WYD!

[cappie]

Vatican and Germany Plan Stamps for Youth Day


VATICAN CITY, JULY 14, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican and Germany have issued jointly a series of 19 million stamps to commemorate next month's World Youth Day in Cologne.

German Finance Minister Hans Nichel presented the stamp to Benedict XVI on July 6. Its public presentation was held Monday in Bonn.

That is when State Secretary Barbara Hendricks, of the German Finance Ministry, presented the stamp to Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German bishops' conference, and to Klaus Zumwinkel, president of the administrative council of the Deutsche Post Worldnet, at the post office's headquarters.

Each stamp, which shows a cross and a globe, is worth 55 euro cents. It is the first stamp issued jointly by the German Finance Ministry and the Vatican.

"Stamps are bridge builders," said Cardinal Lehmann. "They are simple but reliable propaganda of the event that within a few weeks will be on the front page."

[DemonSlayer]

That's great.

[shelly_freak]

[quote name='FutureNunJMJ' date='Jul 14 2005, 08:12 AM']WHat if I don't bring a camera?  ANd I hear its better to carry around credit cards and such instead of cash...  pick-pockets will have the time of their life otherwise...  And I hear Munich is a difficult city to get around in because it is laid out in a very confusing way or the roads aren't clearly labeled...
[right][snapback]642969[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Yeah but you still need to have cash on you cause what if say you want a father stan cd? He's not gonna have a credit card swiper at his booth. Maybe I'm just too optimistic but I'm not too worried about pickpockets. I think being in such a large group will be a big deterint from stealing from one of us. And I hate hate hate those little under your shirt passport thingies, gah they're so annoying!

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

I still need to make sure that I have everything for the trip!

[cappie]

World Youth Day Handbook Available Online
90-Page Guide Includes Meditations and Information

COLOGNE, Germany, JULY 15, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The guide to prepare for the 20th World Youth Day in Cologne is now available online in English.

The 90-page International Handbook is a tool to spiritually prepare for the youth event in August, which will focus on a biblical theme taken from Matthew 2:2: "We Have Come to Worship Him."

The guide, published under the direction of Father Ulrich Hennes, secretary of the organization of World Youth Day, includes meditations on the motto, information on WYD patrons, and activities to do alone or in groups to prepare for the event.

In the introduction, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne and host of the event, blesses all the young people working on the event and those who are on their way to the 20th World Youth Day.

"It is important," says the cardinal, quoting Pope John Paul II, "that you be concerned not only about the practical organization of the World Youth Day, but that you take care, in the first place, of the spiritual preparation in an atmosphere of faith and of listening to the Word of God."

The guide may be downloaded from the Downloads section of the WYD Web page, or a copy may be requested from the following e-mail address: infomaterial@wjt2005.de.
ZE05071523

[cappie]

[url="http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=88&si=1"]WYD guide[/url]

[stargirl3:16]

Argh, I'm so jealous of y'all. I'd try to go, but college starts for me that week. Somebody bring me something...

If any of you see a lady carrying a big rubber duck, get a picture with it and post it.

[cappie]

WYD preparations enter home stretch


Plans are well underway for Pope Benedict XVI's World Youth Day trip to Cologne, which will be his first visit to a country outside Europe since the beginning of his pontificate in April.

Zenit reports that the event begins four weeks from yesterday - on 16 August - and the Holy Father will first greet the young pilgrims on 18 August.

"According to the Vatican, on the evening of 19 August, he will participate in the Way of the Cross; on 20 August he will join the participants in a prayer vigil, and on 21 August he will celebrate the event's closing Mass.

"The altar at which he will celebrate the Mass sits on a hill overlooking a large field where the pilgrims will gather. It is manmade and composed of earth from all the countries of the world brought by young people who have participated in the preparatory WYD meetings."

This year's theme will be: "We have come to worship Him," the words with which the Wise Men of the Gospel of St. Matthew reveal the reason for their own pilgrimage. Pope John Paul noted in 2002 that, “In the great cathedral of Cologne the relics of the Magi, the Wise Men from the East who followed the star which led them to Christ, are honored."

Organisers have also noted that during the week, the famous reliquary of the Wise Men will be placed behind the altar in the cathedral, as it was in the Middle Ages, so the pilgrims can see it as they pass and so, in some way, take away with them the blessing of the Three Kings of the East.

[kateri05]

holy cow that is so freakin sweet!!!!!!!!!!

[Semperviva]

[quote name='cappie' date='Jul 19 2005, 05:40 PM']

"The altar at which he will celebrate the Mass sits on a hill overlooking a large field where the pilgrims will gather. [b]It is manmade and composed of earth from all the countries of the world brought by young people who have participated in the preparatory WYD meetings."[/b]

Organisers have also noted that during the week, the famous reliquary of the Wise Men will be placed behind the altar in the cathedral, as it was in the Middle Ages, [b]so the pilgrims can see it as they pass and so, in some way, take away with them the blessing of the Three Kings of the East.[/b]
[right][snapback]650239[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

ohmygoshohmygosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cappie]

Pope to Arrive in Cologne by Boat
Official Program for World Youth Day Visit

VATICAN CITY, JULY 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Hundreds of thousands of young people are expected to welcome Benedict XVI in Cologne on Aug. 18, where he will arrive by boat after crossing the Rhine.

