Pilgrims will join Pope Francis at his second World Youth Day celebration
A delegation of youth and young adults, led by clergy and laity from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will depart on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) with Pope Francis in Krakow, Poland from July 26-31, 2016.
This will be Pope Francis’ second appearance at a World Youth Day gathering as the Holy Father. His first international appearance as Pope was at the previous World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. Many of the current WYD pilgrims attended the Holy Father’s visit last September during World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015.
Photo Opportunity: Close to 20 pilgrims departing for World Youth Day from Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensalem (Bucks County) will receive a blessing after Communion at the 10:00 a.m. Mass immediately followed by a send-off celebration in their honor in the parish hall. Bishop-elect Edward M. Deliman, who will be ordained as Philadelphia’s newest Auxiliary Bishop on August 18, 2016, will offer the blessing for pilgrims. Father Charles J. Ravert, Parochial Vicar of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, who will be a leader on the pilgrimage to Krakow, will be the main celebrant and homilist.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
10:00 a.m.
Saint Charles Borromeo Parish
1731 Hulmeville Road
Bensalem, PA 19020 (Bucks County)
Approximately, 100 local pilgrims from six delegations will join more than 40,000 young people from the United States. Together, they comprise the largest American contingent to attend the international gathering at a location outside of North America since its inception. Current students, alumni and faculty attending from Archdiocesan high schools include: Archbishop John Carroll High School (Delaware County), Bishop Shanahan High School (Chester County), Father Judge High School for Boys, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, and Archbishop Ryan High School.
Local participation is being coordinated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Catechetical Formation and Office for Youth and Young Adults.
In addition to the young people joining this global pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. and Auxiliary Bishops John McIntyre and Michael Fitzgerald will also be in Krakow to take part in World Youth Day Events. Archbishop Chaput was one of 13 U.S. bishops selected as a Catechist for the events.
World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering of Catholic youth with the Holy Father, established by Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is celebrated annually in Rome at the diocesan level on Palm Sunday and at a week-long event international every two to three years.
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Editor’s Notes: Archdiocesan pilgrims will be available for interviews while on the trip. To arrange an interview, please contact the Office for Communications at [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts will be providing local social media coverage of the WYD pilgrimage.
For more information on World Youth Day, please visit its official website at http://www.krakow2016.com/en/.