During those seven days, it won't really matter if they're left, center or right-wing Catholics. It won't matter on what side of the liturgical wars they stand in, if they're discerning a religious vocation, or if they simply tagged along because they thought it'd be fun.

For seven days, the quest will be much more about finding pilgrims from the furthest geographical region - Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Australia, told Crux last week that the right answer would be Aussies, although of course, for Australians the search will be directed somewhere else.

Here are seven facts or initiatives that are perhaps unknown about #Krakow2016:

Francis' chasuble and the throwaway culture

Papal vestments during a visit abroad are usually the responsibility of the host country. During his visits, Francis has used liturgical clothing created for the occasion by indigenous communities, religious sisters and even inmates.

The liturgical vestments Francis will don during World Youth Day (WYD) were created for the occasion by a group of Iraqi refugee girls living in Jordan. According to their own words, the vestments were done with the "left-over materials" of their clothes collection,Made by Iraqi girls, considered a success story amidst so much suffering among Christian refugees.

"We too were thrown away by the evil men who expelled us from our land," they wrote in a letter addressed to Francis and published by WYD's website. "We made these vestments recycling pieces of fabric. But the beautiful things, useful to give glory to the Lord, often come from what is rejected."

The young women were supposed to attend the event, but because of their refugee status, their visas were denied. Continue reading

Sources

• Article by Inés San Martín, Vatican correspondent for Crux.
• Image: Focus Missions

Fr Tomas Kijowski left the Salesians in Poland in June after he admitted he had a girlfriend and he had fathered a child.

But Polish media only found out about this recently.

A Salesian spokesman said: "It is true that Fr Tomasz Kijowski left the religious community in June, although he is still formally a member.

"The process of expelling him is currently underway. The reason for this situation is that he has fathered a child."

Others who have left the Polish Church recently include Dominican Jacek Krzysztofowicz, who, in his valedictory sermon spoke about finding "true love".

Fr Kijowski met his 22-year-old partner at a planning meeting for the World Youth Day, which will be held in Krakow next July, Italian news agency Ansa reported.

Pope Francis is due to attend Poland's World Youth Day, which will bring together thousands of young Catholics from around the world.

World Youth Day organisers expect the event will attract more than 2 million people.

Earlier this year, Fr Kijowski predicted World Youth Day would also have an "activating effect" on young people in Poland.

"The young have been leaving the Church here — we need some shock, some impulse, to halt and reverse this trend," Fr Kijowski told KAI, Poland's Catholic information agency, in March.

"I wouldn't want to suggest we're working out some vision for a Christian Poland, but we want to initiate certain processes which will continue after the World Youth Day, instead of ending when the Pope flies out."

Sources

• Religion News Service
• Christian Today
• ANSA
• CNS
• Image: Christian Today

Two pilgrimage packages are being provided, one for a direct pilgrimage to Poland, the second will also include a visit to the Holy Land.

The Wellington Archdiocese is inviting expressions of interest from people aged 18-35, who belong to, or have an association with the Archdiocese of Wellington and meet the standard group eligibility criteria.

These expressions of interest will be coordinated through Young Church Ministries in Wellington.

Once confirmed the registrations will be sent to the World Youth Day coordinator in Auckland.

Step 2 of the registration process will take place through Harvest Pilgrimages.

The two dioceses will also cooperate to provide the spiritual preparation for World Youth Day.

Each diocese will provide its own programme but they will be as closely aligned as possible.

Harvest Pilgrimages is a Sydney based travel agency that specialises in Catholic travel and pilgrimages.

They were appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) as the official Australian World Youth Day Tour Operator for Madrid 2011 and Rio de Janeiro 2013.

They have been involved in 9 international World Youth Days over a 20 year period.

Harvest Pilgrimages was also the official tour operator in Australia for the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop

Harvest Pilgrimages is located in the same building as Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

Source

• wydtours.com
• wn.catholic.org.nz
• akyouth.org.nz

After the announcement at WYD in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Poles who were scattered across Copacabana Beach cheered loudly.

The late John Paul II's presence was even felt in Rio, where a case containing a relic was on display.

Continue reading