The Holy See revealed this and other details of the official program of the Pope's first international apostolic trip, to attend World Youth Day in Germany, from Aug. 18-21. The Holy Father is currently vacationing in the Italian Alps.

On his trip abroad next month, the Bavarian-born Pope will visit Cologne's synagogue, and meet with Muslim communities in Germany, as well as with top civil and political leaders.

Benedict XVI will depart from Rome's Ciampino airport at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, and is due to arrive at the international airport of Cologne/Bonn at midday.

Following a welcome ceremony he will travel by car to the archbishopric of Cologne.

Cathedral visit

In the afternoon he will go to the Rodenkirchenbruecke wharf, from where a boat will take him along the river Rhine to the Rheinwiesen wharf where he will be welcomed by young people. The Holy Father will then travel back by boat to the city of Cologne where he will visit the cathedral.

On Friday, Aug. 19, the Pope will celebrate a private Mass in the archbishopric of Cologne before traveling by car to Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn where, at 10:30 a.m., he is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to German President Horst Köhler.

At midday he is due to visit the synagogue in Cologne and at 1 p.m. will return to the archbishopric for lunch with a group of young people.

At 5 p.m. he is due to meet seminarians at the Church of St. Pantaleon in Cologne and will then return to the archbishopric to participate in an ecumenical meeting.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, having again celebrated a private Mass in the archbishopric, the Holy Father will receive in audience various political and civil leaders. These include Gerhard Schröder, federal chancellor; Wolfgang Thierse, president of the Parliament; Angela Merkel, president of the Christian Democratic Union; and Jürgen Rüttgers, minister president of North Rhine Westphalia.

Marienfeld

At 6 p.m. the Pope will meet representatives of Muslim communities. Later he will travel by car to the large open grounds of Marienfeld where he will join young people in a vigil due to last until 10:30 p.m.

At Marienfeld, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass, and then pray the Angelus.

After lunch in the archbishopric he will go on foot to the "Piussaal" (Pius Hall) of the seminary of Cologne where he will meet the bishops of the German episcopal conference.

Later, and after having greeted members of the organizing committee of World Youth Day 2005, he will travel by car to the international airport of Cologne/Bonn where the departure ceremony is due to be held at 6:45 p.m.

The Pope will then board his aircraft and return to Rome, arriving around 9:15 p.m.

[cappie]

Holy Father Hopes Youth Will Be a Leaven in Europe
Says Continent Is Forgetting Its Christian Roots

LES COMBES, Italy, JULY 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI hopes that the hundreds of thousands of Europeans who attend World Youth Day in Cologne will be leaven of a new Christian humanism.

The Pope expressed this hope today at midday when he met with 8,000 pilgrims who gathered in the field near the Alpine chalet where he has been on vacation since July 11.

The Holy Father began his address making note of the feast of the Apostle James on Monday. The Pope added that the saint's "relics are venerated in the famous shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, destination of innumerable pilgrims from all over Europe."

Benedict XVI also mentioned that the Church celebrated the feast of St. Bridget of Sweden, patroness of Europe on Saturday, and on July 11, the feast of St. Benedict, "another great patron of the 'Old World,' who is also my patron."

"When contemplating these saints, one pauses spontaneously to reflect on the contribution that Christianity has offered and continues to offer to the making of Europe," he said.

"Return to yourself"

The Pontiff summarized this legacy by recalling Pope John Paul II's address of Nov. 9, 1982, in Santiago de Compostela.

At the time John Paul II said: "I, Bishop of Rome and pastor of the universal Church, from Santiago, send to you, age-old Europe, a cry full of love: Return to yourself. Be yourself. Discover your origins. Revive your roots. Revive those authentic values that made your history glorious and your presence beneficial among the other continents."

With that address, Benedict XVI explained, Pope John Paul II launched "the project of a Europe conscious of its own spiritual unity, based on the foundation of Christian values."

John Paul II wanted a Europe "without borders, which does not disavow the Christian roots from which it sprang and does not renounce the authentic humanism of Christ's Gospel," Benedict XVI said.

"How timely this appeal still is, in the light of the recent events of the European Continent!" he said.

Vital sap

The Pope was making reference not only to the recent terrorist attacks in Europe, but also to the project of the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union, which is in limbo after being rejected by the Dutch and the French.

Also, the Preamble proposed by the European Convention rejected the inclusion of a reference to the Christian roots of Europe, as requested repeatedly by Pope John Paul II.

Benedict XVI reminded the faithful that he will travel to the ancient German city of Cologne, from Aug. 18-21, to attend the World Youth Day.

He asked for their prayers so that "the new generations, drawing their vital sap from Christ, will be able to be in European society the leaven of a renewed humanism, in which faith and reason cooperate in fruitful dialogue in the promotion of man and the making of authentic peace."
ZE05072407