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

As Catholic dioceses around the world prepare for the international World Youth Day, the Holy Father is asking the dioceses in 2014, to reflect on Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", and in 2015, on Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God".

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy" (Matt 5:7), is the theme for the 2016 international celebration.

Announcing the themes, the Vatican noted that during World Youth Day in Rio, Pope Francis asked young people to read the beatitudes and make them a blueprint for their lives.

Krakow is the former archdiocesan See of Blessed John Paul II.

It is also home to the Shrine of Divine Mercy, encouraging the devotion promoted by St Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who said she had a vision of Jesus, who said he would show mercy to those who pray for it and who share that mercy with others.

Sources

• CNS
• Pathos