Pope Francis blesses youths ahead of a prayer vigil on the occasion of the World Youth Days, in Campus Misericordiae in Brzegi, near Krakow, Poland, Saturday, July 30, 2016. The 79-year-old Francis has had an unrelenting schedule since he arrived in Poland on Wednesday for World Youth Days, a global Catholic gathering which culminates Sunday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Most of the 26 dioceses across the island of Ireland have organised a WYD pilgrimage
Mags Gargan, Cathal Barry and Greg Daly
Nearly 1,500 young Irish pilgrims are travelling to World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow this July, nearly 10 times the number who went to Rio de Janeiro in 2013.
Most of the 26 dioceses across the island of Ireland have organised a WYD pilgrimage and diocesan youth ministries have reported that a combination of the appeal of Pope Francis, the shorter distance to travel and the unique WYD faith experience have attracted young people in large numbers.
“WYD is a brand in itself that young people are familiar with, but they also love idea of meeting Pope Francis or attending Mass with him,” said Pauline Dowd from the Diocese of Down & Connor, which has 54 pilgrims attending.
Robert Norton from Kildare & Leighlin said the diocese has a waiting list after filling their 130 pilgrim seats. “Bishop Dennis Nulty is leading us and we will be mostly sleeping on classroom floors, but it is a fabulous experience that gives young people another side of faith,” he said. “Sometimes we are private in our faith, especially youngsters, and getting a bigger experience with people their own age comfortable talking about faith empowers them.”
Preparations
WYD preparations in the Archdiocese of Dublin began three years ago and 300 will travel on the pilgrimage. “We invited parishes to provide young leaders we would train to mentor the younger pilgrims with a view that in September they would have a structure in place to welcome these young people back and integrate them into the parish,” said Gerard Gallagher.
Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will lead 20 pilgrims from Waterford who will join 30 pilgrims from the Diocese of Cloyne. “I believe it will be wonderful for the young adults to experience the Church at its very best and encounter others of their age group from parts of the world who are deeply committed to their faith and to their church,” he told The Irish Catholic.
Frank McGuinness from the Diocese of Elphin said the exposure to faith at WYD “is something young people in Ireland aren’t really getting in terms of that universality and the sheer numbers of Catholics that are active worldwide”. Fr Donagh O’Meara in Killaloe said the experience was also “a great opportunity to build friendships”.
Some 50 pilgrims from the Diocese of Clogher will join another 50 from Derry, where Yvonne Rooney said Pope Francis “draws young people and brings excitement to it all” and the event is “great formation in young people’s faith journeys and for us it helps in identifying potential leaders”.
Active
Fr Brian White in Armagh, which is bringing 100 pilgrims, said he hoped “young people’s faith will be reinvigorated and they’ll be active in parishes and will become leaders of diocesan youth events in future”.
Two bishops, Brendan Leahy and Donal Murray, are travelling to Poland with 50 young pilgrims from Limerick and Bishop Denis Brennan is leading a pilgrimage of 35 from Ferns diocese. Youth 2000, which was founded after World Youth Day in Spain in 1989, is taking a group of 71 pilgrims and has a waiting list.
“It is such a fantastic atmosphere to be there with 2-3 million young people from other countries and see the enthusiasm and excitement,” said National Leader, Lana Wilson.