WYD 2011 Pilgrimage
The Diocesan Pilgrimage has been released and registrations of interest are now open.
WORLD YOUTH DAY
2011
Planted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith
DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN PILGRIMAGE
EUROPEAN PATHWAYS TO MADRID
Encounter together the spiritual graces of Rome and Assisi as we join with St Francis in his mission to “Go rebuild my Church”. Come to Lourdes, the “City of Mary” as she blesses our way towards Madrid before our week long gathering with the youth of the world.
Meal Code
B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner © Copyright 2009-2011
DAY 1: THURSDAY 4H AUGUST 2011 – FLY NEW ZEALAND TO ITALY
DAY 2: FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST – ARRIVE ROME
Rome, the eternal city, is home for every wandering pilgrim. Its vibrancy and beauty is written into the monuments, artworks, cathedrals and basilicas that await us on the pilgrim’s journey. From St Peter’s Square to the Vatican Museum, from Michelangelo and Bernini to the underground catacombs, Rome tells its amazing story of faith through the ages.
After being met on arrival, we will enjoy an orientation drive through Rome to our place of accommodation. Remainder of the day at leisure or perhaps wander down to St Peter’s to check out the awesome Basilica – larger than 3 football fields!
Rome overnight (D)
DAY 3: SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST – ROME PILGRIMAGE
This morning we will visit the Vatican and wander the spectacular chambers and halls leading to the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s masterpieces, including the magnificent fresco of the Last Judgment. We continue through to the awe inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world for an informative guided visit. Here too we will also come and pray before the tomb of Pope John Paul II, located in the Grotto of the Popes underneath the Basilica.
A free afternoon to discover the sights of Rome in small groups (optional). Why not visit the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain and indulge in a gelato at the Piazza Navona. Alternatively enjoy the opportunity to descend under the catacombs of St Peters Basilica for a Scavi Excavations tour that will leave us breathless.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 4: SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST – ROME PILGRIMAGE
After a private Mass at St Peter’s Basilica this morning we come to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls as a special tribute to the Church’s greatest evangelist. Journey on to the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour as we explore these underground burial tunnels for Christians and Hebrews.
Continue by coach this afternoon to the impressive St. Mary Major Basilica. Onwards to the Basilica of St. John in Lateran (First Papal residence) and the adjacent Holy Stairs brought from Jerusalem to Rome in 326AD by St Helena (as a favourite of pilgrims, these steps may only be ascended on the knees).
Visit then the Basilica of Santa Croce in Jerusalem with its extraordinary collection of relics from the Holy Land including a full size replica of the Shroud of Turin. Our day will end with a stop at the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 5: MONDAY 8TH AUGUST – VIA ORVIETO TO ASSISI
We farewell Rome and journey north to the quaint Umbrian town of Orvieto, place of the famous Eucharistic Miracle of 1263. Continuing on today we will come to the pilgrimage centre of Assisi where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan Order.
On arrival in this medieval town we will firstly visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels down on the plain where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we will see the Portiuncola, the thornless rose bush, the cave where the saint returned for prayer and the Chapel where he died in 1226. Onwards to the Upper Town to the Church of St Clare where we will kneel before the famous crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis.
Assisi overnight (BD)
DAY 6: TUESDAY 9TH AUGUST – ASSISI PILGRIMAGE
This morning we awake to the atmospheric sounds of chapel bells, cobblestone footsteps and a tangible spirit of St Francis preserved within the walls of this holy town.
After breakfast we enjoy a guided walking tour through some of the town’s highlights including: Basilica of St Francis housing the tomb of St Francis (for Mass); the quaint Church of St Damiano built on the site where St Francis heard the voice of Christ speaking through the crucifix ‘go rebuild my Church, which you see is falling down’. The tour will culminate high up at the Hermitage (Eremo Delle Carceri), an oasis of peace and tranquility in the woods built on the site of a simple cave where St Francis often withdrew to spend many hours in prayer. The cave and the Chapel of Our Lady are preserved in the Hermitage.
Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. An opportunity also presents itself in the evening to attend Vespers in the Church of St Clare and listen to the angelic voices of the Poor Clare nuns.
Assisi overnight (BD)
DAY 7: WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST – ASSISI TO LYON
This morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Lyon. On arrival we will be met and taken on a tour of the city. We will visit the Cathedral where the first Marists (Society of Mary) were ordained. Ascend by funicular to the hill of Fourviere where they made their promise to Our Lady to form a new society under her care. Also here is the magnificent Basilica planned and built in thanksgiving that Lyon was spared by the Prussian army in 1870.
Lyon overnight (BD)
DAY 8: THURSDAY 11TH AUGUST – LYON PILGRIMAGE
There is a close link between Lyon and New Zealand in the form of Mother Mary Joseph Aubert and Bishop Pompallier. In 1860, Suzanne Aubert along with a group of other young people, left her native land with Bishop Pompallier and travelled to New Zealand to spread the Gospel among the native Maori people.
In 1892, she became Mother Superior of the first New Zealand Congregation, the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion. Bishop Pompallier, also originally from Lyon, was the first vicar apostolic to visit New Zealand and became the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland.
Today’s touring includes places associated with the lives of Mother Aubert and Bishop Pompallier among other highlights.
Lyon overnight (BD)
DAY 9: FRIDAY 12TH AUGUST – LYON TO LOURDES
Departing Lyon this morning, we travel south to Avignon, which was home to the Vatican in the 14th century. Avignon’s Palace of the Popes is the imposing Medieval structure still standing in all it’s grandeur. We will visit this structure before continuing by road to Lourdes set amidst the majestic Pyrenees Mountains. It was in this small town that Our Lady first appeared to St Bernadette in 1858.
Optional Torchlight Procession after dinner tonight at the Shrine.
Lourdes overnight (BD)
DAY 10: SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST – LOURDES
This morning we will celebrate a group Mass at the Grotto before meeting our guide for a walking tour of Lourdes including the Sanctuary area: Upper & Lower Basilicas, the Grotto and the Baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. Continue our visit of the main sites associated with St Bernadette including the Boly Mill where she was born in 1844, the original parish church and the Cachot (prison) where the family were forced to live due to misfortune during the time of the apparitions.
This afternoon we will have free time for a visit and prayers for the sick at the miraculous Baths where the water has continued to flow since 1858. You may choose to submerge yourself in the healing waters, or collect the Lourdes water at the taps. During her ninth apparition to Bernadette, Our Lady said “Go drink and wash yourself at the spring”. Optional afternoon Blessed Sacrament Procession and Blessing of the Sick before an evening candlelight procession after dinner down at the shrine.
Lourdes overnight (BD)
Note: Washing at the baths is a worthwhile experience and is carried out in a discreet manner with the process generally respecting one’s privacy.
DAY 11: SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST - VIA SAN SEBASTIAN & LOYOLA TO BURGOS
Travel due west today into Spain and on to the oceanside town of San Sebastian for a splash-out in the Atlantic Ocean. Continue after lunch to nearby Loyola where St Ignatius was born – and where he later found his conversion. In Loyola pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the impressive Sanctuary of St Ignatius, including the Casa Santa (Holy House) – 13th century tower house – where he was born and spent many of his early years. Visit the sparse room where he lived and recovered from his injuries and developed his spiritual life.
Travel south to the city of Burgos for our overnight stay.
Burgos overnight (BD)
DAY 12: MONDAY 15TH AUGUST – BURGOS TO WYD MADRID
Enjoy a visit this morning of the famous Burgos Cathedral built in 1221 – one of the universal jewels of Gothic architecture.
From here we will join the streams of young pilgrims converging today on the World Youth Day host city and our long-awaited meeting with the youth of the world and Pope Benedict XVI.
WORLD YOUTH DAY - MADRID (7 NIGHTS)
Upon our arrival in Spain’s capital, we will be welcomed and ushered to the nearby registration point before being transferred by coach to our place of simple accommodation.
