CONDITIONS FOR BOOKING

Please ensure you have read and understand the following before completing your booking form.

• All those aged between 16-35 years of age on August 1^st 2011 may travel to WYD as it is a specific youth orientated event.
• You must be 16 or older by August 1st 2011.
• To go on the pilgrimage you must attend one of the information evenings to show your interest in participating as a pilgrim.
• To guarantee a place your application form together with a deposit for £100 / € 150 deductible from the total cost, must be received on the induction nights or before Monday 18^th October.
• Registration closes on Monday 18th October.

All those wanting to travel as pilgrims must attend one of the following induction nights (all under 18s must be  accompanied by a parent or guardian)

Induction and Information dates – each evening @ 7:30 pm

Wednesday 13^th October – Magnet Pastoral Centre, Dundalk

Monday 11^th October  –  Armagh Cathedral Synod Hall

Wednesday 13^th October  – Cookstown Parish Hall

For an Application Form please click here: Application Form

For those currently under 18 please click here: Parental Consent Form

The Cost

We want to keep the pilgrimage as affordable to as many as possible whilst also making it as enriching as possible. The cost will be £620 or €750 (at the current exchange rate). We have kept the cost as tight as possible with the following included

As child protection guidelines stand at the moment, we are unable to simply sleep on a floor in a school or church hall so we have to stay in basic hotel accommodation as a minimum. With well over 1 million visitors expected in and around Madrid during WYD week, accommodation costs are at a premium.

The complete pilgrimage is nearly 2 weeks long so we thing it represents tremendous value for money

Included is:

• Travel to and from and within Spain
• All food and accommodation while in Spain
• Registration fee and Solidarity fee for World Youth Day
• The Barcelona retreat package
• Group t-shirts or hoodies

Insurance will not be included. It is up to each individual to provide their own

Don’t let the cost of WYD put you off – it’s worth it! 

With the leaders for each area it is planned that pilgrims will be joining up in groups of  6 – 10 for preparation both spiritually and otherwise.

We have many ideas for fundraising and a staged payment plan. If you talk to people who have fundraised in the past for WYD, many will tell you how the money came in quicker and easier than they thought it would.

You will probably find it easier to fundraise together with people in your parish or cluster. If using any of these ideas for fundraising make sure you get all the right permission and have an adult around. Generally people are happy to help.

• Talent Contests / Parish X Factor / Fashion Show / Do a gig / Run a ‘Battle of the Bands’
• Sponsored events eg. walking, cycling etc.
• Ask Christmas / birthday presents to be money towards WYD
• Treasure hunt and charge people to enter
• Spanish themed party / Christmas party / Fancy dress party
• Coffee morning
• Bag packing
• Car washing in parishes
• Cake sales
• Carol singing
• Make and sell Christmas cards

For further information talk to people who have fundraised for World Youth Day in the past.

Payment Plan

This is a suggested payment plan to help spread the cost. We will be asking pilgrims to have half paid before Christmas and the other half paid before the 1^st May 2011 which will allow a few months to save some spending money.

Cheques are to be made payable to Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission and must have the names (or names) of the person the payment is for, clearly written on the back of the cheque. Receipts will be sent for all payments received. Apart from the deposit that needs to be brought to the induction meeting for pilgrims and parents or forwarded on the following weekend  to the Diocesan Youth Office (address on first page), along with the application form

Travel Itinerary – list details from travel solutions

11 Aug – Orientation in Barcelona

12 Aug – Montserrat National Park

The monastery of Montserrat is no specific architectural landmark, however excited the backdrop in which the ruins are build. Many of the tourists travel alone because of the statue of the Black Madonna, patron saint of Catalonia. The figure of the 12th century throne on the high altar in the basilica of the monastery. Her to honor Gregorian chants will be sang daily by about 50 choir boys.

The mountain Montserrat has been of religious significance since pre-Christian time. Before Christ a temple to worship Venus was built by the Romans. In the first written mention of 888 was reported the adoption of the construction by the first monastery of 880 AD. There were hermit monks, the various hermitages the Montserrat had built. The monastery was founded then by expanding of the hermitage of Santa Maria 1025.

