The much-awaited re-launch of connect.org.nz was celebrated last month with the ceremonial first click by Wellington World Youth Day ambassador, Josie Leota, and Fr James Lyons, the parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington.
The plan is to engage online as many young people as possible, building meaningful connections lasting long after the World Youth Day event with pilgrims and the wider population.
World Youth Day pilgrims and supporters, including National project manager, David Mullin, gathered at the Wellington Archdiocesan Catholic Centre to acknowledge the rejuvenated online infrastructure for young New Zealand Catholics.
Connect.org.nz aims ‘to be an online infrastructure that helps young Catholic Kiwis to live fully and be connected to Christ, the church and each other’. A blog tracks the thoughts of the six New Zealand WYD ambassadors. Other sections lead the site visitor through various aspects of faith and links to key resources.
This is supported by a YouTube channel which shows video diaries of pilgrims as they prepare for their journey and a Flickr page displays images of pilgrims and events leading up to World Youth Day and beyond. Connect.org.nz is the home for all official blogs, videos, photos, competitions and news as well as linking into online social networks such as Bebo and Facebook.
Communications officer, Lucy Ellis, said the Connect.org.nz project was an essential element for reaping the fruits and bearing the legacy of World Youth Day.
‘As a church, we will not have another opportunity like this for decades.’ While World Youth Day will finish on July 20, the legacy will be the work of the church for years to come.
Through the WYD08 experience, young people around the world will journey in faith to meet and experience the love of God. NZ will send its biggest contingent of young people ever to an international event when 4000 pilgrims go to Sydney in July.
Contact Lucy on 04 496 1770 (mob) 027 424 9746 lucy@worldyouthday.org.nz.
Picture: Fr James Lyons, parish priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral and WYD Wellington ambassador, Josie Leota, make the first click.