Dear pilgrims, I have the pleasure of accompanying you in this 26th edition of World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid, Spain from August 10th to 24th. As representatives of the Church of Ottawa, you will be sent on a mission to share the Good News with the young people you will meet during your pilgrimage.
I will travel with the group to Madrid for WYD, and we will be united in prayer with all the generous people who are supporting us in our journey as we prepare for WYD spiritually and financially.
I look forward to welcoming you, your family, and your friends in joining in our Eucharistic celebration on Friday, July 8th at 5:15 pm at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa.
See you soon!
+Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archbishop of Ottawa
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MORE THAN 100 YOUNG OTTAWANS GOING TO WORLD YOUTH DAY TO BE “SENT OFF” AT A MASS PRESIDED BY ARCHBISHOP PRENDERGAST ON FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2011 AT NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
In just over a month, more than 100 young people from Ottawa will fly to Madrid, Spain to join hundreds of thousands of others from almost every country on the planet for the 26th edition of World Youth Day (WYD) – a large gathering of youth and young adults focusing on deepening their knowledge of the Catholic faith. On Friday, July 8th, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. will celebrate a send-off Mass with the pilgrims, their families, and their friends at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica – 385 Sussex Drive, Ottawa – at 5:15 pm.
“I will travel with the group to Madrid for WYD,” announced Archbishop Prendergast. “Our Eucharistic celebration will allow us to unite in prayer with all the generous people who are supporting us in our journey as we prepare for WYD spiritually and financially,” he explained.
“As representatives of the Church of Ottawa, the young people will be sent on a mission to share the Good News with those they will meet during their pilgrimage – in the homes where they will be billeted in Valladolid for five days, and during their week-long series of gatherings in Madrid,” explained Archbishop Prendergast.
World Youth Day (WYD) was founded by Blessed Pope John Paul II (JPII) in 1984 and the first international one outside of Rome was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1987. JPII was recently beatified in Rome on May 1st, 2011 and he has been officially declared Patron of WYD Madrid 2011. He is accompanying Spanish saints as intercessor for WYD.
Thank you for posting notice of this Mass as otherwise I would not have known of it. I was able to attend this evening and I could see firsthand the enthusiasm of the young people for their upcoming pilgrimage. What Bl. Pope John Paul II launched with the very first World Youth Day is truly special. I was glad to be able to participate through this Mass - even if only in a small way and at a great distance - in WYD Madrid. I will keep you all in my prayers over the coming weeks.
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