Then in the 12th Century Black Madonna, still the target of pilgrimages, things were attributed to miracles. These miracles owed the monastery a strong growth period.
Numerous famous personalities’ pilgrimage to Montserrat: Pope Benedict XIII., Columbus, Cervantes, von Humboldt, King Fernando and Isabella, Carlos I, Felipe II. and Louis XIV..
Columbus named on his second trip 1493 an Antilles island to Montserrat.
In 1811, the monastery was largely destroyed by Napoleonic troops. The Benedictine monastery was rebuilt.

13 Aug – Retreat to Sant Cugat / Meeting Spanish Young People

The monastery’s origin date back to the 9th century, when it was decided to unite the church (existing from the 5th century) housing the remains of St. Cucuphas (Catalan: Sant Cugat) to an annexed fortification. The monastery started to the expand its possessions from the 10th century onwards. In 985 it was damaged by an attack of Muslim troops led by al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir.

In the late 11th century, count Ramon Berenguer II of Barcelona decreed that the monastery would be subject to St Ponce de Tomieres, in Provence, creating turmoil amongst the monks of Sant Cugat. The abbot of St. Ponce moved to the Catalan monastery and the monks who disagreed with his administration were expelled. However, the bishop of Barcelona claimed his rights over the monastery, which was returned to the diocese of Barcelona. At the time Sant Cugat was controlling the monasteries of Santa Cecília de Montserrat, Sant Llorenç del Munt, Sant Pau del Camp, Sant Pere de Clará and Sant Salvador de Breda.

In the mid-12th century the construction of a new monastery was begun. It was finished in 1337. In 1350 the fortification works started. In this period, however, the monastery started to decline. The nomination of the abbot, previously belonging to the monks, was switched to the diocese. During the War of Spanish Succession, it was occupied by troops of Archduke Charles, causing damage to the structure. Restoration works were lated completed in 1789.

14 Aug –Retreat / Group skills in Barcelona Park and sight seeing of Barcelona

15 Aug – Prepare for the Feast of the Assumption

Mass of Sending to WYD — On the 15th, solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Bishops of Barcelona will celebrate the 2011 Mass to send pilgrims to Madrid. We hope to join in the fiesta and celebrations for the feast day in Barcelona

16 Aug – Registration for World Youth Day

Travel to Madrid by bus, check into the hotel and register for WYD

From the early morning, the pilgrims and groups registered in WYD will be able to collect their accreditation and backpacks in the places indicated by the organization.

   19:00 – WYD Opening Mass

The World Day begins at 5:30 pm (provisional time) with a Mass in Madrid´s Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD.

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little…

17 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid. The rest of the day will be spent with various youth activities

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little…

18 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

   17:00 – Papal Welcome

At 5:00 pm (provisional time), the participants will receive the Pope in Cibeles Square.

   21:00 – Youth Festival

The first activities of the WYD cultural Program begin, which include concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little.

19 Aug – Programme

09:00 – Catechesis sessions

WYD participants, organized by linguistic groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

   17:00 – Friday´s Youth Festival

WYD cultural program, which includes concerts, exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, and a long etcetera. The program will be unveiled little by little …

   21:00 – Via Crucis

At 9:00 pm (provisional time) the WYD Via Crucis will begin. At each station, a statue from the traditional Spanish Holy Week will be located, representing the scene. These statues will come from all over Spain.

20 Aug – Programme

16:00 – Preparatory ceremony in Cuatro Vientos

Young people will arrive little by little at the aerodrome and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities will take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.), to prepare for the Vigil.

   20:00 – Vigil with the Pope

At 8:00 pm (provisional time), the Pope will arrive at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome, and Eucharistic adoration will begin. Planned is an address by the Holy Father.

   23:00 – Night in Cuatro Vientos

WYD participants will spend the night in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where they will be able to adore the Most Blessed Sacrament.

21 Aug – Programme

09:00 – WYD Mass of Sending

At 9:00 am (provisional time) the Pope will concelebrate Mass with thousands of bishops and priests, and he will address young people and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next edition of World Youth Day will be held.

How are we travelling to and from Spain?

We will be flying from either Dublin or Belfast, depending on pricing from the travel company. At the minute it is looking that Belfast is cheaper but confirmation cannot be made until final booking numbers are confirmed. We land in Barcelona and will be bussed to the hotel. During the following 4 days we will travel around Barcelona to the sites of our days of retreat and spiritual preparation. We conclude with the send off  Mass and celebrations of the Feast of the Assumption

On this feast day we will join in the great religious fiesta taking part in the city with the procession of the statue and all the adjoining celebrations. The next day we set off for Madrid by bus to join the WYD weekly enrolment, cathechesis and programs.

