Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

The Diocese of Portsmouth covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight,
the Channel Isles and parts of Berkshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire

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Read latest news! Australia here we come! 85 young people and leaders from the Portsmouth Diocese are setting off to travel to Australia. They are responding to Pope Benedict’s invitation to join him “Down Under” for the 23rd World Youth Day, which is being held in Sydney. There they will be joined by Bishop Crispian in the largest youth event in the world. The group from Portsmouth will be travelling with 44 young people from the Diocese of Clifton and Plymouth. The theme of the pilgrimage is: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.' Acts 1:8 The Portsmouth group, which includes 41 people from Jersey, will travel to Melbourne for the “Days in the Diocese” and will be hosted by the parish of St Simon the Apostle, Rowville. Here they will engage with young people from Australia and look at issues surrounding cultural identity, faith and what difference being a Catholic makes. The highlight of their stay in Melbourne will be a Commissioning Mass, presided over by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dennis Hart, at the Telstra Dome. Over 50,000 people will attend the Mass. After spending the weekend with host families the group will travel north to Sydney for the World Youth Day events. In Sydney they will join with 250,000 pilgrims from all over the world in a series of events. The culmination of the week will be the Prayer Vigil and World Youth Day Mass at Randwick Racecourse on Sunday 21st July. Dave Hill, the Diocesan Adviser for Youth Ministry and Group Leader, says, “It is a wonderful opportunity for young people from the Portsmouth Diocese to travel to Australia and be with Bishop Crispian and the Holy Father. We will see experience what it means to be part of the universal Church and engage in spiritual renewal with other young people.” Key WYD08 Statistics • Up to 225,000 registered pilgrims are expected to take part in WYD08 events each day, including 125,000 international visitors. • 100,000 Australian pilgrims are expected, including 40,000 from greater Sydney • An estimated 8,000 volunteers will assist • An estimated 2,000 clergy will be present • An estimated 700 Cardinals and Bishops will be present • Between 3,000 - 5,000 media are expected to cover the event • 3.5 million meals will be served to pilgrims • 100,000 will sleep in 700 schools and parishes • Up to 40,000 will be billeted as part of the HomeStay program • Approximately 20,000 will stay in Sydney hotels. The remainder will make their own arrangements.		WORLD YOUTH DAY PROGRAMME Tuesday 15 July 2008 • 4.30pm-6.30pm Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo • Youth Festival events Wednesday 16 July 2008 • 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis (teaching) sessions at over 250 locations across Sydney • Youth Festival events Thursday 17 July 2008 • 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis (teaching) 2.45pm Papal Boat-a-cade on Sydney Harbour • 3.30pm-4.30pm Papal Arrival at Barangaroo • 4.30pm-5.30pm Papal Motorcade through Sydney CBD streets • Youth Festival events Friday 18 July 2008 • 9.00am-12.00pm Catechesis sessions • 3.00-6.00pm Stations of the Cross - a re-enactment of the last moments of Jesus' life: St Mary's Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Domain • Youth Festival events Saturday 19 July 2008 • Pilgrimage walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse • 7.00pm-9.00pm Evening Vigil with the Pope and sleep out under the stars at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) Sunday 20 July 2008 • 9am, Papal flyover and motorcade through Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) • 10am, Final Mass celebrated by the Pope, Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) • 12.30pm-5pm Youth Festival events at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park) FOLLOW THE WYD08 EVENTS ON: EWTN 3rivers LINKS Official World Youth Day Melbourne Days in the Diocese St Simon the Apostle, Rowville Bishops of England and Wales Vatican Site

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