the events happening around Sydney.
“Our
newspapers will once again capture the excitement
and pride Sydney felt when it hosted the Olympics.”
Sydney
will host the 23rd World Youth Day from 15-20
July this year. The event - hosted by the Catholic
Church, but open to all - will mark the first
visit to Australia by His Holiness Pope Benedict
XVI.
*Roy
Morgan research December 2007
Only
77 days to go to WYD08!
Media
enquiries:
Anita Sulentic, Media Manager 02 9390 5449 | 0404
045 049 | anita.sulentic@wyd2008.org
Mandy Higgins, Media Coordinator 02 9390 5901
| 0410 477 935| mandy.higgins@wyd2008.org
Websites
World
Youth Day
World
Youth Day 2008
Profiles
Ray
Martin
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