1000 CANADIAN YOUTH TO ATTEND WORLD YOUTH DAY

CCCB RELEASE

2013wyd(CCCB- Ottawa)... Young pilgrims from all over the world are expected inRio de JaneiroBrazil, July 23-28, 2013, to participate in the 28th World Youth Day (WYD). This will be the first WYD in the papacy of Pope Francis who will travel to Brazil, July 22-29, on his first apostolic voyage outsideItaly since his election. Over a thousand Canadian young pilgrims are planning to attend this international gathering. Its theme is "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations". Following the example of the 2011 WYD in Madrid, the Canadian pilgrims will again gather for a national celebration. This will be on July 25 at the Vivo Rio Welcome Centre. From July 16 to 20, Canadian youth pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the dioceses of Brazil as part of a missionary week.
In addition to the 1,153 young people, eight Bishops will be part of the Canadian delegation, including the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton. Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B, CEO of Salt + Light Television and former National Director of Canada's World Youth Day in 2002, has been appointed by the CCCB as its World Youth Day coordinator for the Canadian delegation to Brazil. Father Rosica was also the CCCB coordinator for the Canadian delegation to the Madrid WYD.
During his apostolic voyage to Brazil, Pope Francis will preside at various celebrations. These include Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception (Aparecida, July 24); the welcoming WYD ceremony with youth (July 25); the Stations of the Cross on Friday evening (July 26); Mass with the Bishops at the 28th WYD, together with priests, religious and seminarians in Saint Sebastian Cathedral (July 27); as well as the evening prayer vigil on Saturday (July 27), and the closing Mass on Sunday at Campus Fidei (Guaratiba, July 28). He will also visit a hospital and the Varginha slum community, which is part of the shantytown complex of Manguinhos. In addition, the Holy Father’s week will include a celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with young people participating in WYD; a brief encounter with young prisoners; meeting with Brazil's leaders; and meetings with WYD volunteers and also with the Coordinating Committee of CELAM (the Latin American Episcopal Council). The Pope will also have breakfast with the Cardinals of Brazil, the Presidency of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, and the Bishops from the Rio de Janeiro region.
Vivo Rio Welcome Centre
The Welcome Centre Vivo Rio is a performing arts facility in the eastern Flamengo area of Rio, on the shores of Guanabara Bay, not far from other WYD activities around the city. Much of the programming at the Welcome Center will take place in the afternoons and evenings from Wednesday, July 24, to Friday, July 26, 2013. Canadians will have their national gathering on Thursday afternoon in this building.
Throughout the week, Canada’s Salt + Light Television and The Catholic Radio Channel (USA) will be broadcasting from the Welcome Center, conducting interviews and interacting with pilgrims in Rio, as well as young people tuning in from around the world. Salt + Light will also broadcast all events fromRio de Janeiro live on its television network and also through its live-streaming feature on the Salt + Light website (www.saltandlighttv.org).
The Welcome Center involves the collaboration of the CCCB, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, as well as organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Holy Cross Family Ministries, Salt + Light Catholic Television Network, The Catholic Channel, the National Religious Vocations Conference, The Jesuit Conference USA, Oregon Catholic Press, and World Library Publications.
Further information
Further information on WYD 2013 is available on the Vatican Website 

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