On the Monday morning after the vigil and Sunday mass we will fly back home to Ireland.

General Information

When exactly is World Youth Day 2011?

World Youth ‘Day’ is much than a day. The first part is usually ‘Days in the Diocese’ in a diocese usually of the host country.

This usually involves staying with host families. The co-ordinating committee felt that this would not be suitable due to the language barrier, hence we will be travelling to Barcelona for 4 days preparation and staying in basic hotels instead. During this time we will prepare as a group with retreat days in Montserrat, Sant Cougat and Barcelona. We are also working presently on setting up an exchange evening with the Barcelona youth to sample each other’s cultures and spiritual experiences.

This will give the young pilgrims a chance to experience the faith and culture of a country other than their own. The following week there is a programme of activities based around the city hosting WYD, culminating in Mass with the Pope. A provisional itinerary is as follows:

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITINERARY IS PROVISIONAL AS FINAL CONFIRMATION CAN ONLY BE MADE IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN FINAL PILGRIM NUMBERS ARE KNOWN

Travel Plans

Pilgrimage Itinerary

Our WYD 2008 experience on You Tube

The Soul of Madrid

If you need any more information then contact

ADYC

Ara Coeli
Archdiocese of Armagh

Cathedral Rd,

Armagh 

Tel. 048/028 3752 3084

Email: [email protected]

Meet the Planners

Dermot Kelly

Dermot attended the last WYD in Sydney and decided then that he wanted to help organise the next one for the young people of the Armagh diocese. His work skills in event management, have been invaluable in forging links within the travel industry. Dermot is looking after the booking of flights, accommodation, food and travel. Click here to see Dermot interview Fr Zeb about his experience of World Youth Day 2008

Noleen Loye

A veteran of WYDs – with 3 already under her belt and this to be her fourth. Since the last WYD, Noleen has celebrated the birth of her baby son – Matthew along with her husband Tom. Her experience in WYD is very important in giving advice and helping to construct a working plan for the itinerary. Noleen is taking the supervisory role in the WYD co-ordinations while in Madrid. Click here to see Noleen’s wonderful interview abilities from WYD 2008.

Patricia McCooe

As a teacher of a primary school who carries out the role of safe guarding children, Patricia is fully qualified with full up-to-date SELB training and certifications in this regard. Patricia will oversee the safe guarding children aspect on the pilgrimage.

Cliodhna McCormac

As a woman who can converse in 11 languages, Cliodhna is fully fluent in the Spanish language. As someone who has lived in Spain she is the right person to oversee the cultural aspect of the pilgrimage and to liaise at all times with the relevant bodies within Spain. She’ll be teaching us the hola and all the rest. Click here to see Cliodhna skip with joy in WYD 2008

Fr. Mark O’Hagan

As curate in Dundalk, Fr. Mark will oversee, the pilgrims and their preparation in the southern part of the Diocese

Fr. Brian White

Fr. Brian as chair of Youth Ministry in the Diocese will plan the liturgical and spiritual aspect of the pilgrimage in conjunction with the other co-ordinators. Click here to see Fr Brian’s great directing and videoing skills from WYD 2008

World Youth Day

Theme for WYD’11 “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”(Col. 2:7)

In 1984 Pope John Paul II invited young people to a special gathering on Palm Sunday in Rome. Three hundred thousand young people attended this Youth Jubilee. In 1985 – the United Nations International Year of Youth – Pope John Paul II extended a second invitation to young people.

This time 450,000 attended this second international youth gathering held on Palm Sunday in Rome. These events in 1984 and 1985 inspired the Pope to create World Youth Day (WYD) to be celebrated at diocesan level every year on Palm Sunday and on an international level every two to three years.

It’s much more than a day – usually up to two weeks. This brings together young Catholics from around the world to celebrate their faith and learn more about it – it’s an encounter of the young people of the world with the Pope and the Christian community of the host country.

Recently international World Youth Days have been held in Toronto, Cologne and Sydney.

Check out the website for World Youth Day 2011 which will take place in Madrid.

You can also link in with other Irish groups and individuals interested in WYD by joining the group on  Facebook

Finally you can find out more about the work of the ADYC on Facebook