At this point we will receive our WYD pilgrim’s bag containing the WYD handbook, tourist guide, pilgrim pass, transport card and all the information you need to get around Madrid and participate in WYD events.
Madrid 7 nights (Hostel/University Residence Lodgings - WYD B,L,D daily)
DAY 13: TUESDAY 16TH AUGUST - Official Opening Mass of Welcome
The city of Madrid has some amazing sites and attractions and it will be alive with hundreds of thousands of young people who have come for this great event.
DAY 14: WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST – AVILA PILGRIMAGE
Today we will enjoy a full day tour to the historic walled town of Avila, where the atmosphere has changed little since the days of St Teresa, to whom the city is dedicated. It was here that she entered the Carmelite convent and encountered many mystical experiences during her time.
Upon arrival visit Avila’s Cathedral which was started in the 12th century (containing many of St Teresa’s relics) before entering the Monastery of the Incarnation where St Teresa’s cell can be seen as well as other relics of her life. We will then visit the Convent of St Teresa built over the saint’s birthplace and located just inside the South Gate of the town. Most of the convent remains in cloister but you can see the very spot where she was born, now a chapel in the Baroque church.
DAYS 15-16: THUR 18TH–FRI 19TH AUGUST – Catechesis & Youth Festival
For the next few days at hundreds of venues spread across the city, small groups will gather to talk about faith and celebrate their journey which has brought them to this moment.
There will be opportunities for Catechesis in the mornings, Daily Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Youth Festival will bring music, dance and dramatic performances from around the world to small and large stadiums across the city.
On Thursday afternoon, we will celebrate the Pope’s arrival as we welcome him in a huge celebration which will live long in our memories.
Friday will focus on the moving Way of the Cross when young pilgrims will contemplate the reality of Christ’s passion and the call to true freedom.
DAY 17: SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST - Pilgrimage Walk to WYD Vigil
Today will begin the mass mobilization of pilgrims along set walking paths through the city as they converge on the huge designated outdoor site chosen for the historic WYD gathering here in Madrid. An afternoon of concerts, performances, and song will unfold as we await the arrival of the Holy Father.
Evening Vigil:
This begins the main event! Millions of young people together with the Pope – a summer evening of unforgettable atmosphere. The celebrations continue all night as we share in a global sleep-out under the stars.
DAY 18: SUNDAY 21ST AUGUST - XXVI World Youth Day
As the sun rises we’ll share in Morning Prayer, breakfast and the climactic
WYD Papal Mass with the youth of the world.
The Holy Father will give us his special message and blessing. Time then to say goodbye as the Pope sends forth the youth to every nation of the world.
DAYS 19-21: MON 22ND–WED 24TH AUGUST – VALENCIA RETREAT
This morning we will travel out of Madrid heading east towards the coast and the seaside city of Valencia, the history of which goes back two millennia to the days of the Roman Empire.
We will spend the following 3 nights here in youth lodgings for an opportunity to retreat and enjoy water sports activities while taking the time to process the amazing past days in Madrid. Valencia underwent a remarkable revival following the final conquest by Christian forces in 1238 and many of the historical landmarks today date back to this period.
While in Valencia we will enjoy a tour of some of these highlights including the famous early Gothic Cathedral which has reputedly been the home of the Holy Chalice of the Last Supper for the past 500 years. In Plaza Zaragoza where the Cathedral stands, we see an unfinished 47 metre Gothic tower called the Miguelete which dates back to the 14th century. We will have the opportunity to climb this tower to get a great view over the city towards the agricultural lands beyond.
Valencia retreat – 3 nights (BD daily)
DAY 22: THURSDAY 25TH AUGUST – DEPART SPAIN
Today we will transfer back to the airport for our homebound flight connections to New Zealand.
DAY 23/24: SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST – ARRIVE NEW ZEALAND
(Mass will be celebrated daily during the Pilgrimage)
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