About WYD

World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from 15-20 July 2008.

Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day gathers young people from around the world to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.

In August 2005, Sydney was chosen to host the XXIII World Youth Day. The announcement was made by Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne at the conclusion of the XX World Youth Day in August 2005.

WYD08 will be the occasion of the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia and we very much look forward to welcoming him to the "Southern Land of the Holy Spirit".

Through the WYD08 experience, young people from throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in faith, meet, and experience the love of God. The young people will have an opportunity to rediscover their baptismal calling and the centrality of the sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation, and so discover a new apostolic zeal to witness more fully the Gospel in the modern world. All in the context of the beauty of Australia and the hospitality of the Australian people!

World Youth Day

From Kelly -

What an amazing week! My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for your hospitality and generosity towards all our pilgirms, both local and international. Your wholehearted support was greatly appreciated, and was an amazing encouragement to all the young people involved.

If anyone has any photos and stories from the week, I would love to hear them, and to put them up around the church and on the website. You can email them to kellyedmunds@gmail.com, or give me a call on 9489 4701 / 0438 888 876.

Left over copies of the WYD pilgrim and liturgy guides (2 booklets stuck together) are available at the back of the church. These little booklets make great mementos, as they contain all the prayers, music, readings and event info from the week. Please take as many as you would like.

Broken Bay News

The monthly diocesan magazine, Broken Bay News, is now available down the back of the church - a special WYD edition packed with reflections and photos. Pick up your free copy today!

Articles from Kansas

Read what our Kansas WYD pilgrims told their parishes back home about their time in Wahroonga! Articles from their Diocesan magazine are up at the back of the church, and are also online here...

Homestay Reflections
The Seminarians' experiences
Pilgrim Reflections

Upcoming events

For information about the events organised by Broken Bay in our local area leading on from WYD, check out this page here.

The WYD Cross and Icon visit Broken Bay one last time...

On Saturday, April 12th, a huge Diocesan gathering was held at Palm Beach. Activities for all ages included beach games, a jumping castle, and a BBQ generously organised my members of the Lakes parish. The highlight of the morning was watching the Broken Bay WYD Cross being flown high above the beach and Barrenjoey lighthouse, dangled from a helicopter, while the real WYD Cross and Icon were walked up the beach into our gathering.

Have a look at the fantastic photos and stories here...