Pilgrims set to enjoy WYD the Brazilian way

19 Apr 2013

By Matthew Biddle

The famous Christ the Redeemer statue is seen atop Corcovado Peak in Rio de Janeiro. The city will host the next World Youth Day July 23-28 in 2013. PHOTO: CNS/Bruno Domingos, Reuters

Seventy-three young Catholics from the Perth Archdiocese will attend World Youth Day in Brazil later this year as part of a Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) group.

The group includes several parish groups, as well as individuals from various communities and movements around Perth.

CYM Perth director Anita Parker said the election of Pope Francis last month did not have a major influence on the size or makeup of the group.

“Probably 90 per cent of our group had committed prior to the announcement of Pope Benedict resigning, let alone a new Pope being elected,” she said.

The 73 pilgrims will travel to the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, in two separate groups, with one group arriving in the South American city four days earlier than the other.

“We’ll be staying with families there, having an immersion into the parish,” Ms Parker said.

The big difference in this year’s World Youth Day to previous ones, according to Ms Parker, is the replacement of ‘Days in the Diocese’ with ‘Mission Week’.

‘Mission Week’ will take place in Brazil from July 16 to July 20, during the week immediately preceding World Youth Day.

The role of CYM in coordinating the group’s journey and activities is strongly pastoral in its focus.

“When we plan the itinerary we look at what is the type of journey and experience, faith-wise, that we want these young people to have,” Ms Parker said.

“Our biggest role is actually in the few days after World Youth Day, when we take the pilgrims on a retreat time … when they can process the experience that they’ve had.”

World Youth Day begins on July 23 in Rio de Janeiro and concludes on July 28.